The SUV has experienced perhaps the most successful rebrand of any kind of car in the 21st century. It feels like just yesterday that these gas-guzzling lane hogs were anathema, and now everyone is back on board the SUV train.

And this train is luxurious: no longer the realm of budget-friendly minivan adjacents, sport utility vehicles are increasingly filed under “

ultra luxury

.” Offerings like the Lamborghini Urus and Rolls-Royce Cullinan are at the forefront of this luxury revolution. One more exciting addition is a Bentley SUV—the 2022 Bentley Bentayga S.

Look and feel

Bentley is known for making high-class vehicles. Rappers like to talk about Bentleys, and you can’t get near one for less than $165,000.

The Bentayga S is no different. This elegant car misses nothing in the details. The hood and bumper are unmistakably Bentley: the wide grille on its face is flanked by two pairs of artfully mismatched oval headlights, like jewels in a crown, and a winged “B” sits prominently on the top of the hood. The body, though not hugely distinctive from a BMW X5 or an Audi Q5, is nonetheless all clean lines and beautiful angles.

The interior of the Bentley SUV was praised across the board by critics.

Car and Driver

noted that the front seating is endlessly configurable, presumably so you can add more guests to your Met Gala caravan without any diminishing comfort returns.

The interior accents are typically luxe, leather and wood being the main materials, and fans of the impossibly fancy can try out the bottle cooler in the backseat, or stash their heirlooms in the fingerprint-operated safe. The price is high, but it’s also right.

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Driving specs

MORE: 5 New Bentley Mulsanne Grand Limousines Are Being Sold

Now that you’ve enjoyed seating seven in the Bentayga S, with room for some Louis Vuitton luggage, it’s time to take a drive.

Overall, critics were fans of the Bentayga’s performance. The Bentley SUV is powered by a V8 or a W12 engine, depending on how much cash you’d like to drop. One reviewer tried out the V8, which produced 542 hp via all-wheel drive and an 8-speed transmission, for

Roadshow

The biggest complaint was in the time taken to really get moving—it was a relative climb to 20 mph, then an exponential increase to 60. (Keep in mind that this takes place over the course of 4.4 seconds, which is a pretty big grain of salt.)

Drive modes played a role in acceleration, too. This reviewer noted that standard mode, already a lovely way to drive, gives way to an even richer experience in sport mode. Sport mode axes the acceleration lag and helps tremendously with balance and grip on tricky spots.

The Bentayga would do just fine on a windy mountain path. And if you’re not reassured, you can pony up a little extra for some additional safety features like lane-departure warning or adaptive cruise control.

The Bentley SUV is a fabulous option

MORE: Bentley Celebrates 1,000 Custom Car Projects

The Bentley Bentayga S joins a crowded market of luxury SUVs, but it may be able to differentiate itself with its unreal interior and fun-to-drive sport mode. This car would be just as comfortable traversing the Sierras as it would rolling up to the penthouse.

Plus, Bentley says the Bentayga Speed can go up to 190 mph, which would make it the fastest SUV in the world, reports Car and Driver. And even with some more bells and whistles, it’s still much cheaper than a Cullinan. A starter luxury SUV, if you will.

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