2018 Bentley Flying Spur Review
2018 Bentley Flying Spur Review





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Edmunds' Expert Review

byMark Takahashi
Correspondent
Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the Edmunds YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.
Pros
- Strong power from either the V8 or W12 engine
- Predictably regal interior
- Extensive customization possibility
Cons
- Dated infotainment and safety systems
- Lacking rear-seat extravagance
What's new
- The Bentley Flying Spur returns unchanged for 2018
- Part of the second Flying Spur generation introduced for 2014
A Gulfstream G650 may be the most affluent way to travel, especially when you consider its top speed of 600 mph and a starting price of $65 million, but you're obviously limited as to where to park it. The 2018 Bentley Flying Spur can hit speeds just past 200 mph and costs a mere 3 percent of the Gulfstream and you can park it almost anywhere. What a bargain!
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2018 Bentley Flying Spur V8 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8A) 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 $3.92 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$287/mo for Flying Spur V8
Flying Spur V8
vs
$205/mo
Avg. Large Car
In all seriousness, the Flying Spur will likely be a prime candidate to shuttle you to and from your jet, whether you prefer to drive yourself or if you prefer to enjoy it from a passenger seat. It's luxuriously appointed with the finest materials and built by master craftspeople. It's an understated proclamation of wealth that can be tailored to fit your needs and aesthetics. It's elegant for sure, but it does lack some more modern conveniences and technologies.
Edmunds' Expert Rating
The 2018 Bentley Flying Spur embodies classic luxury with exemplary materials and craftsmanship. Unfortunately, classic also means it's lacking in the technology department.
Trim tested
Edmunds has not recently tested or driven this vehicle. The following is our first take on what's significant about it and what you can expect.
Driving
With gobs of torque and an all-wheel-drive system that biases engine torque to the rear wheels to improve handling, the Flying Spur promises a relatively sporty driving experience by segment standards. The keyword there is "relatively"; this is an amply sized, heavy sedan after all.
Comfort
This is the Flying Spur's raison d'être. Complete cocooning in real wood and leather, an adjustable suspension and a nearly silent powertrain enable passengers to feel almost completely isolated. But the rear seating isn't quite as posh as it is in other mega-buck luxury sedans.
Interior
If you're into the latest whiz-bang technology, the Flying Spur is not for you. Instead, focus on its craftsmanship and the get-down-to-driving nature of the cockpit layout. The Flying Spur is one of the few cars left that invite you to just drive rather than fiddle with the in-car electronics.
Utility
The only mission of the Flying Spur is to make its owner happy; utility is largely beside the point. Storage space for small items is limited, and the trunk can hold a respectable 16.7 cubic feet. It's lined in plush carpet, of course.
Technology
Yes, it's lacking compared to, say, a current-spec Hyundai, but the rear-seat remote climate control tablet is a nice touch, and there are no fiddly knobs or gesture control systems to get in the way. A simple touchscreen and buttons are all that's available.
Which Flying Spur does Edmunds recommend?
The anything-but-standard Bentley Flying Spur is our choice. The comfort-focused suspension does a better job of gliding down the highway than the sportier S model. We also recommend the W12 engine for the full effect, rather than the V8.
2018 Bentley Flying Spur models
The 2018 Bentley Flying Spur is offered in two main variants: Flying Spur V8 and Flying Spur W12. There are also sport versions: V8 S and W12 S. The V8 utilizes a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 good for 500 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque. On the V8 S, output is increased to 521 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque. For the W12, a 6.0-liter W12 engine cranks out 616 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. The W12 S version has an incremental increase to 626 hp and 605 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission are standard on all versions.
Take a seat inside and you'll find that real wood veneer and leather saturate the interior, and chrome and polished organ-stop vent dampers still feature prominently on the dash. Standard feature highlights include an adjustable air suspension, a power trunklid, keyless ignition and entry, a Breitling analog dashboard clock, four-zone automatic climate control, and heated and ventilated multiway power front and rear seats. Also standard are an 8-inch front touchscreen, a navigation system, a rearview camera, voice controls and an eight-speaker audio system.
The Mulliner specification adds 21-inch wheels (or any other kind of wheel you'd like, Bentley says), a chrome lower front bumper with a wing insert, a choice of 17 diamond-quilted perforated interior hides (including a presumably non-literal Porpoise decor option) and six wood veneers, an indented leather headliner, a knurled shift knob, drilled alloy pedals and a special gas tank cap.
