Compare the2022 BMW M8VS 2021 Bentley Continental GT

The M8 has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Continental GT doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The M8 offers optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Continental GT doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The M8’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Continental GT.

The M8’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Continental GT doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the M8 and the Continental GT have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The M8 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Continental GT’s 3-year basic warranty expires 1 year sooner.

The M8’s corrosion warranty is 9 years longer than the Continental GT’s (12 vs. 3 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M8 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Bentley doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Continental GT.

There are over 7 times as many BMW dealers as there are Bentley dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the M8’s warranty.

The M8’s 4.4 turbo V8 produces 75 more horsepower (617 vs. 542) than the Continental GT’s standard 4.0 turbo V8.

As tested in Car and Driver the BMW M8 is faster than the Bentley Continental GT turbo 12 cyl.:

Regenerative brakes improve the M8’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Continental GT doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Both the M8 and the Continental GT have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All M8s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The M8 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Continental GT doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The M8 stops much shorter than the Continental GT:

For better traction, the M8 has larger front tires than the Continental GT (275/35R20 vs. 265/40R21).

The M8’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Continental GT’s standard 40 series front tires.

The BMW M8 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 750 pounds less than the Bentley Continental GT.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the M8 Convertible a Subcompact car, while the Continental GT Convertible is rated a Minicompact.

The M8 Gran Coupe has standard seating for 5 passengers; the Continental GT can only carry 4.

The M8 Convertible has 4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Continental GT Convertible (81 vs. 77).

The M8 Coupe has a much larger trunk than the Continental GT Coupe (14.8 vs. 12.6 cubic feet).

The M8 Convertible has a much larger trunk with its top down than the Continental GT Convertible (12.4 vs. 6 cubic feet).

The M8’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Continental GT doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

The M8’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Continental GT’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the M8 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Continental GT doesn’t offer cornering lights. The M8 also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

Both the M8 and the Continental GT have standard heated front seats. The M8 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Continental GT.

The M8 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Continental GT.

The M8’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Continental GT’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The BMW M8 comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Bentley Continental GT isn’t available as a sedan.