Bentley Continental (2003-) Review

Comfort and Equipment

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For a sporting car, the Bentley's ride comfort is very good. No, it's not limo-plush, and it doesn't strike as good a balance between firmness and smoothness as the much newer GTC. But it rounds off almost any small or large bumps and has excellent damping, so there are no after-shocks or shudder. The tyres are also pretty quiet, so the main noise you hear is from the W12 engine - and who'd want to miss that?

The seats are power multi-adjustable and even have a massage function in the front; the air-conditioning is also a superb four-zone system that can be programmed individually by every occupant. Four seats are part of the package, and the rear pair are certainly luxurious, but if a front seat is set far back or far down there's a shortage of foot room behind. At best, the knee- and headroom in the back are somewhere around supermini levels. The boot is big enough for touring baggage and there's a ski flap.

It comes with controls mounted on the steering wheel and an in-dash CD changer; the audio system sounds excellent. The sat nav is integrated into the same big central screen as many other functions and, like the stereo, can also display subsidiary info on a small colour screen between the speedo and rev counter.