Overview

The Bentley Continental GT is credited with reviving the brand’s fortunes. With one fell stroke, a company that formerly served only the super-rich had an entry-level car for the merely very affluent. Just a year after its 2003 launch, the Continental GT single-handedly quintupled Bentley’s global sales.

Now in its third generation, the Continental’s appeal is even broader thanks to a concerted effort to ramp up driver appeal – the key area where it lagged behind other posh GT cars such as the Aston Martin DB11 and the Porsche 911. Yet crucially, it retains the luxury, comfort and image of the previous cars – areas where the Continental has always been strong, competing with some of the best luxury cars on sale.

Another pull has to be the engines. The Continental GT is available with a vast, 6.0-litre W12 engine. That’s an engine with four banks of three cylinders, looking rather like two V6 engines smushed together. It makes a colossal 659hp and sounds rather like the sky’s caving in. We’re very fond of it.

The more pragmatic option is the V8, which still makes a not-inconsiderable 550hp.

The standard Continental takes the form of a four-seat GT – though it’s more like a 2+2, with rear seats only usable by children or (more likely) designer luggage. That’s no huge criticism – most of its rivals are the same – but it might grate considering the Continental’s 4.85mm length.

For the even more opulent, there’s the option of the Continental GTC – a two-seater convertible with a fabric roof. We’ve covered that in a separate review here.

Opulence is the name of the game on the interior, whichever Continental GT you opt for. The highlight is what some have christened the ‘Toblerone’ – a rotating panel in the middle with three sides, showing off either an infotainment screen, three beautifully machined additional gauges, or a blank face with expertly matched wood veneer. It’s an elegant solution to requiring a large infotainment screen but not wanting it to be on show all the times.

The cabin and exterior are of course infinitely personalisable through Bentley’s Mulliner programme – you can opt for just about any finish that takes your fancy.

Keep reading to find out what the Bentley Continental GT’s practicality, interior, running costs and driving experience are like – as well as what we rate it in our verdict.