---
title: "2022 Bentley Bentayga S: Sportier Handling and Louder Exhaust, Same 542 HP"
description: "When the \"S\" simply stands for Sportier."
date: "2021-05-25"
modified: "2021-05-25"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Tsui"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-tsui"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/40763/2022-bentley-bentayga-s-sportier-handling-and-louder-exhaust-same-542-hp"
categories:
  - "Bentley News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Bentayga"
  - "bentley"
  - "luxury"
  - "suv/crossover"
---

# 2022 Bentley Bentayga S: Sportier Handling and Louder Exhaust, Same 542 HP

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2021/05/Bentayga-S-3.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Not satisfied with merely offering a regular Bentayga, a [W12-powered Bentayga Speed](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/35621/2021-bentley-bentayga-speed-a-12-cylinder-626-hp-ritz-carlton-on-wheels>), and a gas-sipping Bentayga Hybrid, Bentley is introducing a fourth member to its SUV family called the Bentayga S, a car that's said to be "the most sporting of Bentaygas."

Appearing to focus on handling rather than straight-line speed like the aptly-named [Bentayga](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/34269/2021-bentley-bentayga-swankier-design-more-legroom-fancier-wipers>) Speed does, the Bentayga S is powered by the same engine as the vanilla version: a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 making the same 542 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque. Like that base Bentayga, zero to 60 mph happens in 4.4 seconds and 180 mph is the fastest the Bentayga S will go.

![message-editor%2F1621903671414-bentaygas-4.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1621903671414-bentaygas-4.jpg>)
**Bentley**

What Bentley *has* done to make the S a more deft vehicle in the bends is give it its own Sport suspension tuning including Bentley Dynamic Ride with a 48-volt electric active anti-roll control system. A new Sport driving mode provides better steering feel, turn-in response, and less body roll thanks to air suspension dampers that are 15 percent stiffer. To cap things off in the handling department, the [Bentley](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/40480/bentley-just-had-its-best-quarter-ever-because-tough-economic-times-are-purely-a-mindset>) SUV's brake-based torque vectoring has been recalibrated.

A new sportier-sounding, freer-flowing exhaust has been fitted too and makes itself known through a new, split-oval exit design.

![message-editor%2F1621903984619-bentaygas-2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1621903984619-bentaygas-2.jpg>)
*Bentley*

![message-editor%2F1621903995589-bentaygas-5.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1621903995589-bentaygas-5.jpg>)
*Bentley*

![message-editor%2F1621904004213-bentaygas-6.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1621904004213-bentaygas-6.jpg>)
*Bentley*

![message-editor%2F1621904010538-bentaygas-7.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1621904010538-bentaygas-7.jpg>)
*Bentley*

![message-editor%2F1621904015699-bentaygas-8.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1621904015699-bentaygas-8.jpg>)
*Bentley*

![message-editor%2F1621904021405-bentaygas-9.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1621904021405-bentaygas-9.jpg>)
*Bentley*

![message-editor%2F1621904026493-bentaygas-10.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1621904026493-bentaygas-10.jpg>)
*Bentley*

![message-editor%2F1621904031947-bentaygas-11.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1621904031947-bentaygas-11.jpg>)
*Bentley*

![message-editor%2F1621904039664-bentaygas-13.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1621904039664-bentaygas-13.jpg>)
*Bentley*

![message-editor%2F1621904048350-bentaygas-14.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1621904048350-bentaygas-14.jpg>)
*Bentley*

![message-editor%2F1621904054507-bentaygas-15.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1621904054507-bentaygas-15.jpg>)
*Bentley*

Speaking of aesthetic additions, the Bentayga S gets darkened headlights and taillights, black exterior trim throughout (including the edge of the new rear spoiler), and new 22-inch wheels. Available with four, five, or seven seats as usual, the Bentayga S also receives a new "color-split" interior setup accompanying a new set of seats and a bunch of Alcantara.

![message-editor%2F1621904070422-bentaygas-19.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1621904070422-bentaygas-19.jpg>)
*Bentley*

![message-editor%2F1621904079515-bentaygas-20.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1621904079515-bentaygas-20.jpg>)
*Bentley*

![message-editor%2F1621904086583-bentaygas-22.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1621904086583-bentaygas-22.jpg>)
*Bentley*

Bentley has not announced a price for the Bentayga S so we can't really comment on whether it's worth getting over the regular Bentayga V8. Although, to most Bentayga buyers, the words "value for money" are just random letters on a page so I'm not sure that matters very much.

*Got a tip or question for the author about the Bentayga S? You can reach them here: chris.tsui@thedrive.com*

## Author
Chris Tsui is *The Drive*'s former Reviews Editor and current freelance automotive journalist. He's based in Toronto.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/cltsuii/>)