Luxury Car of the Year 2020

 Luxury Car of the Year 2020: Bentley Flying Spur

Few cars can match the luxury offered by Bentley's latest sumptuous saloon, the Flying Spur. Now in its third generation, this car has moved onto a completely new platform, called the MSB, which was designed with a significant contribution from Porsche.

It is a fact that a luxury car needs to drive sublimely. Some cars in this class don't actually do it, but the Bentley is supreme, offers the most cuddly comfort, and protects you from the outside world.

The refinement is so good and you hear so little that the distant rumble of the 6.0-liter W12 biturbo engine is the underlying soundtrack, unless you have the brilliant (optional) Naim audio sound system activated. This provides concert-level clarity and presence indoors - the kind of function you want from a high-end machine like this. It's paired with a swivel display that features some lovely analog dials or a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system that's one of the best in the business.

With Bentley's Mulliner customization program virtually limitless in its potential, you can really tailor your car's specifications to your liking. But no matter how you choose your Flying Spur, the materials and quality of the interior are simply excellent. Soft leathers and rich wood paneling or cool turned metal dominate the cabin and create a true air of luxury and expense.

There is a huge level of space inside if this will be a chauffeured car. But of course a Bentley is still a sports car to some extent, so with that Porsche-developed chassis and the 626bhp W12 engine, the Flying Spur handles surprisingly well for such a large machine. You can switch to the "Bentley" configuration that the company's engineers consider the best combination of attributes for the powertrain, suspension and steering, but there is Sport if you want to go a step further.

The sprint from 0-100 km / h takes 3.7 seconds, so the Flying Spur is fast. But at 900Nm of torque, it's an easy, effortless mid-range hit that really defines its angle of luxury performance.

At £ 171,900 it's far from cheap, but compared to British rival Rolls-Royce's new entry-level luxury saloon, the £ 249,600 Ghost, the Bentley even appears to have great value.

Our choice

Bentley Flying Spur W12 (£ 171,900)

While there is only one engine option on the Flying Spur, the W12, it fits the car perfectly. It's smooth when you want it, but gives off a muscular yet quiet growl when you use its performance. Combined with luxurious driving comfort, excellent technology, and a wealth of space and opulence, all that's left to decide is how you want to specify your Flying Spur. However, keep in mind that the price can rise steeply from here.

Recommended

BMW 7 Series

With the same great plug-in powertrain as the X5, plus a line of diesel engines that deliver excellent refinement and performance, the 7 Series is slightly more affordable than the Bentley. It's certainly not that opulent, but it's comfortable, quiet, and offers cutting-edge information and entertainment.

Rolls-Royce Ghost

Despite its high price tag, the Phantom still receives decent praise. The ride, attention to detail, and looks are second to none, with plenty of advanced technology helping to possibly provide even more comfort than the Bentley. But at around £ 80,000 more expensive, you can't match Flying Spur's talent for the money.