Compare the2026 BMW 8 SeriesVS 2025 Bentley Continental GT

The 8 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 Continental GT doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 8 Series 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The 8 Series 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 8 Series’ corrosion warranty is 9 years longer than the Continental GT’s (12 vs. 3 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 8 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 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 8 Series’ warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the 8 Series gets better mileage than the Continental GT running its gasoline engine:

The 8 Series stops shorter than the Continental GT:

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 8 Series can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Continental GT doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The BMW 8 Series may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1100 to 1500 pounds less than the Bentley Continental GT.

The front grille of the 8 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 Continental GT doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the 8 Series Convertible a Subcompact car, while the Continental GT GTC is rated a Minicompact.

The 8 Series Coupe has 1.3 inches more front headroom and .1 inches more front legroom than the Continental GT.

The 8 Series Convertible has 1 inch more front headroom and .1 inches more front legroom than the Continental GTC.

The 8 Series Coupe has a much larger trunk than the Continental GT (14.8 vs. 9.2 cubic feet).

The 8 Series Convertible has a much larger trunk with its top down than the Continental GTC (12.4 vs. 4.7 cubic feet).

The 8 Series’ 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 8 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 Continental GT can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

The 8 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 Continental GT’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Laser headlights, standard on the 8 Series, 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.

Both the 8 Series and the Continental GT offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the 8 Series 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 BMW 8 Series has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Bentley charges extra for Homelink® on the Continental GT.

The BMW 8 Series comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Bentley Continental GT isn’t available as a sedan.

The 8 Series is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Continental GT doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The BMW 8 Series outsold the Bentley Continental GT by almost five to one during 2024.