Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2015 Porsche Panamera VS 2015 Bentley Flying Near Phoenix, AZ

The Panamera has standard child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer child safety locks.

The Panamera offers optional Porsche Active Safe, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Flying Spur doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

The Panamera’s optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Panamera offers an optional Surround View System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Flying Spur only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Panamera’s optional blind spot warning system uses digital cameras monitored by computer to alert the driver to moving objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

Both the Panamera and the Flying Spur have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights and front and rear parking sensors.

The Panamera 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 Panamera’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Flying Spur’s (10 vs. 3 years).

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Panamera first among large premium cars in their 2014 Initial Quality Study. The Flying Spur isn’t in the top three in its category.

As tested in Motor Trend the Porsche Panamera is faster than the Flying Spur W12:

On the EPA test cycle the Panamera S E-Hybrid gets better fuel mileage than the Flying Spur V8 (23 city/29 hwy vs. 14 city/24 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the Panamera gets better fuel mileage than the Flying Spur:

The Panamera S E-Hybrid can drive on battery power alone for up to 16 miles. The Flying Spur must run its internal combustion engine to move.

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the Panamera’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Bentley only offers a regenerative brake system on the Flying Spur V8.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Panamera’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The Flying Spur doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Panamera’s optional fuel tank has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Flying Spur (26.4 vs. 24 gallons).

The Panamera stops shorter than the Flying Spur:

The Panamera offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Bentley doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Flying Spur.

The Panamera Turbo 4 handles at 1.03 G’s, while the Flying Spur W12 pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Panamera Turbo 4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.5 seconds quicker than the Flying Spur W12 (23.7 seconds @ .87 average G’s vs. 26.2 seconds @ .71 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Panamera S E-Hybrid’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Flying Spur’s (39 feet vs. 39.7 feet). The Panamera’s turning circle is .4 feet tighter than the Flying Spur’s (39.3 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

The Porsche Panamera may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1450 to 1950 pounds less than the Bentley Flying Spur.

The Panamera is 11.2 inches shorter than the Flying Spur, making the Panamera easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces. The Panamera Executive is 5.2 inches shorter than the Flying Spur.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Panamera has standard flush composite headlights. The Flying Spur has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The Panamera has .3 inches more front legroom and .2 inches more rear headroom than the Flying Spur.

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

The Panamera offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Panamera’s 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.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Panamera to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Panamera offers an optional rear wiper. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Panamera detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

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

The Panamera’s power mirror controls are mounted on the door for easy access. The Flying Spur’s power mirror controls are on the center console where they can’t be seen without the driver completely removing his eyes from the road.

Optional Online Services for the Panamera allows the driver and passengers access to select programs on their smartphones, including playing internet radio stations, finding fuel prices at nearby service stations, searching the internet and other connected activities without taking their eyes off the road or their hands from the wheel. The Flying Spur doesn’t offer factory integrated smartphone program access.

The Panamera 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 Porsche Panamera won the Check it Out award in Kiplinger’s 2015 car issue. The Bentley Flying Spur didn't win any award.