Picture this, you’ve be handed the keys to one of the most luxurious vehicles on the planet and asked to go on a lovely drive through the countryside. Your destination is a bespoke hotel located in a beautiful winery where you get to enjoy a peaceful night away by yourself. For a mum, it’s something they may fantasize about and I was privileged to experience it, driving the Bentley Bentayga Extended Wheelbase (EWB) Azure.
The Bentayga Azure elevates the luxury SUV experience to an even greater height, offering new levels of comfort alongside unique styling. Sitting at the pinnacle of the new Azure range, the Bentayga EWB brings a new focus on wellness to the model range with a remarkable array of features that enhance the comfort and wellbeing of everyone on board.


Bentley Motors pays more than just lip service to its sustainability actions and at their Dream Factory in Crewe, where all Bentley vehicles are built, many positive initiatives have been implemented. The plant has operated on 100 per cent green electricity since 2017 and since 2019, Bentley have sourced 100 per cent green gas. All electricity used to manufacture their vehicles is solar or certified green and their site has now been 100 per cent carbon neutral for five years, externally verified in accordance with the PAS 2060 carbon neutral standard.
The Bentayga EWB builds on the latest second-generation Bentayga, extending the wheelbase and rear cabin space by an extra 180 mm. With Body-in-White changes to the underfloor, side panels, door and roof, Bentley’s design team have ensured the lines and proportions continue to exude style and presence. This increase results in the wheelbase of the car stretching from 2,995 mm to 3,175 mm wide, with an overall length of 5,322 mm.




The introduction of Electronic All Wheel Steering, a first for the Bentayga, ensures that there is no shortfall of dynamic ability despite the longer wheelbase. In fact, the turning circle is 7% less than a standard Bentayga, at just 11.8 metres. The EWB also has Bentley Dynamic Ride included as standard, which is an active anti-roll control system introduced originally by Bentayga as a world-first that reduces vibration when cruising on the open road, while keeping the car much more stable when it takes corners at speed, for an incredibly refined ride. As such, every journey with a Bentayga Azure model is designed to be a relaxing experience regardless of distance.
The Bentayga EWB Azure is a sanctuary in motion, powered by either a hybrid powertrain combining a 3.0 litre V6 petrol engine with an electric motor or the 4.0 litre V8, which offered effortless power in my Bentayga. Paired with a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox, the V8 engine has two twin scroll turbochargers located inside the V, known as a Hot V, and produces a maximum 404 kW of power at 6,000 rpm and 770 Nm of torque between 2,000-4,500 rpm. This can propel the Bentayga EWB Azure from 0-100 km/h in 4.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 290 km/h. The engine can also deactivate four cylinders under certain conditions to save fuel and the official combined fuel consumption for the Bentayga EWB is 12.6L/100km. For my round trip between Melbourne and The Mitchelton Hotel incorporating country roads, highway driving and a city commute, the onboard computer said I used 13.5L/100km.






There are four drive modes available on the Bentayga, Sport, Comfort, Custom, and Bentley, which offers a perfect blend between comfort and sport and is the mode the SUV automatically starts in. Under the Custom mode you can configure the Engine & Gearbox, Ride & Handling, and Steering Feel between the comfort and sporty settings. The Bentayga has permanent all-wheel drive with an option to raise and lower the ride height with Off-road, Raised, Normal, and Access heights available, along with Downhill Descent Control.
This is an ultra-luxury SUV that takes Bentley craftsmanship to new heights, from its vertical-vaned front grille and 22” 10-spoke Azure wheels with self-leveling wheel badges, to its stunning Dark Sapphire paint. The Bentayga EWB Azure comes standard with the Touring Specification, which adds adaptive cruise control (set using a stalk behind the steering wheel), head-up display, and night vision. As with every Bentley, you have the option to engage with Mulliner’s personal commissioning team, either to add established Mulliner features and finishes from the Personal Commissioning Guide, or to work with the team directly in the creation of something truly bespoke. With Mulliner, the only limit is your imagination.





Guided by the Welcome Lamps by Mulliner, you step over the illuminated Azure treadplate and enter the haven of your Bentayga. Inside the cabin you experience the utmost harmony of luxury and wellness with five standard hide colours to choose from and 15 if you select the optional Colour Specification, including new Gravity Grey. The Leather Specification adds even more hide to the cabin, including an opulent leather lining for the roof. My Bentayga had Linen coloured hide as the main trim and Imperial Blue as the secondary trim colour and it goes without saying that the aroma emitted from this leather trim was sumptuous.
Bentley’s instantly recognisable diamond quilting has been reimagined in a dramatic and contemporary new design. Within each diamond, the flawless leather is perforated with holes of less than 1 mm diameter. Once the leather has gone through a perforating machine, the stitching of the diamonds is achieved with a specialised embroidery machine. The Bentayga EWB incorporates a more advanced stitching design created using digital craftsmanship incorporating a camera which analyses the perforation pattern and ensures the lines of embroidery are perfectly parallel and equidistant between the perforation diamonds.




