2026 Bentley Flying Spur review: Quick drive

Bentley is a brand known for producing truly special cars, and this – the Flying Spur sedan – is the most exclusive of them all.

Starting from just under $500,000, the Flying Spur is the most expensive Bentley you can buy right now, at least in base specification. It’s also the rarest on Australian roads – just 10 were sold last year to the end of November, in which time the Continental coupe/convertible and Bentayga SUV chalked up 58 sales each.

Nevertheless, Bentley has tinkered with the Flying Spur lineup for 2026. You can no longer buy the V6 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions we first welcomed just a few years ago, and the iconic W12 is long gone.

Instead, the Flying Spur range is now exclusively available with V8 PHEV drivetrains. And despite tightening emissions laws, Bentley says the mighty V8 will roar into the next decade, albeit with electric assistance – a decent compromise, if you ask me.

I’m not, however, the target market for this type of vehicle. So, is this blend of eco-friendly tech and old-school charm enough to get buyers through the door?

How much does the Bentley Flying Spur cost?

The ‘standard’ V8 Hybrid tested here now represents the entry point in the Flying Spur range, with Bentley axing the V6 PHEV for the 2026 model year.

You can ignore the above sticker price, though, as our test vehicle was decked out with $45,160 worth of options including 22-inch 10-spoke wheels ($6950), ‘wellness seating’ ($6235), contrast stitching and seat piping ($5215), and a panoramic sunroof ($4865).

Indeed, after taking into account both options and on-road costs, the final drive-away price is closer to $650,000 – yikes!

To see how the Bentley Flying Spur lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

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What is the Bentley Flying Spur like on the inside?

Elegant design and carefully selected materials elevate the Flying Spur over your ‘average’ luxury sedan.

The core variant offers a vast selection of standard interior finishes, including several leather choices, as well as wood and carbon fibre inlay options.

However, buyers can take things one step further and customise the interior down to the finest detail through Bentley’s Mulliner department. Nothing is off limits, with customers even able to supply their own materials to the factory in Crewe, England.

You can’t really go wrong, provided you don’t opt to custom trim your Flying Spur in plastic taken from a wheelie bin. Our test vehicle presented with duo-tone Linen and Imperial Blue Nappa leather, and I think such light colours suit this model best given it feels a little tighter inside than the Bentayga, even when specified with a sunroof.

The leather itself has a matte sheen, and features prominently across the dash and door cards. A gloss black panel likewise wraps around the front of the cabin, contributing to a real sense of cohesion in the design of the space.

Bentley has built its reputation on attention to detail, and that can be seen in how the most mundane elements of the Flying Spur are still somehow special, or at least interesting.

For example, the air vent controls are finished in knurled metal rather than plastic, while there’s soft suede to be found overhead. A Bentley-branded analogue clock takes pride of place in the middle of the centre stack.

The big-ticket items are equally premium, if not more so. Both front seats are comfortable and ridiculously adjustable, with all the movement you expect as well as separate electric adjustment for the headrest, thigh support, and even the side bolsters. In case that wasn’t enough, the steering column is also power-adjustable, so ergonomics never pose an issue.

In terms of features, the front pews also benefit from heating and ventilation functions that automatically respond to changes in occupant body temperature – seriously upmarket stuff. Bentley has also gone out of its way to automate the massage functions with what it calls the ‘postural control system’. Of course, it’s also possible to tinker with these toys manually.

The steering wheel is also heated and wrapped in the same sumptuous Nappa leather found throughout the cabin, ensuring every interaction with this car is memorable.

Well, every interaction with the exquisite materials perhaps, but not so much the technology suite. Despite having access to the full Volkswagen Group parts catalogue, Bentley has never been a segment leader when it comes to in-car screens, and that remains true of the Flying Spur.

Because, while the twin 12.3-inch displays are better than those I experienced in the Bentayga EWB, they’re still uninspiring by modern standards. Props to Bentley for improving the integration of the centre screen and upping the visual resolution, but there’s still a dearth of functionality.

I wouldn’t be surprised if buyers in this space simply don’t care for the latest tech, and at the end of the day wireless smartphone mirroring is more than enough for many. By the same token, there’s also something to be said for the elegant blend of traditional-style gauges and modern driver assists within the Flying Spur’s digital instrument display.

