2018 Bentley Continental Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　

What's new

For 2018, only the Continental convertible will be availablePart of the second Continental generation introduced for 2011

　　There's a new 2020 Bentley Continental Coupe set to go on sale this summer, which means this is the finale for this second-generation Continental production run. The 2018 Bentley Continental lineup will consist of just the convertible, but it will continue to be available with five engine varieties.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2018 Bentley Continental GT 2dr Convertible AWD (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$303/mo  for Continental GT

　　Continental GT

　　GT 2dr Convertible AWD (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 8A) - $236,100 MSRPGT Speed 2dr Convertible AWD (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 8A) - $264,300 MSRPGT Supersports 2dr Convertible AWD (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $322,600 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　Unfortunately, the Continental has been showing its age lately since it lacks many of the latest advanced safety features and technological upgrades. While it still has plenty of performance, luxury, refinement and prestige, it's possible that you'll find a rival convertible to be more appealing.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

　　As an all-new Bentley Continental coupe waits in the wings, Bentley closes out the 2018 model year with just the convertible body style. This Continental is showing its age, but it remains desirable for its refinement, speed and prestige.

　　

Driving

　　The Continental is a grand touring machine. It's heavy, but the adaptive suspension and all-wheel drive do their best to keep the car composed when you're driving around turns. Thanks to the stout V8 or W12, there's no shortage of smooth, effortless power.

　　

Comfort

　　Plush leather seats and a quiet interior make the inside of the Continental a great place to spend time. But the car's high beltline can make it a bit hard to see out for some shorter drivers. The rear seats, while convenient for around-town trips, are too small for adults to do any real touring in.

　　

Interior

　　The Continental doesn't have the latest in-car technology. Instead, Bentley focuses on old-world craftsmanship and the relatively analog nature of the cockpit. The Continental is one of the few performance cars you can just hop in and easily figure out how everything works.

　　

Utility

　　While the rear seats are beautiful, the seatbacks don't fold down. The trunk itself is deep, but it's difficult to fit larger suitcases or boxes in the back due to the short aperture of the trunk opening. But the trunk carpeting is plush and soft, so you might just want to leave it empty anyway.

　　

Technology

　　The navigation and climate control systems are easy to use. But the Continental lacks many of the latest in-car technology and advanced driver safety features found on rival cars.

　　

Which Continental does zzdcar recommend?

　　Any Bentley Continental convertible is going to please the vast majority of drivers, but our pick is the GT Speed. With 633 horsepower and an estimated 0-60 mph time of only 3.9 seconds, it's an inspiring performer. The sport-tuned suspension strikes a good balance of comfort and handling, too.

　　

2018 Bentley Continental models

　　The 2018 Bentley Continental is only offered as a convertible as a new coupe joins the lineup for 2020. The convertible comes in five versions: the GT V8, GT V8 S, GT, GT Speed and the Supersports. The GT V8 features the V8 engine, while the GT V8 S version makes a bit more power. The remaining Continentals all come with the W12 engine. The regular GT serves as the base. The line then expands with the Continental GT Speed, which has a more powerful W12, and the Supersports, which produces even more power. All Continental variants have an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

　　Under the hood of the GT V8 is a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 that produces 500 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque. This allows the V8 to accelerate to 60 mph in a claimed 4.7 seconds. Standard feature highlights include 20-inch wheels, a fabric folding top, xenon headlights, an adaptive air ride suspension, an 8-inch infotainment screen, and an eight-speaker audio system with satellite radio. The GT V8 S increases power output to 521 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque.

　　The Continental GT uses Bentley's turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 engine, and here it produces 582 hp and 531 lb-ft of torque. One step up in terms of power and performance, the Continental GT Speed has a revised W12 good for 633 hp and 620 lb-ft of torque. The Speed receives 21-inch wheels and sits 10 mm lower thanks to a sportier suspension calibration.

　　At the top, the Continental Supersports takes the power levels up an additional notch to 700 hp and 750 lb-ft of torque by utilizing larger turbos and different internal hardware. The Supersports features the most aggressive suspension, transmission and stability control calibration, and it adds carbon-ceramic brake rotors and brake-based torque vectoring.

　　Added features for the V8 S, the GT Speed and the Supersports include gloss-black exterior trim, sporty exterior enhancements, a sport-tuned suspension and unique interior trim treatments. As with all Bentleys, buyers can choose from a dizzying array of exterior and interior colors, wheels, embroidery, stitching, piping and wood or metallic trim. Notable options across the lineup include an optional Naim premium audio system, a Wi-Fi hotspot and adaptive cruise control.

　　

2018 Continental Highlights

Type: GT SpeedConvertibleGT SupersportsConvertible

　　Trim: GTGT SpeedGT SupersportsGT

　　

Base MSRP	$236,100
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	15 MPG
Cost to Drive	$303/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	9.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / unlimited miles