Bentley Continental GT coupe - MPG, running costs & CO2
Improvements to the powerful engines available can't disguise fairly woeful fuel economy
At the top of the regular Continental GT range, you’ll still find a massive 6.0-litre W12 twin-turbocharged petrol engine, and it’s the engine that arrived first. It will suit buyers who simply want the ultimate Bentley experience, but many buyers are likely to be more interested in the smaller V8. Despite the difference in capacity, both engines share a decidedly 'healthy' thirst for fuel. The GT Speed is also fitted with a W12 but it’s been tuned with an even greater focus on performance.
Bentley Continental GT MPG & CO2
While it’s never going to be anything but thirsty, the W12 engine in this Continental is actually brand new, rather than carried over from the previous generation. It comes with an up-to-date, eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, helping to improve efficiency. Not only that, but it also features cylinder-deactivation technology that saves fuel by shutting down part of the engine when you don’t need it. This coaxes an official economy figure of 20.8mpg from the W12 and CO2 emissions of 308g/km. The GT Speed is likely to return around 20mpg too, although this figure is likely to be in the teens at best most of the time.
The V8 model claims fuel economy of 23.3mpg with CO2 emissions of just over 270g/km, so the difference between the W12 is negligible. Both versions are comfortably in the top BiK band for anyone brave enough to run either of them as a company car. The Continental GT sits in the standard VED (tax) band but there's a surcharge in years two to six owing to the car's high list price.
Insurance groups
You’ll most likely be on first-name terms with your insurance broker if you’re planning to cover a new Continental GT, and needless to say, it sits in group 50 – the most expensive position.
Warranty
Every Bentley comes with a three-year/unlimited-mileage warranty, which is fairly standard for the class, matching the cover for an Aston Martin DB11 and Mercedes-AMG GT.
Servicing
After investing in a Bentley, you’re likely to want to keep it in good shape and worth as much as possible. Official Bentley services are recommended annually (or after 10,000 miles) and include genuine replacement Bentley parts that get their own two-year warranty. It’s likely to be quite pricey, though, and it might surprise many to note that Ferrari maintenance is free for the first seven years of ownership.
