Bentley Continental GT (2018 – present) | Expert Rating [hide]
Summary
The Bentley Continental GT is a large luxury 2+2 coupé. The current model is the third generation and was unveiled at the 2017 Frankfurt motor show and went on sale in 2018.
Unlike the first two generations of Continental GT, which were based on a Volkswagen platform, the new model shares its underpinnings with the Porsche Panamera. This has made it a far more dynamic car to drive. The GT was originally launched with a W12 petrol engine, and a new V8 engine option was added in early 2019.
The Continental GT has a sister convertible model, the GTC. We are building a separate page for this car, so check back soon. There is also a saloon relative called the Flying Spur, which shares its platform and a lot of its components with the Continental models.
The Bentley Continental GT has received unanimously positive reviews from the UK motoring media, ranging from good to outstanding. It has received particular praise for its improved driving dynamics and luxurious cabin, with the only real criticisms being that the improved handling has resulted in a small trade-off in ride comfort.
As of January 2022, the Continental GT has an Expert Rating of 85% based on 22 reviews, which is four points better than the Aston Martin DB11.
Key specifications
Body style: CoupéEngines: petrol
Price: From £159,100 on-road
Launched: Spring 2018Last updated: Spring 2019
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
The Car Expert
Model reviewed: V8“The Bentley Continental GT V8 is a grand tourer first and foremost. But the weight shed by swapping the W12 out for the V8 gives it real agility in the corners.”
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Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 9 / 10“Porsche Panamera underpinnings help push the new Bentley Continental GT to the top of its class.”
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Model reviewed: V8Score: 9 / 10“Once again the V8-engined Bentley Continental GT is the pick of the Continental range, with performance nearly as good as the W12-engined flagship but improved handling.”
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Model reviewed: 6.0-litre petrol automaticScore: 9 / 10“The new Bentley Continental GT covers ground effortlessly, and its sumptuously finished cabin puts rivals to shame. It’s better to drive than before, and the engine is silky smooth; feeling fast and refined in equal measure.”
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Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8.2 / 10“Forget any preconceived ideas about the Bentley Continental GT being nothing but a piece of bling beloved by premiership footballers – this latest model is one of the very best luxury four-seater performance cars you can buy. Choose from the flagship W12 or the slightly sportier V8 – both are brilliant.”
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Autocar
Model reviewed: GT V8Score: 9 / 10“I drove it up a Welsh mountain because I could, and both the primary and secondary ride were as good as anyone could reasonably expect a car like this. Nothing similar in my experience even comes close.”
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Model reviewed: Range reviewScore: 9 / 10“Crewe takes the less-is-more approach with V8-powered Conti and scores the most convincing and enjoyable result in the recent history of the mainstream Bentley.”
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Model reviewed: W12 Launch EditionScore: 9 / 10“The car’s towering real-world performance and all-surface stability will be big draws for customers who use their cars on a daily basis, but they come partnered with much better body control and cornering poise than existing GT owners will be used to.”
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Car
Model reviewed: 6.0-litre petrol automatic SpeedScore: 8 / 10“If to you Bentley is as much about Le Mans glory, immersive driving pleasure and the most genteel application of corrective lock as you give an almighty engine its head, then the Speed is the car for you.”
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Model reviewed: V8Score: 10 / 10“Simply put, this Continental is almost as refined as the W12 when you want it to be, but significantly more fun when you don’t.”
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 7.6 / 10“The Bentley Continental GT has been reborn with improved technology that makes it feel lighter and nimbler than before.”
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Carwow
Model reviewed: GT coupé rangeScore: 9 / 10“The Bentley Continental GT is as luxurious as a Rolls-Royce but faster and a lot more fun to drive. Unfortunately, this winning combination does not come cheap.”
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Daily Mail
Score: 10 / 10“This is definitely the greatest car made in the past 20 years.” (Chris Evans)
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Evo
Score: 9 / 10“The new Bentley Continental GT takes many of its underlying ingredients from the wider VW group, has a snug but useable four-seat cabin and a sense of mass and refinement that come with having an historic badge such as Bentley’s on the bootlid.”
