Bentley Flying Spur review

The 207mph Bentley Flying Spur is one of the exceptions to the rule that saloon versions of cars are sensible, worthy – and about as exciting as a bowl of white rice.

It’s essentially a Continental GT with two extra doors, and given how much of a step forward the latest Conti GT is, that’s a pretty good starting point. True, the Flying Spur isn’t for shy and retiring types – it’s almost five and a half metres long, for starters, with a front grille that’s as wide as most small hatchbacks.

You don't buy a Bentley to blend in though, and a big part of the allure of a car like this is that you can turn it into a personal statement (choosing the colour is just the start of the almost infinite options available). Assuming you have the money, the only real limitation is your imagination.

Beyond that exclusivity, is the Bentley Flying Spur any good, or are you mostly paying for the badge and the brand's history? That’s what we’ll be exploring in this review, covering what it's like to drive, just how plush the interior is, how much it will cost to buy and run, and much more.

We'll also be comparing it with its main rival, the Rolls-Royce Ghost, as well as high-end versions of more mainstream luxury cars, in particular the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series and Mercedes S-Class.

Remember, before you buy any make and model of car, regardless of your budget, make sure you check out how much you could save off the brochure price with the What Car? New Car Buying pages. It's completely free to get a quote, you won't need to do any haggling with a dealer and you'll even find some tempting Flying Spur deals there.