Item: Bentley Flying Spur
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

The 542bhp V8-powered Flying Spur is cheaper than the W12 and still indecently quick (0-60mph takes 4.0sec). To our ears, it also sounds sweeter than the W12 engine, so it's where our money would go.



4.0 V8

Saloon

In many ways, modern Bentleys offer the best of both worlds, blending traditional British craftsmanship with modern mechanicals developed with the help of the company’s owner, Volkswagen.

The Bentayga SUV, for example, is closely related to Audi’s brilliantly engineered Q7 (another VW Group car). Yet the Bentayga still feels every inch a Bentley, thanks to its hand-finished interior and the fact that it’s available with Bentley’s outrageous W12 engine.

Other Bentleys you can buy today include the Flying Spur and Mulsanne saloons and the Continental GT coupé.

BENTLEY

FLYING SPUR

The long list of standard equipment includes 21in alloy wheels, full matrix LED headlights, a 10-speaker, 650-watt audio system, wi-fi and a 12.3in touchscreen infotainment system. 

4.0 V8 4dr Auto [City Spec]

40-v8-4dr-auto-city-spec

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

It’s a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bentley">Bentley</a>. That alone should leave you with no illusions that buying and running a Flying Spur will be anything other than hugely expensive.

The purchase price is suitably massive, it will cost a lot to service and the presence of either a V8 or&nbsp;W12 engine under the bonnet inevitably means you’ll spend a lot of money at petrol stations.

Put simply, more mainstream alternatives, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a8/saloon/review/n17302">Audi A8</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/s-class/saloon/review/n17355">Mercedes S-Class</a>, make far more financial sense, although if you’re shopping for a Bentley, such things are likely to matter little compared with knowing that your pride and joy has been painstakingly handcrafted just for you.

You do at least get lots of equipment, including 21in alloys, a nappa leather interior,&nbsp;and heating and massaging&nbsp;function for the&nbsp;front seats and the outer rear ones. In&nbsp;typical Bentley style, customers can add virtually any luxury items they might desire – everything from televisions&nbsp;screens to a champagne chiller.

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The range-topping Flying Spur is fitted with a 6.0-litre W12 engine, pumping out 626bhp and driving all four wheels through an eight-speed <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/which-type-of-automatic-gearbox-should-i-buy/n17022">automatic gearbox</a>. That combination makes the car effortlessly fast in a straight line&nbsp;and, if you really plant your right foot down,&nbsp;0-60mph can be taken care of in just&nbsp;3.7 seconds.

Given that most Bentley buyers are not exactly strapped for cash, we wouldn't try to talk you out of the&nbsp;W12 if you have your heart set on it. The 542bhp V8-powered version is cheaper and still indecently quick, though –&nbsp;0-60mph takes 4.0sec. What's more, it also sounds sweeter than the W12 engine (to our ears, anyway), so it's the engine we would go for.

Air suspension is standard on all Flying Spurs, providing a suitably wafty ride in its softest setting. On most roads, the default Bentley&nbsp;driving mode strikes the best balance between comfort and control, taking the sting out of the majority of lumps and bumps without letting the car become to 'floaty'.

Mind you, if we're being picky – which we should be with a car costing as much as a small house –&nbsp;the Flying Spur is not as serenely comfortable as an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a8/saloon/review/n17302">Audi A8</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/s-class/saloon/review/n17355">Mercedes S-Class</a>. They are both&nbsp;better at dealing&nbsp;with sharp-edged depressions, such as potholes, and fidget less over smaller imperfections.

The steering is smooth and consistent, and there’s huge traction and grip, but don’t expect the Flying Spur to feel especially nimble. While four-wheel steering helps with low-speed manoeuvres, if you ask the car to change direction in a hurry it has a tendency to lean in a similar fashion to a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-large-suvs-2020/n17006">large SUV</a>.

The engine runs at just above tick-over at motorway speeds, while the double-glazed side windows block wind noise fairly effectively. Unfortunately, the wide tyres generate quite a bit of road noise over grainier surfaces, so cheaper alternatives such as the A8 and S-Class&nbsp;are still quieter overall.

OUR PICK

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

40-v8

The 6.0-litre W12 engine develops a whopping 626bhp – that's enough to get the 2.4-tonne Flying Spur from 0-60mph in just 3.7sec and on to a top speed of 207mph. However, the cheaper V8 is nearly as fast and sounds sweeter.

