Bentley believes that this new Bentayga EWB variant will soon account for 45% of all Bentayga sales. And since the Bentayga is already the firm’s most popular model, you can expect to see plenty of these stretched SUVs hanging out in all the usual moneyed places.

The EWB in Bentayga EWB stands for Extended Wheel Base, which seems simple enough. But adding 180mm to the distance between the front and rear axles has not only resulted in changes to 2,500 individual parts, it’s also required significant upgrades to the Bentley factory in Crewe – achieved at equally significant nine-figure cost. Although the idea might be straightforward, the execution is not.

That entire 180mm is added within the length of the rear doors, clearly indicating this is very much about improving the rear passenger compartment – where you’ll find the option of the high-tech new Airline Seat. As such, the Bentayga EWB is not only a rival to the latest long-wheelbase Range Rover and (vastly more expensive) Rolls-Royce Cullinan, it also effectively replaces the recently deceased Mulsanne limousine in the Bentley line-up.

This further reflects the shift towards luxury SUVs away from more traditional luxury cars, including the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series. At the same time, many of the current portfolio of Bentayga buyers use the car as daily driver – far more than with any other Bentley – which has encouraged Bentley to give the EWB a more spirited driving experience than SUV limo-land might initially suggest.

So, as well as being – thus far – exclusively powered by a 550hp 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8, the Bentayga EWB comes as standard with rear-wheel steering, something that’s not even offered as an extra on the regular model. This helps with manoeuvrability, agility and stability, the foremost deftly illustrated by the 11.8m turning circle, which is tighter than that regular model can manage.

What’s it like inside?

As with all Bentleys, the interior of the Bentayga EWB is extremely well made and finished to a very high quality, although some may also find it old fashioned. This is in part down to how a particular vehicle is specified – and with what Bentley says is 24 billion trim combinations, the materials you choose for the cabin can make a big difference – but also the result of some of the details.

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For instance, the modest size of the infotainment screen and the traditional ‘organ stop’ ventilation controls are a decidedly different approach to more overtly modern prestige vehicles. Yet whatever you think about this, the degree of sheer luxury the Bentayga offers is breath-taking. Rear seat passengers even get a bespoke iPhone-size touchscreen remote control that’s electrically presented to them from the centre console.

Features introduced on the EWB include power-closing rear doors, elegantly elongated diamond stitching with softer-then-ever threading, and the option of Bentley Diamond Illumination LED mood-lighting via small perforations in the door panels. For many customers, however, the most important innovation for this model is surely the new Airline Seat option.

Comfort

Wherever you sit you’ll find a supportive, beautifully made seat with lots of adjustment. But the main attraction here is comfort in the rear. There are three main configurations – standard ‘four+one’, which gives you two main outer back seats (with 16-way adjustment, five massage settings, heating and ventilation) and a smaller middle seat for occasional use, a five-seater option which comes with a fold-down seat back for extra practicality, and a pure four-seater for paramount passenger space.

Beyond this, for ultimate indulgence you’ll want the £8,395 Airline Seat option, which Bentley describes as ‘the most advanced seat ever fitted to a car’. Offering up to 40 degrees of backrest adjustment, select the VIP Mode for maximum reclining and it will also automatically move the front passenger seat forward and extend a footrest from the back of this so you can put your feet up.

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You might be slightly disappointed by the resulting amount of legroom (some finessing of the footrest angle may be required on your part, heaven forbid); where the Airline Seat really excels itself is via the automatic climate system and the ‘Posture Adjust’ technology.

Seat Auto Climate regulates your preferred temperature with remarkable efficiency using sensors that constantly measure surface temperature and humidity. There are six settings to suit different preferences, to the extent that it’s reputedly able to cool the fevered. We can’t vouch for that part but can report it’s very effective otherwise – much subtler than traditional heated and ventilated seats, and super comfortable.

Posture Adjust is a similarly advanced massage system, using air pockets that can ‘twist’ as well simply move in and out. In addition to the conventional massage programs and new thigh and shoulder area targeting, once activated this makes constant minute adjustments to the seat to prevent pressure building up in any one place. This, too, works brilliantly.

