2006 Bentley Continental GT Test Drive

The Younger, Hipper Bentley

Drive one and you'll be everybody's new best friend.

Interior

Buttery-smooth leather, lacquered wood trim, chrome and aluminum vents and handles — and that's only the backseat. The Continental GT is a very luxurious car with an interior to match.

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Unlike other ultra-luxury vehicles, there are no complex operating systems to decipher, so it’s easy to settle in and get comfortable. Ride height and suspension tuning can be accessed with a few buttons and a large screen mounted in the center of the dash. The same screen displays everything from satellite navigation to fan speeds, interior temperature settings and even tire pressure. Unlike other systems, the Bentley's screen is not prone to washing out in direct sunlight.

One favorite party trick was the console-mounted button that raises and lowers a tiny spoiler set at the base of the rear windscreen.  In U.S.-market vehicles, this aerodynamic appendage automatically raises at 50 mph, whereas European models deploy in the 80- to 90-mph range. When up, it detracts from the car's clean lines and looks gimmicky.

Nevertheless, during the first day of testing it was impossible to resist raising it at every stoplight.

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Seating is adequate, with plenty of room in front and space for children or — if the journey is short — average-size adults in the rear. The Ferrari Scaglietti offers similar space, but forget the Astons if you need to carry more than one passenger. The Vanquish (with optional rear seats) and DB9's rear quarters are best suited to Jack Russell Terriers. Front-seat occupants in the Continental enjoy the added benefit of built-in lumbar massagers, which role up and down the occupant's lower back. (A back rub at license-losing speeds is an automotive indulgence everyone should experience at least once.)

The trunk has a generous 13 cubic feet of volume and easily swallowed a week's worth of luggage. One major gripe, the six-disc CD changer is located in the glovebox, making disc reloading an annoying pull-over-and-get-out affair when driving solo.