Compare the2023 Mercedes CLSVS 2023 Bentley Flying Spur

The CLS’ 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 CLS and the Flying Spur have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The CLS 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 CLS’ corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Flying Spur’s (5 vs. 3 years).

There are almost 8 times as many Mercedes dealers as there are Bentley dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CLS’ warranty.

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

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes CLS higher (6 out of 10) than the Bentley Flying Spur (3 to 5). This means the CLS produces up to 23.4 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Flying Spur every 15,000 miles.

The EPA certifies the Mercedes CLS as an “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV). The Bentley Flying Spur is only certified to “Low Emissions Vehicle” (LEV) standards.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes CLS, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Flying Spur.

The CLS stops shorter than the Flying Spur:

The CLS’ standard 245/40R19 front and 275/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Flying Spur’s standard 45 series front and 40 series rear tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the CLS 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 CLS’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Mercedes CLS may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 900 to 1250 pounds less than the Bentley Flying Spur.

The CLS is 1 foot shorter than the Flying Spur, making the CLS easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The CLS is 5.4 inches narrower than the Flying Spur, making the CLS easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The design of the Mercedes CLS amounts to more than styling. The CLS has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .27 Cd. That is lower than the Flying Spur (.298) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the CLS get better fuel mileage.

The CLS’ standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

If the windows are left open on the CLS the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. 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.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the CLS to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the CLS offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer cornering lights. The CLS also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The CLS offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The CLS’ optional Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Flying Spur’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

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

The Mercedes E-Class/CLS outsold the Bentley Flying Spur by almost 29 to one during 2022.