Another by-product of Bentley’s hesitance to chase automotive technology trends is that the cabin of the Flying Spur is full of real, physical buttons and switches, so it’s very user-friendly.

Storage space is a little lacking, though. The centre armrest is just that – an armrest – meaning there’s no hidden compartment within. You won’t fit a drink bottle in the leather-lined door bins, either.

Instead, drinks are best housed in the centre cupholders, while other odds and ends can be kept in the deep glovebox. There’s also a spot for your phone under the centre stack which doubles as a wireless charging pad; other charging options are limited to two USB-C outlets and a 12V socket.

Moving back, the second row is just as decadent as the first.

This creates a bit of a dilemma, as although the Flying Spur is lovely to drive, it’s also a treat to be driven in.

There’s ample head- and legroom for two full-sized adults to spread out comfortably, and a second sunroof only improves that perception of space in the back.

At the same time, rear passengers can block out the outside world completely by covering the glass panel and activating the electric window blinds on each side.

All the above adjustments can be made through a touchscreen attached to the back of the centre console, which also affords easy access to the seat and climate controls. That’s right, even those in the back get electric seat adjustment, as well as all the goodies available up front – heating, ventilation, and massage. Both head restraints get skull-hugging cushions, too.

As such, sitting in the second row of the Flying Spur is like flying first class, just without meal service and inflight entertainment. Having said that, individual passenger entertainment screens are available as a cost option.

As standard you get a pair of USB-C outlets, a wide centre armrest, four separate air vents, and fold-down vanity mirrors. Storage options include a shallow armrest bin, skinny door bins, and map pockets.

You’ll want to take advantage of those nooks, as the boot is strangely small for such a large vehicle. Bentley quotes 346 litres of cargo capacity for the Flying Spur – a figure that’s beaten by some city hatchbacks, let alone other luxury sedans.

The transition to plug-in hybrid power is partly responsible, as the boot floor sits quite high and charging cables take up some of the remaining room.

Loading smaller items is still a relatively easy task, as the Flying Spur is fitted with a power tailgate and the opening aperture is both wide and deep. Still, surely Bentley buyers deserve a bigger boot.

There’s no spare tyre either, just a repair kit. A temporary spare can be added at an additional cost.

To see how the Bentley Flying Spur lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

The 2026 Flying Spur features a V8 plug-in hybrid powertrain which can be had in two different states of tune, dubbed ‘High Performance’ and ‘Ultra Performance’ respectively.

Being the base model, our tester is the least powerful of the bunch, producing just 500kW and 930Nm. That’s down 75kW and 70Nm on the Ultra Performance powertrain housed in the Speed and Mulliner.

As a result, the standard Flying Spur is a little slower than its stablemates. The 0-100km/h sprint takes a claimed 3.9 seconds, a deficit of 0.4 seconds.

However, High Performance variants boast slightly improved electric driving range.

Both the Ultra Performance and High Performance plug-in hybrids have more power and torque than the departed 6.0-litre turbo W12, which made 467kW/900Nm.

To see how the Bentley Flying Spur lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How does the Bentley Flying Spur drive?

Many automakers stand to lose from engine downsizing and electrification, but Bentley isn’t one of them.

Because, while the old W12 will forever be adored by automotive enthusiasts, this new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid powertrain is a perfect fit for the personality of the Flying Spur.

It offers up to 80km of silent, smooth electric travel – more than enough for a relaxing jaunt around town – but can also unleash 500kW of hybrid V8 fury when desired… talk about Jekyll and Hyde.

I say that, but even when driven in anger the Flying Spur remains a refined beast. It’s never shouty, at least not to the extent of a Mercedes-AMG V8 or Porsche Panamera Turbo S. If it’s theatre you’re after, the Flying Spur Speed and Mulliner gain a noisier sports exhaust system.

Still, the lack of noise doesn’t distract you from the fact that the base Flying Spur absolutely hauls under full throttle, at least in a straight line. It pins you back in the seat and doesn’t let up, thanks to an endless wave of torque and quick shifts from the dual-clutch transmission.

We weren’t afforded an opportunity to test out the handling capabilities of the Flying Spur during this brief drive, but it’s not exactly a sharp scalpel.