Other notable options include carbon-ceramic brakes, adaptive cruise control, various wheel designs, flip-down wooden picnic tables for rear passengers, upgraded stitching, a two-passenger rear compartment with a full-length center console, a rear entertainment system with twin display screens, Wi-Fi connectivity and a 13-speaker Naim sound system. Bentley also offers a seemingly endless array of different color, trim and upholstery customization options.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2018 Bentley Flying Spur.
5 star(57%)
4 star(43%)
3 star(0%)
2 star(0%)
1 star(0%)
7 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4 out of 5 stars
A Heavenly Ride!
Happy Mom, 12/28/2016
2014 Bentley Flying Spur 4dr Sedan AWD (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 8A)
I have driven many luxury cars, Mercedes, BMW, Maserati, Jaguar, to name a few, but this ride by far, is like no other! On a scale of 1-10 I give it a 12 in comfort and the same for it's impressive look. My only issue is that I'm a tech-lover and it seems to be that even this updated version (I previously owned a 2009) doesn't offer the same technology as, say the Maybach or even a … simple Mercedes GL (which I had as a loaner car and appreciated the technology). So I'd say that's the only thing it lacks but otherwise it's one helluva machine!
5 out of 5 stars
Fantastic!
Charles Jones, 07/01/2016
2015 Bentley Flying Spur V8 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8A)
The 2016 Flying Spur is absolutely perfect. The interior quality and finish is second to none, as expected. The thing that surprised me the most is how fun the car is to drive. You cant hear a thing when driving in the cabin. The ride is so smooth I didn't even notice I was going 100 mph until I looked down and the beautiful instrument cluster. Purchasing a radar detector is … certainly a good idea. This is a heavy car but it corners and handles like a dream. Put it in sport mode and you actually have more power then you know what to do with. Took the car over a windy mountain pass and I was simply amazed at how well the car ate up the curves. Coming from an S550 4matic there is really no comparison between the two. Totally different driving experience in a good way. Oh, and its also nice when passengers from other cars are taking pictures of the Flying Spur as you drive by.
4 out of 5 stars
>2 minutes tin can
Abe, 12/13/2015
2015 Bentley Flying Spur V8 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8A)
The review after 3 years with about 23,000 miles:
I really did not have any problem with anything except with the display unit. It kept freezing and not responding to any touch/button unless the car is turned off and turned on again. They replaced it under warranty but I understand it would have been >$6K items if I had to pay. Other than this there has been no other issue. Car is still … very nice to drive and feels as good as new. Of course there has been NO fix the to electronic performance that I mentioned below. It is pity for a car like this to have such terrible electronic performance. Cars with 1/10th the cost has better electronic performance. Apparently this was a known issue even on the previous models. Some body should have been fired over this!
By the way, I have V8 Flying Spur not V12 as the heading says. I could not navigate to change it to V8.
I have 2015 Bentley Flying Spur V8. This is how long it takes for it to load up the phone files and it takes almost 25 seconds for the rear camera to come on in the morning. When you go over the road divider rectangular reflectors it makes noises that makes you think you are driving "PINTO" It actually "accelerates" when you want to decelerate in cruise control mode before it decelerates. These are some of the features that Bentley calls "normal" It took repeated calls and days for the Bentley customer service manager to call me back. Other than some of these problems, it is a beautiful car, fun to drive, quality finishes all thru. Information system is actually pretty functional and intuitive but its performance sucks! It is a big car but it feels sporty and connected to the road. It would have been really a great car if it did not have these problems that Bentley calls normal. I have about 6K miles on it so far and it had no mechanical problem.
4 out of 5 stars
Fair deal
Bhullar, 10/20/2018
2018 Bentley Flying Spur V8 S 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8A)
Great luxury CAR ,I own 2018 custom made of order. But inside gudgets and latest tech like blind spot indicator,chamber for sunglasses, navigation tool. definitely poorer then my S550 mercedes Benz 2017
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2018 Bentley Flying Spur, so we've included reviews for other years of the Flying Spur since its last redesign.
2018 Flying Spur Highlights
Sedan
V8
Base MSRP | $189,000 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 16 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $287/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 16.7 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | all wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / unlimited miles |
Safety
Our experts like the Flying Spur models:
- Side Curtain Airbags
- Helps prevent head injuries in the case of rollover by inflating bags over the side windows. For both front and rear passengers.
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Manages the vehicle's speed when cruise control is active to match the speed of traffic and avoid collisions.
- Stability Control System
- Keeps the car from going too far out of control by reducing throttle and applying braking to individual wheels.
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