Compare the2024 BMW M8VS 2023 Bentley Continental GT

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The M8 offers an optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Continental GT doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The M8’s 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 Continental GT.

The M8’s 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 Continental GT doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the M8 and the Continental GT 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, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The M8 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Continental GT’s 3-year basic warranty expires 1 year sooner.

The M8’s corrosion warranty is 9 years longer than the Continental GT’s (12 vs. 3 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M8 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Bentley doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Continental GT.

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 M8’s warranty.

The M8’s 4.4 turbo V8 produces 75 more horsepower (617 vs. 542) than the Continental GT’s standard 4.0 turbo V8.

As tested in Car and Driver the BMW M8 is faster than the Bentley Continental GT turbo V8:

On the EPA test cycle the M8 Competition gets better fuel mileage than the Continental GT SPEED Coupe (15 city/22 hwy vs. 12 city/20 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the M8 Competition gets better fuel mileage than the Continental GT SPEED Convertible (15 city/22 hwy vs. 12 city/18 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the M8’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Continental GT doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The M8 stops much shorter than the Continental GT:

For better traction, the M8 has larger front tires than the Continental GT (275/35R20 vs. 265/40R21).

The M8’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Continental GT’s standard 40 series front tires.

The BMW M8 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 750 pounds less than the Bentley Continental GT.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the M8 Convertible a Subcompact car, while the Continental GT GTC is rated a Minicompact.

The M8 Gran Coupe has standard seating for 5 passengers; the Continental GT can only carry 4.

The M8 Convertible has 4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Continental GTC (81 vs. 77).

The M8 Coupe has a much larger trunk than the Continental GT (14.8 vs. 12.6 cubic feet).

The M8 Convertible has a much larger trunk with its top down than the Continental GTC (12.4 vs. 6 cubic feet).

The M8’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Continental GT doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

If the windows are left open on the M8 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 Continental GT can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

The M8’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Continental GT’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Laser headlights, standard on the M8, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the Continental GT’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the M8 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Continental GT doesn’t offer cornering lights. The M8 also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the M8 Gran Coupe to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Continental GT doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

Both the M8 and the Continental GT have standard heated front seats. The M8 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Continental GT.

Both the M8 and the Continental GT offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the M8 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Continental GT doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The M8’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Continental GT’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The BMW M8 comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Bentley Continental GT isn’t available as a sedan.

The BMW 8 Series outsold the Bentley Continental GT by over five to one during 2022.