Compare the2024 BMW 7 SeriesVS 2024 Bentley Flying Spur

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the 7 Series are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The 7 Series has a standard PostCrash iBrake, 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The 7 Series has a standard 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 Flying Spur doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The 7 Series’ 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 Flying Spur.

The 7 Series’ 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 7 Series and the Flying Spur 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The 7 Series 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 7 Series’ corrosion warranty is 9 years longer than the Flying Spur’s (12 vs. 3 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 7 Series 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 Flying Spur.

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 7 Series’ warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the 7 Series’ reliability 20 points higher than the Flying Spur.

On the EPA test cycle the 7 Series running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Flying Spur running its gasoline engine:

The 750e can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 35 miles. The Flying Spur Hybrid has to start its internal combustion engine after only 21 miles.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW 7 Series higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Bentley Flying Spur (3 to 5). This means the 7 Series produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Flying Spur every 15,000 miles.

The 7 Series stops shorter than the Flying Spur:

The BMW 7 Series may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 400 pounds less than the Bentley Flying Spur.

The front grille of the 7 Series uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the 7 Series a Large car, while the Flying Spur is rated a Mid-size.

The 7 Series has 8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Flying Spur (110 vs. 102).

The 7 Series has 2.4 inches more front headroom, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, .4 inches more rear legroom and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Flying Spur.

The 7 Series’ instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Flying Spur does not have an oil pressure gauge.

If the windows are left open on the 7 Series 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.

The 7 Series’ 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 Flying Spur’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the 7 Series has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer cornering lights. The 7 Series also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the 7 Series has standard extendable sun visors. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The 7 Series’ Parking Assistant can parallel park by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Control Parking 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 7 Series is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 7 Series first among upper midsize premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Flying Spur isn’t in the top three.

The BMW 7 Series outsold the Bentley Continental/Flying Spur by almost five to one during 2023.