Summary
The Bentley Flying Spur is a large luxury saloon, and the flagship of the Bentley range. This is the third generation of the Flying Spur and, like its predecessors, it is based on the Bentley Continental GT coupé.
The Bentley Mulsanne ceased production in 2020, with the Flying Spur moving up on previous generations in price and luxury to take on the role of Bentley’s flagship saloon. It’s significantly longer than the previous model to provide more rear cabin space. Initially launched only with the top-spec 6.0-litre W12 engine, the range grew with the addition of the familar 4.0-litre petrol V8 engine about a year later. A plug-in hybrid is expected in 2021.
The Bentley Flying Spur has received many positive reviews from the UK motoring media, with glowing reports of its luxury and driving dynamics. Its overall Expert Rating of 82% (as of November 2022, based on 22 UK reviews) has been dragged down slightly by low ratings from consumer-oriented titles What Car? and Carbuyer, who point out its obvious shortcomings on areas like value for money and fuel economy.
Several titles have also criticised the stinginess of the Flying Spur’s level of standard safety equipment, with key equipment like autonomous emergency braking and adaptive cruise control only available as (expensive) options, despite being standard on other Volkswagen Group models – like a VW Golf for about a tenth of the price.
A plug-in hybrid model was added to the Flying Spur range in Summer 2021.
- Bentley Continental GT (2018 onwards) – Expert Rating
- More Bentley ratings, reviews, news and features

Key specifications
Body style: Large saloon
Engines: petrol, plug-in hybrid
Price: From £156,130 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2019
Last updated: Summer 2021
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Score: 9 / 10
“Hand-built Bentley Flying Spur luxury saloon combines breathtaking performance with majestic luxury and refinement.”
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Model reviewed: V8
Score: 10 / 10
“That this new V8 edition of the Bentley Flying Spur isn’t as expensive as the W12 and offers a more engaging drive without making a compromise in any single area means it’s the pick of the line-up. Not only is this a supremely well-engineered car, with a huge breadth of ability, it’s also one that drips with desirability.”
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Model reviewed: 6.0-litre W12 petrol automatic
Score: 10 / 10
“The new Bentley Flying Spur is a world-class flagship, balancing performance, luxury and style in equal measure. The way it drives and handles is quite astonishing for such a large car, while the opulence of the cabin and attention to detail show Bentley at its best.”
Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“Hand-built Bentley Flying Spur luxury saloon combines breathtaking performance with majestic luxury and refinement.”
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Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Bentley Flying Spur is a luxury saloon, and essentially a four-door version of the immensely popular Continental GT. Built to be driven or be driven in, the Flying Spur is packed with leather, wood and acres of well-appointed space.”
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Autocar
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid
Score: 9 / 10
“In many ways, the Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid is the most accomplished and convincing Flying Spur you can buy: a car quicker against the clock than the V12 Rolls-Royce Ghost but also able to cover a meaningful distance very serenely and without burning a drop of fuel.”
Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Bentley Flying Spur is a luxury saloon with both the soul and the model mechanicals of a sports car. It handles better and goes harder than you’d imagine it will ever need to. But all that pace and purpose can’t outweigh the acknowledgement that the Flying Spur should be a better limousine.”
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Business Car
Model reviewed: 6.0-litre W12 petrol automatic
Score: 8 / 10
“It won’t be within reach of most fleets or drivers, but the Flying Spur heralds a new era of electrification for Bentley.”
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Car
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“The new Bentley Flying Spur isn’t so much an evolutionary improvement on the old model, as a giant leap forward.”
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed:
Score: 7.8 / 10
“The Bentley Flying Spur is a luxury saloon that’s both great to drive and be driven in”
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Bentley Flying Spur is one of the most luxurious, and high-tech, saloon cars on sale. Its boot could be bigger, though, and automatic cruise control should be standard.”
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Daily Mail
Model reviewed: 6.0-litre petrol automatic
“For such a large car it handles beautifully even in the narrowest and twistiest lanes of Monaco, so should be a doddle in London, Glasgow, New York and Beijing.”
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Eurekar
Model reviewed: 6.0-litre W12 petrol automatic
“Performance is toe-curling, but not the riotous drive you would expect from an out and out sports saloon. Okay, floor the accelerator and its like jet taking off, but occupants otherwise suffer no discomfort and feel as safe as you can be with such performance.”
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Model reviewed: 6.0-litre W12 petrol automatic First Edition
“Comfort is supreme wherever you choose to sit, with everything from massaging seats to picnic tables and Champagne bottle coolers, mood lighting throughout and a rotating central display in the dash, plus touch screen remote control in the rear.”
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Evo
Model reviewed: V8
Score: 9 / 10
“New ‘entry-level’ Bentley Flying Spur is the pick of the limos.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“All-new Bentley Flying Spur is one of the few, if not the only, luxury car that is as good to drive as it is to be driven in.”
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Motoring Research
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“The Bentley Flying Spur is a glorious way to travel, with acres of legroom, electric window blinds, even massaging armchair-style seats.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.8 / 10
“Four-door Bentley is a fast, elegant and comfortable alternative to a private jet.”
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The Intercooler
Model reviewed: W12
Score: 8 / 10
“For the first time in any Bentley saloon, the ride now ranks among the best in the world. Yet on a decent road, the Spur remains commendably poised, accurate and always pleasant – if not actively fun to drive. When I think of what I want a Bentley saloon to be, almost all of it is right here.”
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The Sun
Model reviewed: 6.0-litre W12 petrol automatic
“The Bentley Flying Spur is a fusion of cutting-edge tech and artisan craftsmanship.”
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 6.0-litre W12 petrol automatic
Score: 8 / 10
“The Bentley Flying Spur is a fine car spoiled by a shabby ride.”
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“Perhaps the most compelling four-door Bentley’s built since the Arnage”
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What Car?
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“There are plenty of luxury cars that make more sense, but few have the sense of occasion that you get with the Bentley Flying Spur. Flawed, but we can see why you might.”
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No safety rating
The Bentley Flying Spur has not been crash-tested by Euro NCAP. Previous generations of Continental have never been tested by Euro NCAP, so we don’t expect that this one will be, either.
No eco rating
The Bentley Flying Spur has not yet been lab tested by Green NCAP.
The Flying Spur weighs about three tonnes with passengers on board and is powered by either a 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine or a 6.0-litre W12 petrol engine, so it’s safe to assume it won’t be winning any environmental awards.
As of November 2022, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Bentley Flying Spur to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusive from extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Flying Spur, we’ll publish the score here.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Bentley Flying Spur has received
2021
- Auto Express Awards – Best Luxury Car
2019
- carwow Awards – Best Luxury Car
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Bentley Flying Spur, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Audi S8 | BMW 7 Series | Lexus LS | Mercedes-Benz S-Class | Mercedes-Maybach S-Class | Porsche Panamera | Rolls-Royce Ghost | Rolls-Royce Phantom | Rolls-Royce Wraith
- Bentley Continental GT (2018 onwards) – Expert Rating
- More Bentley ratings, reviews, news and features
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