Although the Bentayga was always meant to be the most expensive and most luxurious SUV to come from the VAG group, that doesn’t mean customers didn’t want more diversity from the platform. But it wouldn’t be until the 2019 model year that the Bentayga would get new powertrains in the US leaving customers with only one engine option, the top of the line W12. In order to expand its customer base and offer more choices to potential buyers, Bentley introduced the 2018 Bentayga Onyx Edition. The Onyx Edition was the cheapest trim level you could get in a Bentayga and it brought the base price under $200,000 for the first time since the Bentayga came out. That said, even the Onyx Edition still had tons of equipment, four wheel drive, the same powertrain as more expensive Bentaygas and an interior just as luxurious as the most expensive trim levels. That said, there were some signs that the Onyx Edition was cheaper than other Bentaygas that we will go into more detail later. Before that, if you are looking to buy a Bentayga, there are always a couple examples here at Exotic Car Trader so feel free to do a quick browse.
From the get go, the original Bentayga didn’t offer a lot of trim levels and it only had one drivetrain option. While that would change later on, for the 2018 model year, the W12 engine was the only one offered in the US. As for trim levels, customers had five options. Those included the Onyx Edition, Activity Edition, W12 Signature, Black Edition and Mulliner. Of the five trim levels, Onyx Edition was the cheapest one, and not by a small margin. The next most expensive trim was the Activity Edition which was $20,000 more than the Onyx. Of course, you could always add optional equipment to the Onyx and raise its price, which is what a lot of customers did, but for the first time you could buy a Bentayga for under $200,000. The Onyx Edition trim level was so popular that it remained once the latest 2020 Bentayga came out, but after that, the Onyx Edition was only available with the smaller V8 engine. That makes the 2018 Onyx Edition the only one with a W12, and the cheapest W12 Bentayga ever on offer.
On the outside, the difference between the Bentayga Onyx Edition and more expensive trim levels is minimal. Essentially, the Onyx Edition can hardly be differentiated from the rest of the lineup unless you know what to look for. One of the most noticeable differences are the wheels. The 2018 Bentayga Onyx Edition gets 20-inch wheels which don’t necessarily look small, but it’s visible that there is room for larger wheels. The 20-inch wheels also look a little lost inside the wings and quarter panels and ultimately look like a spare set of winter wheels. Still, looking at the bigger picture, nobody will notice that much as the biggest wheels available on the Bentayga at the time were only two inches bigger. Another somewhat noticeable difference are the mesh grills in the lower part of the bumper which on the Onyx are plastic without any fancy chrome or gloss black finishes. Other than that, the flying B logo is also missing although it could be added as optional equipment. The rear of the Bentayga is the same as all other ones with the exception of the boot spoiler which is bigger on more expensive models. On a positive note, the panoramic roof still came as standard.
Inside, the only difference between the Bentayga Onyx Edition and more expensive models are color options and trim materials. With the Onyx Edition, customers could choose from five different leather colors with a single tone split. Extra color options and different color splits were still available but at an extra cost. As for the trim finishes, the 2018 Bentayga Onyx Edition got the Dark Fiddleback Eucalyptus wood as standard. The eucalyptus wood was a deep, dark brown color which made the interior very warm and welcoming. But customers could also choose from seven other trims, but again, at an extra cost. As far as technology goes, the Bentayga Onyx was packed with all 11 driver aids available at the time. Those included a top view camera, lane assist, traffic assist, blind spot assist, exit warning and automatic cruise control to name a few. The infotainment system came with Apple CarPlay as standard. Rear two zone climate controls were also standard but heated and ventilated seats were optional.
The 2018 Bentayga Onyx Edition uses the same 6 liter, W12 twin turbocharged engine as found in all other, more expensive Bentaygas of the time. The one in the Onyx wasn’t detuned and it still retains the four wheel drive system and the same 8 speed dual clutch transmission. That means the Bentayga Onyx makes 608 horsepower and runs to 60 in just under 4 seconds despite weighing 5,400 lbs. The top speed is also the same as it was before at 187 mph putting it in the top three fastest production SUVs in 2018. Naturally, the Bentayga Onyx Edition isn’t what you’d call an economic family SUV as it has a combined fuel consumption of 15 mpg. Still, for a vehicle of its size and power that’s pretty impressive. As for handling, with its 20 inch rims the Onyx Edition isn’t the best handling Bentayga, especially since there are models with a driver’s package with improved suspension. But that means the Onyx Edition is among the most comfortable Bentaygas.
Back in 2018 the Bentayga Onyx Edition had a starting price of $195,000. That was $44,000 less expensive than the Black Edition and a whopping $103,000 less than the Bentayga Mulliner. Quite a discount considering the Onyx Edition doesn’t differ from other Bentaygas in any meaningful way other than lacking certain high end luxuries and equipment. How much a 2018 Onyx Edition goes for today is difficult to say as the Onyx Edition part isn’t usually advertised in used car ads. Still, the cheapest 2018 Bentaygas with less than 50,000 miles on the clock go for just under $100,000. That means it’s not the biggest bargain out there, but keep in mind you are still getting a Bentley SUV.
Ultimately, the Bentley Onyx Edition is the cheapest Bentayga you could get despite the trim name sounding expensive. And yet, the price is from what it seems artificially brought down so it appeals to a wider range of customers before new drivetrains arrive in 2019. That means the Onyx Edition was by far the best value for money back in 2018 but it’s difficult to say whether or not that’s true today. Regardless, all Bentaygas have depreciated substantially so if you are in the market for one, Exotic Car Trader can help you make the purchasing process as convenient as possible. Exotic Car Trader handles everything from escrow and inspection to paperwork and delivery among other things. The same is true if you are looking to sell your current vehicle through Exotic Car Trader, or are looking to trade it in with one of our current sellers.
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