Compare the2022 Bentley Continental GTVS 2021 Mercedes E-Class Coupe

The Bentley Continental GT has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The E-Class Coupe doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Continental GT has a standard Multi-collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The E-Class Coupe 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Continental GT. But it costs extra on the E-Class Coupe.

An active infrared night vision system optional on the Continental GT helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera and near-infrared lights to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The E-Class Coupe doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Continental GT and the E-Class Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and available lane departure warning systems.

The Bentley Continental GT weighs 588 to 1133 pounds more than the Mercedes E-Class Coupe. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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

The Continental GT’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 produces 180 more horsepower (542 vs. 362) and 199 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 369) than the E-Class Coupe’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid. The Continental GT SPEED’s standard 6.0 turbo 12-cylinder produces 288 more horsepower (650 vs. 362) and 295 lbs.-ft. more torque (664 vs. 369) than the E-Class Coupe’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Continental GT’s fuel efficiency. The E-Class Coupe doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Continental GT has 6.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the E-Class Coupe (23.8 vs. 17.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Continental GT offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The E-Class Coupe doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Continental GT’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The E-Class Coupe doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Continental GT’s brake rotors are larger than those on the E-Class Coupe:

The Continental GT SPEED has standard 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 E-Class Coupe doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Continental GT stops shorter than the E-Class Coupe:

For better traction, the Continental GT has larger standard tires than the E-Class Coupe (F:265/45R20 & R:295/40R20 vs. 245/45R18). The Continental GT’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the E-Class Coupe (F:275/35R22 & R:315/30R22 vs. F:245/45R18 & R:275/40R18).

The Continental GT V8’s standard 295/40R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the E-Class Coupe 4MATIC’s standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Continental GT V8 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the E-Class Coupe. The Continental GT’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the E-Class Coupe.

The Continental GT offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the E-Class Coupe; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the E-Class Coupe don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

The Continental GT offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The E-Class Coupe doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the Continental GT uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the E-Class Coupe, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The Continental GT offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Mercedes doesn’t offer an active suspension on the E-Class Coupe.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Continental GT is 2.9 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than on the E-Class Coupe.

The Continental GT Coupe handles at .99 G’s, while the E 450 Coupe pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Continental GT Coupe executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.2 seconds quicker than the E 450 Coupe (23.8 seconds @ .85 average G’s vs. 26 seconds @ .71 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Continental GT SPEED’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the E-Class Coupe’s (33.8 feet vs. 36.1 feet). The Continental GT’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the E-Class Coupe’s (35.2 feet vs. 36.1 feet).

The Continental GT Coupe has 2.4 inches more front headroom, 3.3 inches more front shoulder room and .3 inches more rear headroom than the E-Class Coupe.

The Continental GT Coupe has a much larger trunk than the E-Class Coupe (12.6 vs. 10 cubic feet).