BentleyFlying Spur

　　

2022 Bentley Flying Spur Review

byAlex NishimotoCorrespondent

　　Alex Nishimoto has worked in the automotive industry since 2007. He was a staff writer for MotorTrend for 10 years and since then has contributed to CNET, PRI, AutoWise and other publications.

　　, rating written byAlex NishimotoVehicle 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 is an ultra-luxury sedan that's as rewarding to drive as it is to be driven in. The model is mechanically related to the excellent Bentley Continental GT coupe, so comfort and dynamism are in its DNA. It also inherits the Continental's muscular exterior styling, which not so subtly hints at the power beneath its sculpted hood.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 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

　　$274/mo  for Flying Spur V8

　　Flying Spur V8

　　V8 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) (Most Popular) - $204,500 MSRPHybrid 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8AM) - $210,600 MSRPW12 4dr Sedan AWD (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 8AM) - $231,200 MSRPHybrid Mulliner 4dr Sedan AWD (2.9L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8AM) - $291,600 MSRPV8 Mulliner 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) - $293,300 MSRPW12 Mulliner 4dr Sedan AWD (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 8AM) - $309,000 MSRP

　　vs

　　$198/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　The Flying Spur is available with a Porsche-sourced 542-horsepower twin-turbocharged V8, a 626-horsepower W12 or a new twin-turbo V6 plug-in hybrid drivetrain good for a combined 536 horsepower. Introduced for 2022, the new plug-in hybrid variant can drive roughly 25 miles on battery power alone, but in most cases you'll be asking the electric motor and gas engine to work in concert to deliver explosive acceleration. The Flying Spur Hybrid has all the qualities you expect from a top-tier luxury car with the added benefit of being less thirsty at the pump and completely silent as you glide away from a stop (as long as you can resist the temptation to bury your foot in the gas pedal).

　　Few cars do luxury like the Bentley Flying Spur, but the four-door's No. 1 competitor is the Rolls-Royce Ghost. Other than that, there's the Mercedes-Maybach S 580, a more exclusive and luxurious version of the already stunning S-Class. Think this big, sumptuous Bentley might be for you? Find out more by reading our test team's Expert Rating below.

　　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