Diamonds can be seen elongating symmetrically from the centre of the seatbacks shoulder panels and along the length of the door, reflecting the extension in the car itself. With 24 billion trim combinations alone (and a total number of possible specifications running into the trillions), the cabin of the Bentayga EWB is capable of offering the most individual Bentayga ever. This also demonstrates the level of attention to detail that goes into the creation of every Bentley that leaves their Dream Factory.
This Bentayga also features the optional Bentley Diamond Illumination to enhance the ambience of the cabin during the day and night. It sees a series of LED lights positioned behind the leather hides, in which tiny perforations have been made to allow the light to shine through. Offering a choice of colours and intensities, it helps you relax, putting control of the interior ambience at your fingertips whether you are sitting in the front or the rear.


There are a wide range of veneers to choose from, including both high gloss and open pore woods, and technical materials. This Bentayga features Crown Cut Walnut veneer sourced from American Black Walnut in North America that has been harvested from managed forests. The characteristics of this veneer are a Flat cut (also known as Crown cut), with a Crown pattern, achieved by slicing through the growth rings at a thickness of 0.6 mm from the trunk of the tree with 24 leaves per bundle, with a repeating grain pattern.
The open pore lacquer finish used on this veneer has a lower volatile organic compound emission compared to our high gloss lacquered finish. Open-pore Walnut veneer is painted with just three, ultra-thin layers of lacquer, together totalling only 0.1 mm in thickness. By comparison, Bentley’s High Gloss lacquer coating is 0.5 mm thick and has a glossy, smooth finish.




To protect all occupants from the most common forms of external air impurities, a new air conditioning system includes filters for PM2.5 particle matter and other pollutants. It constantly compares air quality inside and outside the cabin, adjusting automatically to provide the cleanest air for you and your passengers. It can detect whether anyone is in the back seat and react accordingly – and it can even work out when you are about to enter a tunnel.
The Bentayga EWB Azure sets a new benchmark for comfort and the closer you look, the more you see, from the heated, duo-tone, three spoke hide trimmed steering wheel with powered column adjustment, down to the Sports Pedals and Deep Pile Overmats on the floor. You can actually feel the plushness of these mats even with shoes on and I just wanted to rub my hands through them like they were the belly of my favourite cat.


There is a harmonious blend between modern technology and tactile surfaces in the Bentayga with the beautifully knurled knobs and switches, organ stop air vent controls, and the analogue clock on the dash above a 10.9” infotainment screen. This Bentayga has the optional Bang & Olufsen for Bentley audio system, with full Dolby Atmos sound in the Tidal and Amazon Music apps. This means unprecedented definition and clear spatial awareness, enabling you to hear which directions individual instruments are coming from.
A large wireless charge pad is located at the front of the centre console and two USB-C ports and one 12V socket under the arm rest. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available to connect to the infotainment system, with the latter working well for me. Voice control can be used for operating the infotainment options and this accurately performed when I used it for changing the radio station and making phone calls, but was not up to standard for setting a destination on the sat nav.



Both beautiful front seats have power adjustment for recline, forward/back, seat height/tilt front and rear, side bolster adjustment for the base and back, headrest height adjustment, front leg extension, four-way lumbar support and two memory positions. They are also heated and cooled, with the cooling working well and being relatively quiet when operating. The front seats get the massaging treatment as well and Bentley are amongst the best in the business for the operation of their massage functionality. There are five massage types to select from Wave, Pulse, Stretch, Lumbar, and Shoulder with intensity adjustment, my favourite is a high intensity wave massage. Something very specific I noticed while I was driving the Bentayga was the distance to the footrest for my left leg was perfect and felt a little longer than most cars and hence my leg didn’t feel cramped at all while I was driving.
Actually though, the increased length of the EWB Bentayga is all in the rear door, creating an exceptionally luxurious rear cabin area. For the first time on a Bentley, power closing doors can be specified. Pressing and holding the switch will close the door on the corresponding side of the vehicle using dedicated motors, creating a truly luxurious valet-like experience. The motors also engage with a light manual push on the door externally, for a fully integrated motion with the power latching mechanism. The motors also offer gentle assistance when opening the doors, regardless of the length of the journey.



