Bentley Arnage Saloon

ON THE ROAD

Performance
Crushing acceleration is on tap thanks to muscular 450bhp and 500bhp turbocharged V8 engines, with up to 738lb ft of pull delivered through a creamy automatic gearbox. Owners can reap an intoxicating mix of effortless cruising with hot rod-style thrills.

Ride & handling
The Arnage delivers a magic carpet ride – although it also revels in charging through bends at speed. The steering is on the light side, but the Arnage handles well, although with all that power you can tweak the tail with a whiff of throttle. It’s all executed with the best possible road manners, naturally.

Refinement
While the Arnage’s hot-rod performance may look hectic from the outside, there’s an inner calm to the cars which leaves occupants unruffled. That’s more to do with a lofty sense of occasion and squashy seats than great ability on the part of the suspension. Wind and road noise is more noticeable than in a Mercedes S-Class.

OWNERSHIP

Buying & owning
If you want Bentley’s matchless craftsmanship, you’ll be prepared to write the cheque to cover it – although Mercedes, BMW and Jaguar offer cheaper products that only lack the Bentley’s prestige. Buyers must also be prepared for another kicking at resale time. These cars lose almost half of their value over three years. Ouch.

Quality & reliability
Much of the Arnage’s running gear is extremely well proven – a polite way of saying it’s been around for donkey’s years in various guises. The upside is that Bentley has had plenty of time to banish any gremlins, and the company will do anything to avoid a dissatisfied customer. The interior is well built, classy and bespoke.

Safety & security
As a prime target for crooks it’s no surprise that the Arnage features a high level of security kit. Buyers also get twin front, side and curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes and traction control, although there’s no dynamic stability control. There’s no three-point seatbelt for the central rear passenger, either.

IN THE CABIN

Behind the wheel
The leather and wood trim reeks of luxury and prestige but fails to satisfy on more practical levels. Opulent seats are short of side support in cornering, while the switchgear is scattered around the cabin in a fashion that would drive an ergonomist mad.

Space & practicality
Space is adequate for most people. However, a strangely high seating position and lack of adjustment of range mean the Arnage’s front seats don’t cater well for the very large – they’d be much better off in a German rival. Equally, rear seat leg- and headroom could be improved for those who prefer the chauffeured treatment.

Equipment
As buyers of a luxury car would expect, the Arnage comes with a terrific stereo, climate control sat-nav and leather. The Bentley difference comes from the bespoke range of extras that customers can order. So if you want a mother of pearl music box for your travelling companion to play with, speak to your dealer. Just don’t expect it to be cheap.

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