Luxury cars can already be expensive enough, but adding hybrid technology into the mix boosts the price tag even higher. Bentley models in particular are known for having sky-high retail prices, like the Mulsanne and the Flying Spur. Both of these models have terrible fuel economy ratings. A greener powertrain might make a world of difference, but luxury hybrids aren’t always the most fuel-efficient models. Still, the 2021 Bentley Bentayga Hybrid managed to make it into MotorTrend’s list of most fuel-efficient SUVs this year.

How does the Bentley Bentayga Hybrid stack up to the other luxury models on this list?

How expensive is the Bentley Bentayga Hybrid?

The Bentley Bentayga Hybrid doesn’t offer any surprises in the pricing department, retailing for $183,225. For comparison, a regular Bentayga costs $177,000. All things considered, that’s a small upcharge to pay for the elevated fuel savings offered by the Hybrid version.

Relying solely on electric power, the Bentayga Hybrid can travel 18 miles, netting 46 MPGe. When switching to gasoline, it gets 17/21 mpg city/highway. That makes it better than the regular Bentayga in the city, but not during highway driving. Still, 18 miles is plenty for a quick commute around town.

Gas mileage on other luxury hybrids

While the Bentley Bentayga Hybrid is undeniably one of the more expensive hybrids, it’s still surprisingly efficient. Both hybrid versions of the Land Rover Range Rover and Range Rover sport only received EPA estimates of 42 MPGe. The Lexus UX250h gets 39 mpg overall, but it doesn’t have any electric range.

The Bentayga Hybrid might be good at its price point, but it’s definitely not the best. The 2021 Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring is the most efficient luxury PHEV with 78 MPGe. The BMW X3 xDrive30E offers the same range as the Bentayga Hybrid, but it’s 14 points more efficient. While cheaper, neither of these PHEVs can offer the same horsepower as the Bentayga Hybrid.

What else does the Bentley Bentayga Hybrid offer?

While not as powerful as a regular Bentayga, the PHEV is still decently equipped with a turbo V6 and an electric motor. It produces 443 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, plus it’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and AWD. It has three drive modes, with EV being the default setting to encourage the best gas mileage.

The Hybrid mode makes the vehicle as efficient as possible while employing the gasoline motor. With Hold mode, you can keep the battery charging at a faster rate between drives. With the base charger, it only takes two and a half hours to charge the battery.

Even with the comparatively weaker hybrid powertrain, the Bentayga Hybrid doesn’t lose much performance compared to the regular model. MotorTrend determined its 0-60 mph time to be 5.2 seconds, which is impressive for a big PHEV. The interior is quiet under heavy throttle and the transmission provides smooth, precise shifts. 

The Bentley Bentayga Hybrid provides great steering feedback, though the suspension suffers on the highway. MotorTrend also felt that the brakes don’t have the best stopping power compared to the regular Bentayga.

Both interior and exterior styling mostly carry over from the standard Bentayga, but that’s hardly a bad thing. It features plush leather seats, genuine wood trim, and even a bottle cooler for backseat riders. The locks also come with a fingerprint reader for maximum security.

Every Bentayga has a 10.9-inch infotainment screen featuring smartphone integration. Rear-seat riders can also change convenience settings, watch movies, or get online with the optional rear-seat infotainment system. On the Bentley Bentayga Hybrid, the center screen has an energy flow monitor, plus a battery meter for the gauge cluster.