Compare the2023 Bentley Flying SpurVS 2023 Porsche Panamera

The Flying Spur’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Panamera doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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 Panamera doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Flying Spur. But it costs extra on the Panamera.

The Flying Spur has a standard blind spot warning system that 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 Panamera’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Flying Spur’s standard Reversing Traffic Warning uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and automatically engage the brakes. The Panamera doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Flying Spur and the Panamera have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available night vision systems and lane departure warning systems.

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 Panamera’s 50,000-mile basic warranty expires sooner.

The Flying Spur has more powerful engines than the Panamera:

As tested in Motor Trend the Bentley Flying Spur turbo V8 is faster than the Panamera 4S 2.9 turbo V6:

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

The Flying Spur can travel longer on electricity, only, on a full charge than the Panamera Sedan on electricity, only, on a full charge:

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

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The Flying Spur has a standard Hydraulic Brake Assist to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The Panamera doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Flying Spur has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Panamera. The Flying Spur’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the Panamera.

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Flying Spur’s wheelbase is 9.6 inches longer than on the Panamera (125.7 inches vs. 116.1 inches). The Flying Spur’s wheelbase is 3.7 inches longer than on the Panamera Executive (125.7 inches vs. 122 inches).

The Flying Spur handles at .98 G’s, while the Panamera 4 pulls only .94 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Flying Spur Rear Wheel Steering’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Panamera w/Rear Axle Steering’s (36.3 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The Flying Spur’s turning circle is 3.1 feet tighter than the Panamera Executive’s (37.6 feet vs. 40.7 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 lower than the Panamera (.29 to .35) 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 6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Panamera (102 vs. 96).

The Flying Spur has .4 inches more front shoulder room, 7.3 inches more rear legroom and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Panamera.

With its sedan body style, valet key and remote trunk release lockout, the Flying Spur offers cargo security. The Panamera’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 Panamera doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Flying Spur’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Panamera.

If the windows are left open on the Flying Spur the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Panamera can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Flying Spur to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Panamera doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Flying Spur 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 Panamera.

The Flying Spur’s Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Panamera doesn’t offer an automated parking system.