Bentley Bentayga 2016 review

Meet the world's fastest and most expensive SUV Bentley Bentayga.

After tantalizing overseas test drives, the first example has finally arrived on Australian roads.

Fewer than 50 vehicles will be delivered by the end of this year, and the queue has already stretched into early 2017, despite the attractive price of the equivalent of two Range Rovers or more.

The nearly half-million-dollar Bentley ($494,009 as tested) is proof that the world's love for SUVs still knows no bounds—financial or technological.

With a top speed of 301 km/h that beats most Porsches and a 0 to 100 km/h time that beats most Ferraris, the Bentayga takes the off-road world to the next level.

The Breitling watch on the dashboard costs almost $300,000.

It is similar to the new Audi Q7 and uses an engine derived from the one used in the recently discontinued flagship Volkswagen Phaeton limousine.

The ingredients are then packaged in Bentley designer packaging, which is an acquired flavor that I have yet to acquire.

Why would the automotive world need such a car? This was not the only issue we pondered.

It also has the dubious honor of having the most expensive car accessory in the world.

The Breitling watch on the dash costs almost $300,000 - on top of the car's $494,009 price tag.

Yes, and there is already a digital clock on the car's instrument display.

Bentley claims that Breitling can only produce four of these car watches a year, and two of them have already been sold. Apparently, none of them are on cars bound for Australia.

Other accessories include a $55,000 picnic basket, a $10,000 leather-lined child seat, and a $6500 rear seat dog cage.

Radar cruise control is part of the $15,465 "touring" package, while floor mats are $972.

Sensors that let you open the tailgate when your hands are full - with the deft movement of one foot under the bumper - cost $1702 on a Bentley, though they're standard on the $40,000 Ford Kuga.

The lighter costs $1151. The price of luxury.

The brute power of this engine is available almost instantly

But the Bentayga has an engine that no other SUV on the planet has: a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 (the W isn't a typo, it's two V6s mounted back-to-back in a W-shape, not a V-shape).

Combined with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, this is one of the key reasons why the Bentley was apparently able to defy physics and haul 2.4 tons a short distance in a very short amount of time.

Curious to see how close we can get to the claimed 0-100 km/h time of 4.1 seconds (on par with the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S), we were stunned to find that after a few attempts it reached 4.2 seconds with relative ease.

This was all the more surprising because - as hard as it may be to believe - he doesn't feel particularly fast.

This is because the brute force of this engine is available almost instantly, and the layers of soundproofing make the whole process almost silent.

Your senses aren't frightened by the raspy sound of the engine and exhaust, but your body knows something isn't quite right because your neck muscles are working overtime to keep your head from snapping back from the sudden acceleration.

Its ability to corner is a bigger advantage than the power of the engine.

The next surprise that defied the senses was the Bentayga's ability to corner with more agility than the physics of such a large, heavy car should allow.

Massive 22-inch wheels wrapped in sticky Pirelli P Zero tires work wonders, as does the well-tuned air suspension.

Frankly, its ability to corner is a bigger advantage than the power of the engine. And that's saying something.

Disadvantages? European reliability is still in question; After all, Bentley is owned by the Volkswagen giant Audi Group. Our test car, a pre-production model, had a suspension fault warning light, although we were assured that everything was fine and everything was fine.

The consolation is that customers get free business class travel to their destination if the car breaks down during warranty service.

I got into the Bentley Bentayga with low expectations and walked away stunned by the breadth of its capabilities - even if you're not far off the beaten track if you need a spare to save space.

However, for all its merits, it is difficult to justify the cost.

An epic car at an epic price. What a shame, it's wrapped in a boring vintage design. If only it looked like a Range Rover.

What options would you note when ordering a Bentayga? Would you really like a $300,000 watch on your dashboard? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

Click here to learn more about 2016 Bentley Bentayga pricing and specifications.