The Bentley Bentayga sits in the highest echelon of luxury SUVs, a category that also includes the Aston Martin DBX, Lamborghini Urus, Mercedes-Maybach GLS-Class, Rolls-Royce Cullinan, and nicer versions of the Land Rover Range Rover. First introduced for the model year 2017, the 2021 Bentayga gets a facelift and some major updates.

Starting at the front, the Bentayga displays a front fascia reworked to more closely resemble those of the newest Bentley models. The grilles are enlarged and take up more real estate, while new quad-element LED-matrix headlights resemble cut crystal glassware. At the back, new ovoid taillights evoke the Continental GT, wrapped by a clamshell liftgate. All wheel options are new. Even the stance is slightly different, thanks to a 20-millimeter increase in the rear track width. Inside, the center stack, seats, steering wheel, and door trims are all new. Depending on the specification, rear legroom increases by up to 100 mm.

Bentley lets you have your Bentayga in two flavors, V8 and Speed. The V8 carries over a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter engine from the previous model year, with 542 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque. That provides a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph, per Bentley. This year, the middle trim option, which previously got you a lower-tuned 12-cylinder engine, has been discontinued. That leaves the top-trim Speed, with its magnificent twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12, capable of 626 hp and 664 lb-ft. The Speed will do 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 190 mph, according to Bentley.

The sole transmission across the range is an eight-speed automatic. All-wheel drive (AWD), active air suspension, and eight drive modes let you make the most of the Bentayga’s power, on or off-road. In a nod to efficiency, both the V8 and W12 can deactivate half their cylinders. Should you want to tow, the maximum rating is 7,716 pounds.

The Bentayga’s tech stack gets substantial updates for 2021. You’ll find a new 10.9-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay, along with a redesigned digital instrument panel and a standard wireless phone charger. Rear-seat occupants get a new enlarged remote-control tablet, and new USB-C ports abound. Even the telematics system now includes its own data connection. Other new features include optional cooled seats for rear passengers. In keeping with Bentley tradition, both the V8 and Speed offer a plethora of paint, leather hide, wheel, and trim options, including new dark tint diamond-brushed aluminum trim and two new straight-grain wood veneer options.

Bentley’s list of standard and optional safety features for the Bentayga includes forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, automatic parking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. No major external agency has crash-tested the Bentayga, which isn’t unusual for cars at this price point.

The 2021 Bentley Bentayga maintains its position as the last word in opulence and performance when it comes to an SUV.