2023 Bentley Flying Spur Sedan

　　

2023 Bentley Flying Spur Review

byMichael CantuCorrespondent

　　Michael Cantu has worked in the automotive industry since 2014. He has written over 800 car-related articles and tested and reviewed over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Michael is a contributor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Digital Trends and InsideEVs. Michael was featured on a few InsideEVs YouTube channel videos on the topic of electric vehicles. Michael was a MotorTrend Car of the Year judge for 2019 and was a driver in MotorTrend's World's Greatest Drag Races 7 & 8.

　　, rating written byMichael CantuVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The Bentley Flying Spur isn't your average large luxury sedan. It's powerful, sumptuous, exclusive, highly customizable, and it cruises around with panache and opulence. It has few rivals and is one of the last sedans to offer a 12-cylinder engine. And unlike some mega-dollar yachts that simply offer exceptional luxury and comfort, the Bentley also handles well — it's no slouch when the road gets curvy. The Flying Spur is part of Bentley's three-car lineup that includes the Bentayga SUV and Continental GT coupe and convertible.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Bentley Flying Spur V8 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$260/mo  for Flying Spur V8

　　Flying Spur V8

　　V8 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) (Most Popular) - $208,600 MSRPHybrid 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8AM) - $214,800 MSRPS Hybrid 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8AM) - $240,500 MSRPS V8 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) - $241,200 MSRPAzure Hybrid 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8AM) - $249,100 MSRPAzure V8 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) - $250,300 MSRPSpeed 4dr Sedan AWD (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 8AM) - $258,700 MSRPMulliner Hybrid 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8AM) - $297,400 MSRPMulliner V8 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) - $299,200 MSRPMulliner W12 4dr Sedan AWD (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 8AM) - $315,200 MSRP

　　vs

　　$198/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　The 2023 model year introduces the Flying Spur S, a sportier version of the ultra-luxury sedan that comes equipped with 21-inch gloss black wheels, gloss black exterior trim, red brake calipers and active stabilizer bars. You can configure it with the 542-horsepower V8 or the 536-hp plug-in hybrid powertrain. The 626-hp W12 engine is reserved for the Speed model and is available on the Mulliner.

　　There are only so many cars offering the same level of craftsmanship and grandeur that the $200,000-plus Flying Spur does. The Rolls-Royce Ghost takes lavishness, comfort and customization to another level, which explains its starting price that's well north of $300,000. The Mercedes-Benz Maybach is another uber-luxury sedan that rivals the Flying Spur. The Porsche Panamera is more of a sport sedan than anything else, but the powerful Turbo S Executive model is a worthy alternative. To help you decide if the Flying Spur is right for you, check out our test team's in-depth review below in the zzdcar Expert Rating.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

9.0/10

　　How does the Flying Spur drive? The Flying Spur balances comfort and refinement with respectable performance. It's no sport sedan, but going around turns doesn't feel like you're navigating a container ship through the Suez Canal either. The steering is quick enough that it actually helps the Flying Spur feel smaller than it is. It handles relatively well too. The adjustable air suspension keeps the car from wallowing about in corners and also keeps the ride relaxed on the highway.

　　Acceleration is brisk. At our test track, our Flying Spur V8 test car covered 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds. The V8 has lots of power throughout its rev range. It sounds great too, further encouraging you to turn hydrocarbons into aural wonder. Our only complaint is the somewhat lazy-shifting transmission. It can be sluggish to downshift in anything other than Sport mode.

　　

Comfort

9.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Flying Spur? Comfort and ride quality are excellent. Both rows of seats are well shaped and offer a lot of adjustment. The padding is a bit firm, but it helps the seats feel supportive. The Flying Spur has heated and ventilated seats, and there's a slider that allows you to adjust the heat and ventilation more toward your back or the seat bottom. The four-zone climate control works well and has quiet air flow through the vents.

　　Ride quality is on the firm side and not quite as plush as the ride in some rivals. It's not harsh by any means, and the tuning likely helps the Flying Spur's handling. During our test, there was nary a vibration. Wind and road noise is low too. Even on the highway, the Flying Spur is whisper-quiet inside.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below