Bentley Flying Spur review

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 automatic gearbox. That combination makes the car effortlessly fast in a straight line and, if you really plant your right foot down, 0-60mph can be taken care of in just 3.7 seconds.

Given that most Bentley buyers are not exactly strapped for cash, we wouldn't try to talk you out of the W12 if you have your heart set on it. The 542bhp V8-powered version is cheaper and still indecently quick, though – 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 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 – the Flying Spur is not as serenely comfortable as an Audi A8 or Mercedes S-Class. They are both better at dealing 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 large SUV.

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 are still quieter overall.