Bentley Bentayga V8-S — Rome

Few SUVs manage to feel genuinely composed on a fast autostrada run and still turn heads pulling up to a boutique hotel on Via Veneto. The 2024 Bentley Bentayga V8-S does both without breaking a sweat — a full-size luxury SUV with the road manners of a grand tourer and cabin space that makes multi-day trips through Lazio and beyond feel effortless. The Bentayga V8-S sits in a particular sweet spot. It carries the twin-turbo V8's immediate, linear power delivery but wraps it in a chassis tuned for sharper responses than the standard model. On the A1 heading north toward Orvieto or south toward Naples, the difference is tangible: body roll is tighter through sweeping bends, steering weight builds with real confidence, and the air suspension reads surface changes quickly enough that passengers in the rear barely register them. For families covering longer distances — a Castelli Romani lunch loop one day, a full Tivoli and Villa d'Este morning the next — that combination of performance and comfort matters more than peak horsepower. Inside, the cabin is Bentley at its most considered. Diamond-quilted leather, real wood veneers, and a rear bench that reclines enough to make the 30 km run back from Frascati feel restorative rather than routine. With five proper seats and a usable boot, it handles luggage for a week-long Roman stay without the spatial compromises of a sport sedan. Practical notes worth knowing: Rome's historic centre is governed by ZTL camera enforcement, so handover at your hotel outside the restricted zone or at Fiumicino (FCO) is the cleaner option. The Bentayga's footprint is generous but manageable in Rome's wider avenues — Prati near the Vatican, the EUR business district — though Trastevere's narrower streets are better left to smaller cars. We carry one variant of this model, available from €1,450 per day. Delivery to airport terminals, residences, and select hotels can be arranged at booking.