Compare the2024 Audi S8VS 2023 Bentley Flying Spur

The S8 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The S8 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, 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.

The S8’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Flying Spur.

Both the S8 and the Flying Spur 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, around view monitors, available night vision systems, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The S8 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 S8’s corrosion warranty is 9 years longer than the Flying Spur’s (12 vs. 3 years).

There are over 6 times as many Audi dealers as there are Bentley dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the S8’s warranty.

The S8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 27 more horsepower (563 vs. 536) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (590 vs. 553) than the Flying Spur Hybrid’s standard 2.9 turbo V6 hybrid. The S8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 21 more horsepower (563 vs. 542) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (590 vs. 568) than the Flying Spur’s standard 4.0 turbo V8.

As tested in Car and Driver the Audi S8 is faster than the Bentley Flying Spur:

On the EPA test cycle the S8 gets better mileage than the Flying Spur running its gasoline engine:

The S8 stops shorter than the Flying Spur:

The S8’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Flying Spur’s standard 45 series front tires.

The S8 has a standard 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 S8 handles at .95 G’s, while the Flying Spur pulls only .94 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The design of the Audi S8 amounts to more than styling. The S8 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .28 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 S8 get better fuel mileage.

The S8 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the S8 a Large car, while the Flying Spur is rated a Mid-size.

The S8 has 9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Flying Spur (111 vs. 102).

The S8 has .9 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more rear legroom and 2.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Flying Spur.

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the S8 easier. The S8’s trunk lift-over height is 27.4 inches, while the Flying Spur’s liftover is 29.5 inches.

If the windows are left open on the S8 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.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the S8 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. 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 S8 has standard extendable sun visors. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The S8 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 S8’s optional Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist Plus 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 Audi A8/S8 outsold the Bentley Flying Spur by over two to one during 2022.