6.0 W12

60-w12

The 207mph Bentley Flying Spur&nbsp;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.&nbsp;True, the Flying Spur isn’t for shy and retiring types –&nbsp;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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bentley">Bentley</a> to blend in&nbsp;though, and&nbsp;a big part of the allure of a car like this is that you can turn it into a&nbsp;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&nbsp;it with&nbsp;its main rival, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/rolls-royce/ghost/saloon/review/n17299">Rolls-Royce Ghost</a>, as well as high-end versions of more mainstream <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-luxury-cars-2021/n17020">luxury cars</a>, in particular&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a8/saloon/review/n17302">Audi A8</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/7-series/saloon/review/n127">BMW 7 Series</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/s-class/saloon/review/n17355">Mercedes S-Class</a>.

Remember, before you buy any make and model of car, regardless of your&nbsp;budget, make sure you check out how much you could save off&nbsp;the brochure price with the What Car?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying</a> 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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bentley/flying-spur/saloon/deals">Flying Spur deals</a> there.

The Flying Spur lives up to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bentley">Bentley</a>&nbsp;reputation for breathtaking luxury. Fixtures and fittings are of superb quality&nbsp;and almost everything is trimmed with polished wood or soft leather. True, it doesn't quite match the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/rolls-royce/ghost/saloon/review/n17299">Rolls-Royce Ghost</a> for interior panache, but it feels a cut above 'mainstream' alternatives, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a8/saloon/review/n17302">Audi A8</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/s-class/saloon/review/n17355">Mercedes S-Class</a>.

The 12.3in touchscreen infotainment system can rotate back into the dashboard when not in use, leaving a clean fascia or old-school analogue instrument dials depending on your mood. That really adds to the car's wow factor, and the screen itself is reasonably user-friendly, with quick responses and well-ordered menus. The standard&nbsp;10-speaker, 650-watt audio system is powerful enough, but the optional 19-speaker Naim set-up&nbsp;is one of the best sound systems fitted to any car on sale.

The driver's seat has a wide range of electric adjustments to help owners (or chauffeurs) of all&nbsp;different shapes and sizes to get comfortable. You sit reasonably high up by saloon standards, but the similarly high window-line creates a cocooned feel.

The one major disappointment in the Flying Spur is visibility. Thick, steeply angled windscreen pillars create sizeable blind-spots at roundabouts and angled junctions. Your view to the rear is similarly limited&nbsp;so you really rely on the reversing camera and blind-spot monitoring system. Full matrix LED headlights are on hand to light the road ahead at night, though.

Fast&nbsp;and beautifully finished inside, but it's pricey and could be better to drive.

The Bentley Flying Spur comes with five seats (three in the back) as standard, although a four-seater with full-length centre console that fences off the right side of the car from the left is available.

Regardless of which set-up you choose, all occupants are treated to plenty of head, leg and knee room, and all of the seats bar the middle rear (where fitted) are super comfortable.

There are roomier alternatives, though, including long-wheelbase versions of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a8/saloon/review/n17302">Audi A8</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/s-class/saloon/review/n17355">Mercedes S-Class</a>. While the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/rolls-royce/ghost/saloon/review/n17299">Rolls-Royce Ghost</a> has unconventional rear-hinged back doors to improve access, the Flying Spur comes with no such novelties.

The boot is big enough to carry armfuls of designer shopping bags or a couple of big cases, but it’s not overly generous considering the car's size, and there’s no option to extend its volume by folding down the rear seats. Again, cars such as the A8 and S-Class can carry more luggage.

Flying Spur

flying-spur

Mulliner Driving Spec

mulliner-driving-spec

As its name suggests, this limited edition model commemorates the arrival of the latest Flying Spur. The changes are mainly superficial, so it's best avoided unless you really desire bespoke ‘First Edition’ badging.

First Edition

first-edition

There are plenty of luxury cars that make more sense, but few have the sense of occasion you get with the Bentley Flying Spur. Flawed, but we can see why you might.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plush ride and the ability to cruise in near-silence </li> <li>Powerful and efficient engine</li> <li>Space for passengers to stretch out in the rear seats</li> <li>Exquisite materials and build quality</li> <li>Endless luxuries on the options list</li> <li>Sensible fuel and tax bills</li></ul>

If you’re in the market for a luxury car, you’ll be after a sumptuous interior, a ride that can soak up the worst of the UK’s pockmarked roads and supreme refinement that allows you to travel at speed in near-silence.

Your cheapest (and smallest) options are the Audi A6, Mercedes E-Class and brilliant BMW 5 Series, the latter of which is so good we voted it our 2017 Car of the Year. Larger options that are definitely worth considering if you plan to travel in the back include the BMW 7 Series, Audi A8 and the Mercedes S-Class, which is beautifully finished inside and not as expensive to run as you might think.

Or if money really is no object at all, the Rolls-Royce Ghost is hard to overlook – especially in extended-wheelbase form. It’s as opulent as cars get.

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