Safety

Euro NCAP doesn’t test luxury vehicles like this so we have to rely on it being good business sense for Bentley to protect its high-flying clientele. The roster of fitted safety equipment includes driver and passenger front airbags, front and rear curtain airbags, and front and rear thorax airbags – plus a head-up display, night vision mode, traffic sign recognition and ‘crash mitigation’ technology.

You also get matrix LED headlights. But there is refreshingly little talk of self-driving or autonomous vehicle tech. We suppose many EWB owners will have human staff to take care of that. Though Bentley’s insistence that the Bentayga is still intended to deliver a sporting experience suggests there’s a benefit to taking the wheel from your chauffeur at least some of the time…

What’s it like to drive?

Considering this is a 5,322mm-long vehicle that weighs 2,514kg (in basic specification – so probably much heavier optioned-up in the manner of the examples we’ve been testing), the Bentayga EWB is really rather tidy to drive indeed. It isn’t as eye-poppingly agile as an appropriately specced Porsche Cayenne – the benchmark for unlikely accomplishment in large luxury SUVs – but it does a generally impressive job of blending comfort with high-speed capability.

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And the speeds are certainly high. For all that bulk, the 550hp engine and four-wheel drive means 0-62mph in just 4.6 seconds and maximum warp of 180mph, while the eight-speed automatic transmission and massive 770Nm of torque delivers thumping response once you’re already rolling. Foot to the floor, the EWB will shove you past slower traffic like a catapult, accompanied by an almost frantic-sounding V8 backing track to underline your vehicular superiority.

It’s quite the experience, surrounded as you are by plush leather and various flavours of veneer – one that’s largely managed very smoothly by the dynamic chassis aids. As well as rear-wheel steering, this Bentayga comes as standard with active anti-roll technology and continuously variable air suspension, all of which helps prevent it flailing into an undignified mess during faster, tighter cornering. The brakes cope admirably as well, given the forces involved, though will ultimately wilt during extended periods of very quick driving.

As such, if you do want to take the wheel yourself this is very much an SUV you can engage with. But although the active anti-roll works seamlessly, there is a slight lack of polish about that rear-wheel steer system. Many manufacturers offer this in an almost undetectable fashion now, whereas we found ourselves occasionally having to correct the expected steering line in the Bentayga EWB. Still worth it for the extra manoeuvrability it brings at low speeds, mind.

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On 22-inch alloy wheels, suspension comfort is good rather than exceptional. Although some variation is available via the drive mode selector – which also activates the various off-road modes available, should you want go chasing after Range Rovers or G-Classes – you’ll still feel some surfaces intrusions. It’s a worthy trade for the sharper handling.

Likewise, though Bentley says the EWB is quieter in the cabin than its competitors, we were surprised at how much road noise we could hear in the back. This varies with the type of road, but a cutting-edge electric SUV such as the BMW iX seems decidedly more hushed inside in our experience.

What models and trims are there?

There’s just the one engine option in the Bentayga Extended Wheel Base at the moment but it launches in two standard specifications: Azure and First Edition. Neither will leave you short of grandeur, but the First Edition – available for the first 12 months of orders only – packages up some of the more desirable options, including the Diamond Illumination, immense Naim hi-fi system and special metal overlays within the interior veneers.

Speaking of, there are 11 veneer choices, and five standard leather choices – with 10 more available on the extended list. Outside, there are seven standard paint colours, 56 extended paint colours and bespoke finishes on request. Which really only scratches the surface of the personalisation available. If you’re prepared to pay, the options list is basically bottomless.

What else should I know?

Although visually obvious from the side – where you’ll spot the elongated rear door, which helps to accentuate the Bentayga’s comparatively low roofline – you can also tell an EWB from the front, where the grille features prominent vertical strakes. Very imposing.

Other physical changes to the car include moving the glass roof panel backwards so it’s positioned over the rear passenger compartment. Meanwhile, the electric rear windows must be some of the largest in the industry.

Click through to our verdict page to see how we rate the Bentley Bentayga Extended Wheel Base.