Buying a flagship luxury car new can be an expensive lesson in depreciation, and few examples illustrate that quite as dramatically as this 2017 Bentley Bentayga W12, which originally carried a price tag comfortably above a quarter-million dollars.
According to the Cars & Bids listing, the Bentayga cost $260,495 when new, including over $27,000 worth of options. Nine years and roughly 42,400 miles later, someone has just bought it for a fraction of that.
The Havana-painted Bentley sold on September 10 for $55,000 following 32 bids. That’s $205,495 less than its original sticker price, representing a decline of almost 79 percent without accounting for inflation.
Of course, depreciation doesn’t necessarily make an aging Bentley cheap to own. What it does mean is that someone has just acquired a 600-horsepower, W12-powered luxury SUV for roughly one-fifth of what its first owner paid.
$260,495 When New
The Bentayga was Bentley’s first SUV, combining the brand’s traditionally lavish interior with performance that was extraordinary for such a large vehicle. This particular example came generously equipped from the factory.
Its original window sticker lists the Touring Specification, Sunshine Specification and Front Seat Comfort Specification among more than $27,000 in options. It also features 22-inch wheels, Bentley Dynamic Drive, four-corner auto-leveling suspension and a panoramic roof.
The seller reported no notable modifications. Paint protection film, ceramic coating, and tinted windows have been added, while the auction listing noted some scuffing on the rear center-console upholstery as a known flaw.
There’s Still A W12 Under The Hood
The biggest attraction may be what’s under the hood. Bentley’s 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W12 produces 600 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
That engine has become considerably more interesting since Bentley ended W12 production in 2024. A $55,000 purchase price therefore buys an unusual piece of the company’s history alongside the considerable performance.
Recent maintenance documented in the listing includes an oil and filter change in April 2026. A four-wheel alignment and replacement battery followed in June.
Cheap To Buy Doesn’t Mean Cheap To Own
The Bentayga was offered with a clean Louisiana title and a clean Carfax report. The seller said they purchased it in March 2026 and added approximately 1,700 miles before the auction.
At $55,000, this is an extraordinary amount of luxury and performance for the purchase price. Still, a nine-year-old Bentley with a twin-turbo W12, air suspension, and highly complex electronics carries very different potential running costs from an ordinary $55,000 vehicle.
That helps explain why depreciation can be so brutal at this end of the market. The original owner paid $260,495, and nine years later, someone ended up behind the wheel of the same W12 Bentley for a whopping $205,495 less.