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Harry Metcalfe Drives Bentayga Bentayga to Geneva, Gets 20 MPG

Most journalists fly economy when they go to the Geneva Motor Show. Switzerland is, after all, the most expensive place to check out new cars in Europe. But the former Evo boss Harry Metcalfe got himself a Bentley Bentayga for the journey there and back, with a little Alpine detour.
Harry Metcalfe Drives Bentayga Bentayga to Geneva, Gets 20 MPG 16 photos
Photo: YouTube screenshot
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Harry knows a lot about the Range Rover, so we were curious to see how the Bentayga compares. In many regards, he says, it's a little better.

The first surprise of the video is the fuel economy, which is 20.9 mpg from the UK to Geneva. That might seem like a lot, but for massive SUV with a 12-cylinder engine, it's very good. Volkswagen stuffed a lot of fuel saving technology to make this 2.4-ton Goliath as frugal as possible. But a 4.0-liter diesel is already available if you're worried about your fuel bills.

The Bentayga is not that bulky when you consider the driver and a full tank are also taken into concern. But the Audi Q7 platform places the W12 6.0-liter engine right over the front axle, creating the understeer we associate with all quattro cars.

Metcalfe believes the Bentayga is supremely well insulated from the elements and rides even better than a Range Rover.

The design has been considered controversial ever since the EXP 9 F concept came out all those years ago. But Bentleys have always been flamboyant ever since the days of the Blowers that had a massive chrome grille. Strangely, the front is described as being its best angle, though we agree with Harry on the rear wiper looking like an afterthought.

Even though the platform and several major components are from Audi, you get a sense of great attention to detail as you are walked through the interior features. Sure, people think the Tesla Molde X is the car of the future, but the Bentayga is more anchored in the reality of a wealthy buyer.

We'll call him Metcalfe The Wise from now on - the trip he takes is over a week long, so the 25-minute video shows how his beard grows as well. Anyway, enjoy the experience only a few can afford.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
Mihnea Radu profile photo

Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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