Bentley Bentayga vs Range Rover: Battle of Britain
Bentley Bentayga vs Range Rover: Battle of Britain
Reliability Score
65/100
Based on owner reports and frequency of repairs.
Published on: Sun Feb 15 2026
Bentley Bentayga vs Range Rover: Battle of Britain
The Range Rover invented the segment. The Bentley Bentayga elevated it. Both are British icons (owned by Germans and Indians, respectively). Both ride on air. Both have wood and leather everywhere. Which one is the maintenance nightmare?
1. Engine Reliability
- Range Rover (L405/L460):
- 5.0L SC V8: Notorious for timing chain issues and random overheating. Engines blow up.
- New BMW V8 (N63/S63): Better, but complex.
- Bentley Bentayga:
- 4.0L V8 (EA825): The Audi engine. Robust. Proven in the Urus and Coyote.
- Winner: Bentley. The VW Group engine architecture is superior to JLR’s legacy V8s.
2. Suspension & Chassis
Both use air suspension.
- Range Rover: It is famous for “suspension faults.” Compressors fail. Valve blocks corrode.
- Bentley: Also uses air struts (Audi tech). They fail too, but generally last longer than the Rover’s.
- Cost: Both will cost you $5,000+ to refresh the suspension after 6-7 years.
3. Interior Quality
- Range Rover: Beautiful design. But things feel… slightly flimsy. Knobs wiggle. Screens freeze.
- Bentley: Solid metal. Knurled aluminium. The leather smells richer. It feels like a vault.
- Longevity: The Bentley interior wears better. Range Rover seats (especially white leather) look tired after 30k miles.
4. Status & Image
- Range Rover: “Old Money” (or soccer mom). Ubiquitous.
- Bentley: “New Money” (or very old money). Exclusivity. You see 50 Range Rovers for every 1 Bentayga.
5. Depreciation
Both are terrible.
- Range Rover: Drops 50% in 4 years.
- Bentley: Drops 45% in 4 years.
- Difference: The Bentley starts at a higher price, so the dollar loss is higher, even if the percentage is similar.
6. Verdict
If you want a car that will start every morning: Buy the Bentley Bentayga V8. The Audi underpinnings give it a reliability edge that JLR cannot match. The Range Rover is a gamble. A beautiful, comfortable gamble.
Reliability Winner: Bentley Bentayga.