Bentley Flying Spur vs Holden Calais
What's the difference?

Bentley Flying Spur

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2024 price

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Holden Calais

$9,995 - $27,800

2018 price

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

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Mercedes-Benz C-Class

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Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Summary

2024 Bentley Flying Spur

2018 Holden Calais

By Stephen Corby

By Andrew Chesterton

Safety Rating

Engine Type

V12, 6.0L

V6, 3.6L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

14.7L/100km (combined)

9.1L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Performance
Luxury interior
Ride comfort

Plenty of cabin space
Safety gear on-point
Punchy V6

Dislikes

Price
Weight
Fuel economy

Fuel use on the high side
Four-cylinder turbo petrol unavailable
Diesel not an option

2024 Bentley Flying Spur Summary

In any other super car, it would seem deeply strange, wrong even, to loll (and LOL) in the back seats while a colleague blasts you around a race track at insane speeds, and not just because cars with V12 engines making 575kW and 1000Nm don’t normally have more than two seats.

The Bentley Flying Spur Speed is, of course, no ordinary car, it is a super sedan, a luxe limousine crossed with a rocket ship, and if Sir wants to get to the rooftop helipad in a spectacular hurry, then these are the back seats to be sitting in.

We flew to Japan, and the spectacular setting of the Magarigawa Club, a members-only race track carved out of the rolling hills outside Tokyo at a rumoured cost of $US2 billion, to try the back seats, and the driver’s seat, of the new and very impressive Flying Spur Speed.

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2018 Holden Calais Summary

If Holden had a dollar for every time someone had criticised the new and international flavour of Australia’s formerly home-grown hero, it would surely have more than enough spare cash to blow the dust of that vast South Australian factory and restart local Commodore production immediately.

Hell, there’d probably be enough left over to relaunch the Camira while they were at it. And maybe even knock out a new Gemini or two.

So we’re not going to do that again here. The all-new Commodore, in this case the Calais Tourer, is now here - granted having travelled further than the one it replaces - and so we’ll be playing this review with the straightest of bats.

Because the truth is, if you peel the badging - and thus the swirling emotion - off its elongated rump, then you’ll find this German-built Tourer is, really and truly, a very good thing.

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Deep dive comparison

2024 Bentley Flying Spur 2018 Holden Calais

Verdict

The Bentley Flying Spur Speed is a whole lot of car, for a whole lot of money. Sure, I’d rather have a Ferrari or a Porsche with similar power (and the Panamera shares the same V8 and hybrid set up), but then if you’re in the market for a Bentley like this you already have a garage full of other options. And I can see why you’d add one of these to your collection. Because you can.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.

Verdict

A best-of-both-worlds option that should have us questioning our SUV obsession, the Calais Tourer delivers plenty of practicality perks and a higher ride height in a dynamic and car-like package. The equipment levels are spot on, including the comprehensive safety package, and it you act smartly, you'll get a hugely long warranty to boot.

It sure is thirsty, though, and we can't help but think plenty of owners would be happier with a smaller, more-efficient engine.

Bentley Flying Spur vs Holden Calais What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Bentley Flying Spur vs Holden Calais
What's the difference?