Compare the2023 Bentley Flying SpurVS 2023 Audi S7

The Flying Spur has standard whiplash protection, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the whiplash protection system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The S7 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Flying Spur has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the S7’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Flying Spur has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the S7.

Both the Flying Spur and the S7 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, rearview cameras, available night vision systems and lane departure warning systems.

The Bentley Flying Spur weighs 540 to 926 pounds more than the Audi S7. 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 S7’s 50,000-mile basic warranty expires sooner.

The Flying Spur Hybrid’s standard 2.9 turbo V6 hybrid produces 92 more horsepower (536 vs. 444) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 442) than the S7’s 2.9 turbo V6 hybrid. The Flying Spur’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 produces 98 more horsepower (542 vs. 444) and 126 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 442) than the S7’s 2.9 turbo V6 hybrid. The Flying Spur’s optional 6.0 turbo 12-cylinder produces 182 more horsepower (626 vs. 444) and 222 lbs.-ft. more torque (664 vs. 442) than the S7’s 2.9 turbo V6 hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Bentley Flying Spur turbo V8 is faster than the Audi S7:

On the EPA test cycle the Flying Spur Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the S7 (43 city/50 hwy MPGe vs. 19 city/26 hwy).

The Flying Spur Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 21 miles. The S7 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Flying Spur (except Hybrid)’s fuel efficiency. The S7 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Flying Spur Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the S7 (21 vs. 19.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Flying Spur’s standard fuel tank has 4.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the S7 (23.8 vs. 19.3 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 S7 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

For better stopping power the Flying Spur’s brake rotors are larger than those on the S7:

For better traction, the Flying Spur has larger standard tires than the S7 (F:265/45R20 & R:295/40R20 vs. 255/35R21). The Flying Spur’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the S7 (F:275/35R22 & R:315/30R22 vs. 255/35R21).

The Flying Spur’s optional 315/30R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the S7’s 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Flying Spur offers optional 22-inch wheels. The S7’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

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 S7 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the Flying Spur uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the S7, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The Flying Spur offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Audi doesn’t offer an active suspension on the S7.

The Flying Spur has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Flying Spur’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The S7 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Flying Spur’s wheelbase is 10.4 inches longer than on the S7 (125.7 inches vs. 115.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Flying Spur is .7 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than on the S7.

For better maneuverability, the Flying Spur Rear Wheel Steering’s turning circle is 3.7 feet tighter than the S7’s (36.3 feet vs. 40 feet). The Flying Spur’s turning circle is 2.4 feet tighter than the S7’s (37.6 feet vs. 40 feet).

The design of the Bentley Flying Spur amounts to more than styling. The Flying Spur has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .298 Cd. That is significantly lower than the S7 (.34) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Flying Spur get better fuel mileage.

The Flying Spur has 8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S7 (102 vs. 94).

The Flying Spur has .4 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room and 5.9 inches more rear legroom than the S7.

With its sedan body style, valet key and remote trunk release lockout, the Flying Spur offers cargo security. The S7’s hatchback body style, non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

The Flying Spur has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The S7 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 S7 doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

Standard air conditioned seats in the front and rear seats keep the Flying Spur’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The S7 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Flying Spur has standard massaging front seats. Massaging front seats cost extra on the S7, and are only available on the S7 Premium Plus/Prestige. 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 S7.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Bentley Flying Spur has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console and one for the rear passengers. Wireless charging costs extra on the S7.