2021 Bentley Bentayga Hybrid is the most politically correct luxury SUV

Six months ago, Bentley officially revealed the 2021 Bentayga. Now looking a lot more like a Continental GT on stilts, the luxury SUV not only looks sleeker but gets an upgraded interior as well. When it was released, interested customers could only get the Bentayga with either a V8 or a W12 in the Speed version. These palaces on wheels have twin-turbos, hardly a formula for fuel-efficiency.

But what if you wanted a Bentayga that emits fewer carbon emissions? Well, Bentley has just released the 2021 Bentayga Hybrid. Like the V8 and W12 models, the electrified version also gets the same updated looks and tech. But what makes this particular model green is its powertrain.

Under the hood of this electrified Bentayga is not a twin-turbo V8 or W12. Instead, it packs a 3.0-liter, twin-turbo V6 that benefits from an electric motor powered by a 17.3-kWh lithium battery. Despite having fewer cylinders, the V6 and electric motor put out a combined system output of 443 PS and 700 Nm of torque. An eight-speed dual-clutch transmission then sends power to all four wheels.

Despite being called the Bentayga Hybrid, this is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), meaning it can run on pure electricity should the driver prefer to. When on EV mode, the Bentayga can travel for 49 km without using a drop of fuel. As for its combined range, Bentley claims the Bentayga is capable of covering over 860 km. Meanwhile, a full recharge of the lithium battery will approximately take two and a half hours.

But just how long will the batteries last on the all-new Bentayga? According to Bentley, customers need not worry about replacing the said battery pack early on as they said it lasts until 160,000 km. The automaker says it will take around eight years before a Bentayga Hybrid will need to have its battery pack replaced.

With Bentley set to only make zero-emission cars by 2030, the 2021 Bentayga Hybrid is the company's first take in transitioning towards a fully-electric luxury automaker. But before Bentley can offer electric luxury vehicles, the company said that every model released in 2023 will have a hybrid option. Then come 2026, Bentley will only be offering PHEV and battery-electric models within its range.