Weighing in at over 2.7 tonnes, this long and luxurious Bentley is best suited to cross-country cruising rather than corner carving. However, all-wheel steering and a trick all-wheel drive system help to hide the Flying Spur’s significant heft somewhat, affording it some degree of manoeuvrability.

They can’t quite hide its size, though, which can pose issues during city driving. At 5.3 metres long and nearly two metres wide, the Flying Spur is too big for many parking spaces and lacks the visibility of taller luxury cars. Thank goodness for those high-resolution cameras, then. And, to be fair, the Flying Spur is still smaller than the Mercedes-Maybach S680 and Rolls-Royce Ghost – two of its main rivals.

More importantly, the Flying Spur rides remarkably well despite its weight and huge 22-inch alloys. The standard air suspension does an excellent job of smoothing out uneven surfaces, although nastier potholes are felt in the cabin.

In that sense, the Flying Spur isn’t quite as cloud-like as the high-riding Bentayga SUV. It’s a lot sexier, though.

Beyond ride comfort, the Flying Spur is also supremely refined from a sound insulation standpoint. Minimal outside noise penetrates the cabin, even when the car is running in EV mode. EVs are more prone to road and wind noise due to the quietness of their powertrains, but this Bentley bucks that trend.

There are three drive modes to choose from – Comfort, Normal or ‘B’ and Sport – and I found the default setting struck the best balance between plushness and performance. Funny that.

To see how the Bentley Flying Spur lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What do you get?

The Flying Spur sedan is absolutely loaded with standard equipment, even in its core form.

2026 Bentley Flying Spur standard equipment highlights:

• 21-inch alloy wheels
• Black matrix grille with chrome surround and centre bar
• Electrically adjustable door mirrors with heating, power fold, auto-dimming, memory and dip on reverse functions
• Illuminated ‘Bentley’ sill and stainless steel treadplates
• Full LED matrix headlamps with high-beam assist
• Acoustic glass
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Hands-free power tailgate
• Power-closing doors
• Nappa leather upholstery
• Dinamica pillars and headliner
• Diamond knurling to rotary switches and column stalks
• Electric rear window blinds
• 24-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, massage, and position memory
• 14-way power-adjustable rear seats with heating, ventilation, massage and position memory
• Wireless phone charger
• Heated steering wheel
• Electric tilt-and-reach adjustment steering column with memory and easy-entry functions
• Deep pile cabin carpets
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Multi-zone climate control
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• 12.3-inch digital driver display
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Connected services

To see how the Bentley Flying Spur lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Is the Bentley Flying Spur safe?

The Bentley Flying Spur hasn’t been crash tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP, as is often the case with models that sell in low volumes.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Front, side, and curtain airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Adaptive cruise control with lane assist
• Blind-spot warning
• Reversing camera
• Surround-view camera
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Intelligent park assist
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Safe exit warning
• Traffic sign recognition

To see how the Bentley Flying Spur lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How much does the Bentley Flying Spur cost to run?

Like the wider Bentley range, the Flying Spur is covered by a three-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with roadside assistance for the same period.

As for servicing, all Bentleys sold from March 2023 come with five years of scheduled servicing at no cost.

Worried about fuel costs? You shouldn’t be. The Flying Spur can travel up to 80km on electric power alone, and achieves respectable efficiency when driven in hybrid mode.

To see how the Bentley Flying Spur lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Take on the Bentley Flying Spur

Don’t get me wrong, $500,000-plus is a lot of money, but I can’t think of many better cars to spend it on.

Because, while most exotic models sell on the basis of one or two desirable traits, the Bentley Flying Spur has them all – stunning looks, superb straight-line performance, couch-like comfort, upmarket materials, and sedan practicality. The efficiency and versatility afforded by plug-in hybrid power serves as icing on the cake.

Alternatives to the Flying Spur do exist, but each has drawbacks. The Porsche Panamera, for example, isn’t quite as compliant, nor as kind on rear passengers.

Then there’s the Rolls-Royce Ghost, which is even more opulent than the Bentley, but wears a higher price tag to match. It’s also more likely to draw negative attention.

As such, the Flying Spur stands out as the ideal all-rounder for the few fortunate enough to be shopping in this sphere.

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MORE: Explore the Bentley Flying Spur showroom