With a larger cabin space than any other luxury competitor, an emphasis on wellness, and the introduction of the world’s first auto climate and advanced postural adjustment rear seat, extraordinary journeys are guaranteed in the Bentayga EWB. The new 4+1 Seat Specification gives you the option of two full-featured rear seats as well as a folding centre seat for a fifth occupant, that doubles as a centre console when not in use. There is a storage in the arm rest with two USB-C ports and two cup holders at the front with grippy sides and a removable base for easy cleaning.
The two primary rear seats benefit from the full range of massage, heating and ventilation features, just like the seats in the front, combining to ensure a bespoke and immersive experience for all passengers. Both rear seats can be adjusted using the rear screen or via the buttons on the side of the seat. They have powered adjustment for recline, forward/back, seat height/tilt front and rear, four-way lumbar support, front leg extension, bolster support for the back and base and for moving the pillow-soft headrests up and down. The driver’s side rear seat has two memory positions, while the VIP seat has only one memory position and separate controls to raise and lower the footrest behind the passenger seat as well. There are two ISOFix/two rear tether child seat restraint points with the tether point located at the base of the rear seats and you have to move the seat forward to access it.







The new Bentley Airline Seat specification is the most advanced seat ever fitted to a car, with 22-ways of adjustment and world-firsts in a new auto climate sensing system and postural adjustment technology. In Relax mode, the VIP seat behind the front passenger seat can recline to 40 degrees, whilst the passenger seat is motored forwards and a beautifully leather-trimmed footrest deploys from the back of the front passenger seat. In Business Mode, the seat moves into its most upright position to make working on the move more comfortable along with the picnic table behind the front seat with Brunel leather insert. The function is operated by a one touch button located inside the door pocket or on the central rear screen. From the rear screen you can also option the massage you would like with five massage types available, Wave, Pulse, Stretch, Lumbar, or Shoulder with an intensity adjustment as well.
Using new thigh and shoulder pockets and additional lumbar massage pockets, the postural adjustment technology system subtly yet continuously changes the shape of the seat to ease pressure points around the body, preventing dead spots and fatigue build up. The use of air pockets enables more continuous and complex movements to be made – which are virtually imperceptible to the passenger – rather than the linear movements resulting from the use of seat motors. Six independent pressure zones can provide 177 adjustments every three hours to ensure that seat comfort is never compromised and minimising fatigue throughout a journey.





The auto climate seat technology senses occupant temperature and surface humidity and then determines whether to apply heat, ventilation or both simultaneously to keep the occupant at optimum thermal wellbeing. As soon as your desired temperature setpoint is selected from six different levels, the contact temperature and surface humidity are then directly measured – cushion and backrest independently – and the heating (on the seats, centre arm rest and the door arm rests) and ventilation are adjusted to achieve the required temperature. This is continuously monitored to ensure it remains constant as optimised body temperature is vital when the focus is on individual wellbeing and are perfection if you happen to be experiencing hot flushes.
The rear windows and powered blinds can be opened and closed from either side of the vehicle or from the rear control screen and they can also be operated from the driver’s window controls. Rear passengers have individual digital climate controls for temperature, mode, and air speed with central air vents and B pillar air vents. There is a wireless charging pad below the central air vents with one 12V socket and two more USB-C ports.

A simple gesture is all you need to open and close the tailgate of the Bentayga EWB or you can operate it by pressing the ‘B’ on the tailgate, using the key fob or the button in the cabin. The Bentayga has a large boot space, with the ability to have movable tie down points along the rails on the boot floor. The boot space has one 12V socket and one hook and if you need to carry long items there is a small centre opening in the centre rear seat. One handy feature is you can raise and lower the rear of the vehicle from buttons in the boot and I also liked the hard cargo cover.
The Bentayga EWB has front airbags protecting the driver and front passenger, front and rear side curtain airbags, and front and rear seat thorax airbags. Driver safety features include Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, and Lane Keep Assist. For convenience you also get auto lights with high-beam assist and auto wipers and a multi view rear camera with 360-degree view and 3D walk around and front and rear parking sensors.

All Bentley Motors vehicles have a three-year/unlimited kilometre new vehicle warranty with the option to purchase an Extended Service Program for extending coverage beyond the initial three years. Bentley recommends servicing the Bentayga annually or every 16,000 kms, whichever comes first. This includes a minor service every 12 months or 16,000 kms, and a major service every 24 months or 32,000 kms. A five-year Service Plan in is included in the purchase price of this Bentayga EWB Azure.

This 24-hour luxury experience, spending quality time with myself is something mums rarely get to do or even allow ourselves to do, and in the Bentley Bentayga EWB Azure, the vehicle itself was my wellness retreat. Prices for the Bentley Bentayga EWB Azure start from $525,300, excluding stamp duty and as tested this Bentayga EWB Azure was $714,975.40 including on-road costs in Victoria. You can configure your Bentley Bentayga EWB Azure online or visit your preferred Bentley dealer for more information.
Pros | Cons |
This could be the ultimate luxury driving experience | The voice control was not up to standard for setting a destination on the sat nav |
The attention to detail in the design and functionality | Has an older style adaptive cruise control stalk located behind the steering wheel |
The sustainability focus of Bentley Motors | The carpet mats are so thick that you might actually lose items in them |
Photographs by Driven Women Magazine.