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Model reviewed: V8Score: 9 / 10“The driver’s choice amongst the Bentley range and a superb all-round grand tourer.”
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Score: 9 / 10“The latest Continental represents a giant leap forward, and now offers genuine driver engagement alongside the expected GT brief.”
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 9 / 10“The Bentley Continental GT is a hugely capable all-rounder, with hand-built, sumptuous luxury mixing with mighty performance and, now, a chassis that’s better equipped to enjoy and exploit it. It’s difficult to find fault with as a fast, comfortable grand tourer.”
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Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“It might be completely outmoded in the days of inexpensive air travel, but the Bentley Continental GT is still utterly relevant in the world of fast, luxurious cars, with a breadth of ability that makes it hugely compelling choice to those who buy it.”
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Motoring Research
Model reviewed: 6.0-litre petrol automatic SpeedScore: 10 / 10“The Continental GT Speed is no wannabe road racer. It has the same pillowy leather, knurled aluminium switches and hand-crafted veneers as any Continental GT. And on Sicilian roads dotted with kamikaze Fiat Pandas, it manifests the same long-distance comfort. The three-chamber air suspension is scarcely stiffer than the standard car, ironing out potholes with imperious disdain. “
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Model reviewed: Range overview (coupé and convertible)Score: 9 / 10“No other manufacturer does luxury and performance quite like Bentley. Which makes the Continental GT Coupe one of the best grand tourers on the planet.”
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The Sunday Times
Score: 8 / 10“Overall, this is an absolutely fabulous car. A brilliant piece of completely over-the-top styling sitting like the icing on a properly made cake. If I had to choose between this and the DB11, I’d be in what the experts call ‘a right old muddle’. But as I’m pushing 60 now, I’d probably go for the Continental.” (Jeremy Clarkson)
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Score: 8 / 10“A wonderfully smooth, fast and comfortable grand tourer.”
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed: V8Score: 10 / 10“It’s hard not to talk in superlatives when discussing the latest Bentley Continental GT, and this V8 version is the best yet. Whether you’re trickling around town, sweeping down a back road or blasting across a continent, it feels nothing short of brilliant.”
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Model reviewed: W12Score: 10 / 10“Power, comfort and emotional warmth. As the era of the automobile draws to a close, it’s things like the Bentley Continental GT that will really make us miss it.”
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Top Gear
Score: 8 / 10“Comfort and relaxation may have slipped maybe five per cent, but dynamism is up 50 per cent. And most importantly, that ability and behaviour suits the Bentley Continental GT well.”
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What Car?
Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“The Bentley Continental GT is a fine grand tourer that gets the balance between sports car and luxury car just about spot on. We’d take ours in ‘entry-level’ V8 form over the flagship W12 model due to its more characterful soundtrack and sharper handling.”
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Safety rating
No safety rating
The Bentley Continental GT has not been crash-tested by Euro NCAP. Previous generations of Continental have never been tested by Euro NCAP, so we don’t expect that this one will be, either.
Eco rating
No eco rating
The Bentley Continental GT has not been lab tested by Green NCAP. This is a new initiative, launched in 2018 as a sister organisation to Euro NCAP, and only a few cars have do far been assessed. As yet, very few new cars have been tested for environmental impact by Green NCAP, and inevitably the testing programme was halted in early 2020 by the coronavirus pandemic.
We’re not expecting the Continental GT to be put through its paces by Green NCAP but, if it does happen, we’ll publish the results here.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Bentley Continental GT has received
2019
- UK Car of the Year Awards – Best Coupé
- News UK Motor Awards – British-Built Car of the Year + Jeremy Clarkson People’s Car of the Year
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Bentley Continental GT, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Aston Martin DB11 | Aston Martin DBS | BMW 8 Series | Ferrari Roma | Lexus LC | McLaren GT | Mercedes-AMG S63 | Polestar 1 | Rolls-Royce Wraith
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