Bentley Bentayga vs Aston Martin DBX vs Lamborghini Urus: which one is the best value for money?

Bentley has a long and illustrious history of producing some of the world’s best luxury vehicles, particularly when it comes to large luxury sedans and GT coupes. The most recent automotive trend has seen all premium manufacturers produce SUVs, and Bentley is no exception, with the British marque having introduced the Bentayga, its first-ever SUV, in 2015. The Bentayga received a mid-life refresh in 2020, including a comprehensively updated interior and exterior.

There are two Bentayga models available locally, the V8 and the Speed, and for today’s purposes, we have chosen the ‘cheaper’ V8 model so that we can compare it with two other premium performance SUVs, the Aston Martin DBX and Lamborghini Urus. Today we are going to determine which one of these three offers the best value for money.

The competitors

	Bentley Bentayga V8	Aston Martin DBX	Lamborghini Urus
Engine size	8-cyl, 4.0-litre turbo petrol	8-cyl, 4.0-litre turbo petrol	8-cyl, 4.0-litre turbo petrol
Power/Torque	404 kW/770 Nm	405 kW/700 Nm	478 kW/850 Nm
Kerb Weight	2 416 kg	2 245 kg	2 200 kg
0-100km/h	4.5 sec	4.5 sec	3.6 sec
Airbag count	8	6	6
Driven wheels	All	All	All
Load Volume	484-litres	632-litres	616-litres
Price	R3 835 000	R3 899 000	R3 995 000
Top speed	290km/h	291km/h	305km/h
Maintenance plan	3 yr/100 000 km	3 yr/ unlimited	3 yr/100 000 km

 

Comparing the trio

Practicality

All three of these products are massive, measuring over 5.0-litres long, around 2.2-metres wide and with wheelbases around 3.0-metres long. This means that all models offer spacious seating for five occupants, however, there is the option of four or seven seats in the Bentley and a more individual four-seat configuration in the Lamborghini too. In terms of boot space, the Aston Martin offers the most boot space, followed by the Lamborghini and then the Bentayga. All three models, in a five-seat configuration, offer split-folding rear seats, meaning that the loading areas of each product can expand dramatically.

Power and performance

Both the Bentley and Lamborghini share a platform, engine and gearbox from the Volkswagen Group, however, they each go about their approach to performance quite differently. The Lamborghini has far more power from the same 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, producing 478kW and 850Nm of torque versus the 404kW and 770Nm of torque from the Bentley. The Bentayga is also 212kg heavier than the Urus, making it slower to 100km/h and a top speed of 290km/h versus the 305km/h in the Urus. This is rather predictable though, as Lamborghini is traditionally associated with pure performance while Bentley is more about effortless luxury and comfort, facts backed up by the figures.

The Aston Martin has a Mercedes-AMG-derived twin-turbo V8 engine and a 9-speed automatic gearbox. The DBX produces similar power to the Bentayga but has less torque, however, the DBX is quite a bit lighter, making it the second-fastest car here, another predictable conclusion as Aston Martin products have traditionally blended luxury with performance with its products.

Specification

The list prices for these products are misleading as every single one of these products that leave the factory are highly specified and personalised to the respective owner’s taste. Having said that, looking at what comes as standard is a fantastic way to gauge which model offers the best value for money.

All three models come with massive alloy wheels, 21-inch items on the Urus and Bentayga and 22-inch wheels on the DBX, adaptive air suspension, four-zone climate control, touchscreen infotainment systems with full smartphone integration and keyless entry. Both the DBX and Bentyaga come with heated/electric front leather seats (rear in the Bentayga), while the Urus has a combination of leather and suede,

The DBX offers the most in terms of semi-autonomous driving features, with lane departure warning, lane keep assist, surround-view cameras, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot detection. Both the DBX and Bentayga both get panoramic roofs which is an option in the Urus. The Bentayga gets a head-up display, night vision cameras and Matrix LED headlights

Safety

Premium products that are built-in lower numbers are rarely offered for crash tests, however, both the Lamborghini and Bentley are based on the same MLB Evo platform and share many of their safety systems with the likes of the Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg, which have achieved 5-Star ratings in Euro NCAP tests.

The Aston Martin does not have any commonalities aside from its Mercedes-AMG powertrain and electronics, however, the DBX comes with 6 airbags and various semi-autonomous safety systems that are sure to make the DBX safe in the event of a collision.

Warranty & maintenance plan

Both the Bentley and Lamborghini come as standard with 3-year/100 000km comprehensive maintenance contracts with are extendable to 5-year plans. The Aston Martin is available with a 3-year/unlimited mileage service plan and warranty, making its offering similar to the Urus and Bentayga.

Verdict

Having looked at the figures, a definitive conclusion is difficult to come to as the real-world prices of these products vary so much as a result of the extensive list of personalisation options. Looking at the base model vehicles though, the Bentley and Aston Martin offer incredibly similar value, performance and specification, with the Bentley coming in as the cheapest product of the lot. The Lamborghini offers the most performance of the three but is the most expensive. By the slimmest of margins, we are granting the win to the Bentley, simply because it has the lowest list price.