Compare the2022 Bentley Flying SpurVS 2021 Mercedes AMG CLS

The Bentley Flying Spur 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 AMG CLS doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

An active infrared night vision system optional on the Flying Spur 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 projects the image on the windshield, near the driver’s line of sight. The AMG CLS doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Flying Spur and the AMG CLS have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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 Flying Spur weighs 681 to 1082 pounds more than the Mercedes AMG CLS. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Flying Spur comes with a full 3-year/unlimited-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The AMG CLS’ 50,000-mile basic warranty expires sooner.

The Hybrid Flying Spur’s standard 2.9 turbo V6 hybrid produces 107 more horsepower (536 vs. 429) and 169 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 384) than the AMG CLS’ 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid. The Flying Spur V8’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 produces 113 more horsepower (542 vs. 429) and 184 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 384) than the AMG CLS’ 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid. The Flying Spur’s optional 6.0 turbo 12-cylinder produces 197 more horsepower (626 vs. 429) and 280 lbs.-ft. more torque (664 vs. 384) than the AMG CLS’ 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Flying Spur V8 4.0 turbo V8 is faster than the Mercedes AMG CLS:

The Hybrid Flying Spur can drive on battery power alone for up to 25 miles. The AMG CLS must run its internal combustion engine to move.

The Flying Spur’s standard fuel tank has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the AMG CLS (23.8 vs. 21.1 gallons).

The Flying Spur 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 AMG CLS doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Flying Spur’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 AMG CLS doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Flying Spur’s brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG CLS:

The Flying Spur stops shorter than the AMG CLS:

For better traction, the Flying Spur has larger standard tires than the AMG CLS (F:265/45R20 & R:295/40R20 vs. F:245/40R19 & R:275/35R19). The Flying Spur’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the AMG CLS (F:275/35R22 & R:315/30R22 vs. F:245/40R19 & R:275/35R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Flying Spur V8 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the AMG CLS. The Flying Spur’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the AMG CLS.

The Flying Spur 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 AMG CLS doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Flying Spur 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 AMG CLS.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Flying Spur’s wheelbase is 10 inches longer than on the AMG CLS (125.7 inches vs. 115.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Flying Spur is 1 inch wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than on the AMG CLS.

The Flying Spur V8 handles at .94 G’s, while the AMG CLS 53 pulls only .90 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Flying Spur V8 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the AMG CLS 53 (24.7 seconds @ .78 average G’s vs. 25.4 seconds @ .74 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Flying Spur Rear Wheel Steering’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the AMG CLS’ (36.3 feet vs. 39 feet). The Flying Spur’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the AMG CLS’ (37.6 feet vs. 39 feet).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Flying Spur a Mid-size car, while the AMG CLS is rated a Compact.

The Flying Spur has 9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the AMG CLS (102 vs. 93).

The Flying Spur has .5 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom and 7.9 inches more rear legroom than the AMG CLS.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Flying Spur’s rear seats recline. The AMG CLS’ rear seats don’t recline.

The Flying Spur has a much larger trunk than the AMG CLS (14.8 vs. 11.9 cubic feet).

A power rear sunshade and rear side window sunshades are standard in the Flying Spur to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The AMG CLS doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Standard air conditioned seats in front and rear seats keep the Flying Spur’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The AMG CLS doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Flying Spur has standard massaging front seats. Massaging front seats cost extra on the AMG CLS. The Flying Spur also has standard massaging rear seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging rear seats aren’t available in the AMG CLS.