When you think of a six-figure car, something in the $200K or $300K price range, you might expect it’ll be an over-the-top experience. That it’ll be filled with the finest materials, that it’ll strike a modern yet timeless pose, that it’ll have room for your crew and your stuff, that it’ll be thrilling to drive, and will rocket you past the rest of the traffic on the road. But to do all of that, all at once? That’s the magic of the Bentley Flying Spur.
After looking over this four-door, five-passenger sedan, I thought that, thanks to its size, it would be a languorous car to drive. I might have to focus on enjoying the luxury and expect less from the drive dynamics of this car. Big sedans are usually more of a creature-comfort experience than a thrilling drive. If you want a fast and furious drive, get a smaller car.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
Not So Fast, Says Bentley. Surprise #1: It’s Powerful and Fast
Give the Flying Spur a second look and you’ll find it is powered by two very powerful engines: A hybrid twin turbo V8 that generates 671 HP and 686 torque, and a plug-in hybrid that produces 771 HP and 738 torque, as well as about 37 miles of electric driving.
Thanks to all that power, plus some very brilliant chassis and suspension engineering, you’d never know it is 209” long, which is longer than most SUVs. During my week driving it around Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, the Bentley Flying Spur was fun and easy to drive.
And then, there was this: With my husband in the passenger’s seat and my two daughters in the rear seat, I let it show all its assertiveness merging onto the highway. They giggled with delight; it was that fun.
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It Actually Has a Flying Spur: Surprise #2
It’s the only Bentley with a hood sculpture (I hate to call it an ‘ornament’; that just sounds cheap). But it’s better than that: you can tap a screen on the multimedia system to “conceal” or “reveal” the Bentley Flying B, a chrome figure with an interior light that glows as it announces your arrival. It’s not just elegant, but it’s clever and novel. And you can put it away out of temptation range if you’re feeling like you don’t want to share.
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The Technology Will Wow You: Surprise #3
From the rotating center screen—yes, just tap the “screen” button on the dash and the screen will flip over to a panel of gauges— to the “Hey Bentley” voice activation, the Flying Spur comes with great tech. The center screen has all the functions you need; there’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the screen is customizable, as is the driver’s display, which can also display night vision, allowing you to see people and animals even in the dark and even far away.
The center console is filled with switch gear, from drive mode settings to climate controls, adding a bit of old-school feel to the cabin, and it’s good: It looks good and it’s nice to have buttons at your fingertips when you need something quickly.
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Customize It Till Your Heart’s Content: Surprise #4
This is an ultra-luxury car, so yes, it’s customizable. But just how customizable is the question you should ask; the answer is infinite. You can specify a paint color that literally no one else has. You can choose a different color for practically every stitch line and surface inside the car. You can pick which seats get massagers and which don’t. You can add extra-thick floor mats, microsuede headrest pillows, window shades, a champagne cooler, rear seat screens, or not— the choices, from options to colors to materials, are literally endless.
All those options will be reflected in the final price, however. Our test model came with a very nice complement of details, from the panoramic sunroof and window shades ($3,645) to the Bang & Olufsen for Bentley sound system ($7,725) to the carbon fiber package ($13,120). In all, options on our model added $89,575 to the final price of $366,025. But after sampling each feature, it’s hard to say no; it’s all so good.
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Massaging Seats for Everyone! Surprise #5
Yes, there are massage seats (or wellness seats, as Bentley calls them), even in the rear seat. That was the one detail that made my daughters stop debating over who would get to sit in the front seat. Then, they discovered the rear screens, Bluetooth headphones, and seat heaters. And we got to listen to our music without a peep the entire drive home.
People Will Smile and Nod at the Beauty of This Car: Surprise #6
This was the nicest surprise all week long. As I drove around, even in New York City as well as through the streets of small towns in New Jersey, the malls of Westchester County, and the busy neighborhoods in Connecticut, people pulled up slowly alongside the Bentley Flying Spur, looking and smiling. I got more than a few grinning nods that week, which is both unusual for my average test drive car but astounding for the NYC area. People are usually too busy to stop and take a look at a beautiful car!
The Trunk Looks Small, But It’s not: Surprise #7
Knowing I had to pick up my family at the airport and drive them to dinner in NJ, then back to Connecticut, then around the tri-state area before heading back to the airport, the first thing I looked at was the trunk. Oops.
As a plug-in hybrid, the Flying Spur Speed comes with a charge cord thoughtfully secured in the center of the trunk. It takes up a lot of the space, and the trunk looked small. I feared we would not get all our things in it.
However, the trunk is deceivingly large. Our roll-aboard bags tucked neatly right into the trunk, and we had room for a fifth bag (and, probably a sixth if we’d needed to) as well as the charge cord in its case, a couple of totes, and a backpack. Easy, peasy. (Phew.)
These Are the Most Beautiful Puddle Lights Ever: Surprise #8
Open any of the four doors, and you’ll see a crisp Bentley Flying B logo display on the ground. And then, look closer. It’ll put on a show as colors and gradations of light levels dance within the logo. An option on our model, the light glows, and the colors swell within the inner lines of the logo. You might not notice it immediately, but once you do, you might just keep opening and closing the door to watch it, it’s that cool.
This Car Has a Great Light Game: Surprise #9
I never get tired of looking at the Bentley Flying Spur’s headlights and taillights. The crystal-cut headlights create an elegant and unique signature, sort of like a perfectly cut diamond in a halo setting, its facets illuminated by more facets. Both the headlights and daytime lights are set in crystal, adding even more glow.
Unlike the Bentley Continental, which has tail lights that amplify the crystal headlights, the Flying Spur’s tail lights are reflective “B” pattern in a modern font, creating another unique signature. You’ll always know when you’re in good Flying B company.
The Bentley Flying Spur Has a Great Backstory: Surprise #10
I had to ask, what the heck is a Flying Spur, and why is this car named for it? And the answer was not what I’d expected. My mind went to a mythical character or an ancient god, but rather, it’s a nod to the family of an original managing director who named the car for his family’s crest. Turns out a distant relative delivered a flying spur, or a spur adorned with a bird’s wings, to Robert the Bruce to warn him to prepare for battle for the borders of Scotland; the image of a flying spur later became the Johnstone family crest when Bruce became King of Scotland.
This Car is More ‘You’ Than You Think: Surprise #11
After driving the Bentley Flying Spur for a half day in Montana and then for a week in New York, I was sad to leave it behind. Yes, it’s luxurious and yes, it’s delightful. But it’s so much more than that. It’s intuitive, it’s powerful, and it fits like a glove—even if the gray on gray of our test model wasn’t the color combo I’d have picked; it did look really sharp.
In fact, the model I drove in Montana, a blue and cream Azure model, was designed with all my favorite color combinations, and yet, I think I liked the gray tone-on-tone with orange accents better. It somehow felt more sophisticated and modern than the navy and cream that I feel so comfortable in. And that really was a surprise: that a car I never thought I’d dream about has me dreaming about driving it again.
