The Bentley Continental is a compact car built from 1984 to 2026 over 7 generations. Engines offered: Hybrid, V8. Worth buying? It scores near the top of what we track at 4.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Continental is
The Bentley Continental is a compact car that Bentley built from 1984 to 2026 — 43 model years. Our measurements put it at 7 generations, the current one starting in 2021. It has been offered with Hybrid, V8 power. Its closest sibling in the Bentley range: Azure.
Continental generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Continental's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Continental that gives 7 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-2002 | 524 cm | 296 cm | 1462 kg | - | - |
| 2003 | 503 cm | 293 cm | 2225 kg | -21 cm | +763 kg |
| 2004-2005 | 481 cm | - | 2410 kg | -22 cm | +185 kg |
| 2006 | 506 cm | 291 cm | 2430 kg | +25 cm | +20 kg |
| 2007-2017 | 481 cm | 275 cm | 2475 kg | -25 cm | +45 kg |
| 2018-2019 | 506 cm | 291 cm | 2485 kg | +25 cm | +10 kg |
| 2021-2026 | 485 cm | 285 cm | 2290 kg | -21 cm | -195 kg |
Between 1999 and 2026 the Continental gained -39 cm in length (-7.4%) and 828 kg in weight (+56.6%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Continental that is 828 kg against -39 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Bentley Continental tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Continental owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Bentley Continental have? Power & range
The Bentley Continental is offered with 2 powertrains — 4L 8-cyl, 4L 8-cyl Hybrid. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Bentley Continental, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V8 | 4.0L · 8-cyl | Automatic (AM-S8) | AWD | Premium |
| Hybrid | 4.0L · 8-cyl | Automatic (AM-S8) | AWD | Premium and Electricity |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Continental by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Bentley Continental. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Continental | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 47 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 1 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $9,988/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 175 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Bentley Continental?
The Continental is a compact car, built from 1984 to 2026 across 7 generations. Engines offered: Hybrid, V8.
How many generations does the Continental have?
7 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2021. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car.
What is the Bentley Continental warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Continental reliable?
It scores 4.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Continental?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Bentley
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bentley Bentayga | 2017–2026 | 30 | 21 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Bentley Flying Spur | 2014–2026 | 11 | 19 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Bentley Mulsanne | 1984–2020 | 12 | 14 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Bentley Arnage | 1999–2009 | 18 | 13 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Bentley Azure | 1996–2010 | 15 | 12 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Bentley Turbo | 1989–1998 | — | 12 mpg | 4.5/5 |