2026 Bentley Continental GT S: Review

A proper chassis can help alleviate any potential powertrain limitations. It’s how we get things like slow-car-fast—otherwise underpowered vehicles that overperform in the chassis department. It’s also the secret to the greatness that is any GTS-badged Porsche product—top-tier chassis bits pair perfectly with lower-tier powertrains.

Bentley understands this concept, too. The British automaker has its own take on the formula; you just need to add a space between GT and S. That’s how you wind up with a magnificent machine like the 2026 Bentley Continental GT S.

It should be said that this isn’t a case of “slow-car-fast”—quite the opposite. This Continental GT S packs 671 horsepower and 686 pound-feet of torque. It just so happens that this is the powertrain starting point of the Continental range.

The big news here is that the lavish two-door coupe (or convertible) has gone hybrid. Large, heavy, luxury machines are the perfect place to pack on the electrified pounds. This Bentley is no exception. An 188-hp electric motor draws power from a 25.9-kilowatt-hour battery pack, delivering up to 50 miles of pure-electric driving. Perfect for silently pulling away from the dock where your yacht is moored.

Once away, switch the drive mode selector to Sport and allow the V8 to burble to life. The twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 produces 512 hp. There’s an eight-speed gearbox to meter out the power to all four wheels.

Remember, though, this is a GT S model. There’s chassis magic at play, and Bentley brings down a host of technical goodies usually reserved for the Speed and Mulliner models.

You’ll find an electronically limited-slip differential out back, as the all-wheel-drive system can vector torque as needed. In fact, the Continental GT S allows you to send 100 percent of the available torque to just the rear wheels. If you want to drive your luxury grand tourer like a proper tire-shredding hooligan, Bentley will let you.

Keep traction on while powering through the twisties, and the GT S rewards your efforts. The rear-axle steering system helps reduce your steering effort, Dynamic Ride keeps your cornering relatively flat, and the twin-valve dampers keep rebound and compression in constant check.

Photos by: Jeff Glucker | Motor1

Photos by: Jeff Glucker | Motor1

My only flat note, as far as the driving dynamics go, falls to the braking system. Since we’re dealing with a hybrid powertrain, you have a braking setup that recovers energy whenever possible. The initial press of the brake pedal is a bit limp, especially considering the heft you need to haul in. Once you press the pedal deeper, the car will respond, but I’d really like a bit more initial bite.

Regardless of the trim, a Continental sits as a true stunner on the street. This is true for both the coupe and convertible versions, but the GT S adds a few touches to take things up a notch. There are dark trim elements on the exterior, including the S badge on the fender. Precision headlights are standard kit, as are the blacked-out 22-inch wheels.

Photo by: Jeff Glucker | Motor1

Slide inside, and you’ll find a standard color-split design contrasted with dark-toned chrome trim. The best piece of kit on the inside, however, is the center display, which you can hide away entirely with the press of the ‘Screen’ button. Turn the car on, and what was once a blank piece of wood or metal trim spins around to reveal a crisp display for nav, infotainment, and Apple CarPlay. 

The only miss inside is the driver display behind the steering wheel. The display itself works perfectly fine and is easy to read, but there’s something that feels off about digital gauges in a car with a toe set back in the analog world. Bentley would do well to stand out here with proper analog gauges designed with the same care as a high-end watch.

There’s already a nice analog clock and those aforementioned central gauges. Pairing all of that with beautifully machined or hand-made analog gauges would greatly enhance the interior experience.

2026 Bentley Continental GT S Verdict

Photo by: Jeff Glucker | Motor1

The Bentley Continental GT has long been the ultra-luxury chariot of choice for those who still appreciate driving dynamics. You have a vehicle with tremendous on-road presence, a gloriously luxurious interior space that won’t tire you on long treks, and a powertrain that delivers on its burbly boisterous promises.

Adding upper trim chassis elements to the lower-tier powertrain is a formula that works wonderfully here. Just like the Porsche GTS models, the Continental GT S serves up surprisingly excellent driving dynamics in a gorgeous package. But there’s no question it will cost you serious dough to play in this space.

The Continental GT S coupe starts at $296,150, while the convertible sits up at $325,250 to start. This GT S arrives as an expensive way to balance out an already brilliant lineup, but it does so pretty damn well.