It's been more than three years since Bentley introduced the Bentayga, its first-ever SUV, and the highly anticipated Speed model is here to boost the nameplate's performance pedigree even further. The first Bentley SUV to carry the badge taken from the Continental, the Bentayga Speed is the quickest, fastest, and more capable British hauler yet.

The 2020 Bentley Bentayga Speed is Sportier, but Still Elegant

Just like the Continental Speed, the Bentayga Speed looks sportier than the standard model, but it's not overly aggressive. One quick look at this SUV is enough to understand that Bentley wants the Speed to retain the elegance of the regular Bentayga. This is why visual upgrades are minimal.

Up front, for instance, Bentley didn't go beyond black grilles for the radiator and bumper and a splitter just under the apron. Sure, the Speed also features dark-tinted headlamps, but they're not very noticeable. Onto the sides, Bentley refinished the side skirts in body color, added a "Speed" badge on the front door, and a set of unique 22-inch wheels finished in either silver, dark tint, or black.

The rear fascia carries over unchanged save for two noticeable upgrades. The diffuser-like element is now body colored, while the spoiler on the tailgate is bigger. The exhaust pipes are also slightly bigger than the standard Bentayga. My only complaint here is that Bentley should have gone with black trim instead of chrome for the taillights and license plate recess.

Exclusive Interior

The Bentayga Speed doesn't look sportier inside the cabin, but it boasts a number of exclusive features that aren't offered in the regular SUV. It has brown accents on the door panels, on the edge of the seat cushions and bolsters, and the lower console, as well as new contrast stitching on the diamond quilting. Contrast stitching is available on all Bentayga models, but only the Speed version has it in the diamond quilting on the cushion bolsters, at the top of the backrests, and on the door panels.

It also comes with illuminated tread plates with "Speed" lettering and Alcantara inserts. The latter is offered in the Bentayga for the very first time. Unfortunately, the carbon-fiber trim on the door panels and the dashboard is only optional. Other options include 22-way adjustable front seats with massage function and a rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2020 Bentley Bentayga Speed Has More Power and Enhanced Performance

The standard Bentayga was already plenty powerful at 600 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque, but the Speed takes things to a new level with a 626-horsepower rating. But even though it's the most powerful Bentayga to date, it's a bit disappointing, to be honest. With the Continental GT Speed about 10 percent more powerful than the GT W12, I was expecting the Bentayga Speed to arrive with around 650 horsepower. Instead, Bentley opted for a much lower power rating. What's more, torque remains unchanged at 664 pound-feet.

And this is a big issue, as the Lamborghini Urus, the Bentley Speed's most important competitor, comes with 650 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of twist. The Urus is already a much more dynamic SUV, so the Bentayga Speed doesn't stand a chance with a less powerful 6.0-liter W-12.

A quick look at the performance numbers and you'll see why. While the Urus needs 3.6 seconds to hit 62 mph from a standing start, the Bentayga Speed will get there in 3.9 clicks. Sure, it's two tenths quicker than the standard Bentayga, but also three tenths slower than the Urus. The good news is that the Speed package increases the SUV's top speed from 187 to 190 mph. That's on par with the Urus, meaning that the two now share the title for the fastest production SUV on the market.

The beefed-up W-12 engine mates to a recalibrated eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system. It also features an Electronic Differential Lock and a firmer suspension. The carbon-ceramic brakes are optional though, yet another downside compared to the Urus, which comes standard with them.

How Much Does the 2020 Bentley Bentayga Speed Cost?

We don't know that yet, but since the regular Bentayga retails from $229,100, the Speed should fetch at least $260,000 before options. This is notably more than what Lamborghini asks for the Urus, priced from "only" $200,000 in the U.S. Granted, the Bentayga has more luxury features, but it's no match for the Urus in the power and performance departments.

2020 Bentley Bentayga Speed specifications

Engine

6.0-litre W12

Horsepower

626 HP

Torque

664 LB-FT

0 to 100 km/h (62 mph)

3.9 seconds

Top Speed

190 mph (306 km/h)


Further reading

Read our full review on the 2020 Bentley Bentayga Speed.

Read our full review on the 2017 Bentley Bentayga.