The Bentley Continental does 15.3 mpg combined (12.6 city, 20.1 highway), which works out to about $2,510 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 4L 8-cyl Hybrid does 19 mpg while 6.8L 8-cyl does 12 — a difference of $1,179 a year. Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every Bentley Continental engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Bentley Continental ranges from 19 down to 12 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $1,179 a year across 5 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4L 8-cyl Hybrid | 17 / 22 | 2025–2026 | $2,021 | |
| 4L 8-cyl | 15 / 24.6 | 2013–2024 | $2,110 | |
| 6L 12-cyl | 10.7 / 17.7 | 2004–2018 | $2,909 | |
| 6.7L 8-cyl | 10 / 15 | 1998–2000 | $3,200 | |
| 6.8L 8-cyl | 10 / 15 | 1999–2003 | $3,200 |
What that actually costs
The Bentley Continental burns a gallon every 15.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 784 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.209 |
| Fuel per year | $2,510 |
| Fuel over five years | $12,550 |
| Against other V8 cars | +$125 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $5,230 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Bentley Continental gives up 7.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 20.1 out there against 12.6 in town, a 60% drop worth $1,138 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 12.6 mpg | $3,048 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 20.1 mpg | $1,910 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7.5 mpg (60%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Continental changed over the years
The Continental peaked in 2026 at 19 mpg (17 city, 22 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2005 at 12 — 7 mpg apart, or $1,179 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 19. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2025 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2024 | 14 / 22 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2023 | 15 / 23 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2022 | 16 / 26 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2021 | 16 / 26 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2020 | 16 / 26 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2018 | 12 / 20 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2017 | 15 / 25 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2016 | 15 / 25 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2015 | 15 / 25 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2014 | 14 / 24 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2013 | 14 / 24 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2012 | 11 / 19 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2011 | 12 / 19 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2010 | 12 / 19 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2009 | 10 / 17 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2008 | 10 / 17 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2007 | 10 / 17 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2006 | 10 / 17 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2005 | 10 / 16 | 1 | $3,200 | |
| 2004 | 10 / 16 | 1 | $3,200 | |
| 2003 | 10 / 15 | 1 | $3,200 | |
| 2001 | 10 / 15 | 1 | $3,200 | |
| 2000 | 10 / 15 | 1 | $3,200 | |
| 1999 | 10 / 15 | 1 | $3,200 | |
| 1998 | 10 / 15 | 1 | $3,200 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 27 EPA ratings of the Bentley Continental — 5 engines across 1998–2026. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $5,230. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Bentley Continental get?
15.3 mpg combined on average — 12.6 in the city and 20.1 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1998–2026.
How much does a Bentley Continental cost in fuel per year?
About $2,510 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $12,550 over five years, or 0.209 dollars a mile.
Which Continental engine is the most economical?
The 4L 8-cyl Hybrid at 19 mpg, against 12 for the 6.8L 8-cyl — a difference of about $1,179 a year.
Is the Continental good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg, computed across 3323 ratings.
Are these real-world Continental figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Bentley Continental is $5,230 against the $2,510 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 19 and 12 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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