Compare the2022 BMW 7 SeriesVS 2022 Bentley Flying Spur

The 7 Series 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 Flying Spur 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 7 Series has standard Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The 7 Series’ 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 Flying Spur.

The 7 Series’ 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 Flying Spur doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 7 Series and the Flying Spur 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, 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, available all wheel drive and night vision systems.

The 7 Series comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Flying Spur’s 3-year basic warranty expires 1 year sooner.

The 7 Series’ corrosion warranty is 9 years longer than the Flying Spur’s (12 vs. 3 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 7 Series 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 Flying Spur.

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 7 Series’ warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the 7 Series’ reliability 21 points higher than the Flying Spur.

As tested in Car and Driver the Alpina B7 4.4 turbo V8 is faster than the Bentley Flying Spur turbo 12 cyl.:

As tested in Car and Driver the Alpina B7 4.4 turbo V8 is faster than the Flying Spur V8 4.0 turbo V8:

On the EPA test cycle the 7 Series running on electricity gets better mileage than the Flying Spur running on electricity:

On the EPA test cycle the 7 Series running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Flying Spur running its gasoline engine:

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the 7 Series’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Bentley only offers a regenerative brake system on the Flying Spur Hybrid.

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the 7 Series’ engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The 7 Series stops much shorter than the Flying Spur:

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 7 Series can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The 7 Series 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 Flying Spur; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Alpina B7 handles at .97 G’s, while the Flying Spur V8 pulls only .94 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The BMW 7 Series may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 900 pounds less than the Bentley Flying Spur.

The front grille of the 7 Series uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the 7 Series a Large car, while the Flying Spur is rated a Mid-size.

The 7 Series has 12 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Flying Spur (114 vs. 102).

The 7 Series has 2.5 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.9 inches more rear headroom, 1.5 inches more rear legroom and 2.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Flying Spur.

The 7 Series’ instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Flying Spur does not have an oil pressure gauge.

If the windows are left open on the 7 Series the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Flying Spur can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the 7 Series has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the 7 Series has standard extendable sun visors. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The 7 Series 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 Flying Spur.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW 7 Series has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Flying Spur.

The 7 Series’ Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Flying Spur’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.

The 7 Series is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW 7 Series, based on reliability, safety and performance.