When the third-generation Bentley Flying Spur was first introduced on our shores, all the way back in the end of 2019, I remember standing from a distance looking at it in awe. You don't even have to open the doors to notice the grandeur of this luxurious grand tourer.

From its extensive wheelbase, grand proportions to the little details that create the distinctly Bentley design, there is no doubt that be it being chauffeured or driving it yourself, you will be pampered in luxury - a closer look at the lavish interior would affirm this. The Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid that I am driving is a little different -  the focus is on sustainability, hence a smaller engine, but does it equate to a lesser experience?

A bright display of style and opulence

Nothing says luxury like a car that's almost as long as a mini bus, dressed in elegant white and dolled up with plenty of shiny chrome bits.

But the Flying Spur Hybrid isn't just that - its stately design incorporates all the details that makes a Bentley recognisable.

Starting with the chrome-rimmed quad round head lights, the large recognisable chrome grille topped off by a retractable Flying B mascot, and the distinctly sculpted bonnet, the Bentley DNA is strong throughout the car.

Moving on to the side profile, you'll notice the characteristic shoulder lines, especially above the rear wheel arches, which is yet another clear Bentley touch. And it is all finished with a very Bentley rear end with its clamshell rear boot lid and a pair of LED taillights sporting a simple signature that seems inspired by Bentley's logo.

Perhaps, if I were to choose one component as the highlight of the Flying Spur Hybrid's design, it would be the intricately designed head lights that evokes the same emotions as an exquisite whisky glass.

Sustainability, eco-friendliness and refinement can go hand-in-hand

Of course, I can't talk about my experience of the Flying Spur Hybrid without touching on the most important point - its powertrain. When first introduced, the third generation Bentley Flying Spur showcased here had a massive 6.0-litre W12 twin-turbo engine. With such a large engine, you can expect its drive to be smooth, powerful and effortless.

Today's Flying Spur Hybrid is powered by a much smaller 2.9-litre V6 twin-turbo engine that is supported by an electric motor to put out a total of 536bhp and 700Nm of torque. With 700Nm of torque, the Flying Spur Hybrid is no slouch. In fact it can complete the century sprint in just 4.3 seconds - truly impressive considering its massive size and kerb weight of 2,505kg.

However, performance clearly isn't the top priority when shopping for a luxury limousine, comfort and a refined experience is.

And after driving it for a bit, you can be rest assured in knowing that not a single bit of refinement was lost during this hybridisation process.

The strong electric motor in the hybrid powertrain ensures that it never feels laborious when moving off, and when more power is needed, the transition from motor to engine power is perfectly seamless - as the driver, I'm unable to notice it without glancing at the tachometer.

Even when the engine is running, it is extremely quiet until you push hard on the accelerator, then the silence turns into a smooth athletic purr while the car firmly picks up speed.

Being a plug-in hybrid, you can drive it in pure electric mode. And despite the motor putting out just 134bhp and 400Nm of torque, it is fully capable of powering the hefty car. However, with a pure electric range in the ballpark of 40km, and much less if you were to be accelerating harshly, I reckon the Flying Spur Hybrid would benefit from a larger battery pack for the electric motor.

A cushy and luxurious living room on then go

Inside this Flying Spur hybrid is everything you'll expect from Bentley as well. Most interior surfaces are slathered with fine leather in Camel and Burnt Oak - a nice blend of lighter and darker shades of brown, and accentuated by the Dark Fiddleback Eucalyptus veneer. The luxurious interior is completed with a copius amount of chrome pieces, perhaps even a little too much under glaring sunlight.

With its large body, the interior is expectedly spacious. Seated in the back, you could easily cross your legs if you want to. The seats, trimmed with quality leather, are also highly adjustable and features massage and ventilated functions (this applies to the front seats as well).

Cabin insulation is definitely a highlight of the Flying Spur Hybrid - save for some road noise on coarser road surfaces, almost nothing else gets in, not even the engine noise of a van zooming past you. In fact, the noise, vibration and harshness are so well managed that the sense of speed is dulled - going at 80km/h feels like you are barely moving at all.

The ride quality is once again praiseworthy. As a rear passenger, most disturbances in the road surfaces are numbed down to a minute sensation. And as the driver, you would still feel some of the larger bumps, but it is also obvious that the chassis is extremely rigid as the impact of each bump feels localised to the particular end of the car, and doesn't affect the roadholding ability of the car.

Not all limousines handle like barges

On the topic of roadholding, the Flying Spur Hybrid's performance comes as a surprise, considering its size, heft and luxury credentials. You don't get the boat-like experience as expected of luxurious limousines. Instead, there is a lack of body roll and the exceptional stability of the car shows itself when you put the car through its paces on some tight, twisty roads.

What the Flying Spur Hybrid manages is a confidence-inspiring drive due to its excellent body control. It does live up to Bentley's reputation of building cars that appeal not only to people who want to be chauffeured in comfort, but also to enjoy a good drive.

Without any experience with the variants equipped with larger engines, I would say that the Flying Spur Hybrid's powertrain is extremely refined and produces enough grunt to ensure an undiluted experience. And it gets even more attractive when you consider its fuel economy of 9.1km/L that I managed to achieve during our 125km drive - pretty impressive for a luxury limousine.

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When the third-generation Bentley Flying Spur was first introduced on our shores, all the way back in the end of 2019, I remember standing from a distance looking at it in awe. You don't even have to open the doors to notice the grandeur of this luxurious grand tourer.

From its extensive wheelbase, grand proportions to the little details that create the distinctly Bentley design, there is no doubt that be it being chauffeured or driving it yourself, you will be pampered in luxury - a closer look at the lavish interior would affirm this. The Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid that I am driving is a little different -  the focus is on sustainability, hence a smaller engine, but does it equate to a lesser experience?

A bright display of style and opulence

Nothing says luxury like a car that's almost as long as a mini bus, dressed in elegant white and dolled up with plenty of shiny chrome bits.

But the Flying Spur Hybrid isn't just that - its stately design incorporates all the details that makes a Bentley recognisable.

Starting with the chrome-rimmed quad round head lights, the large recognisable chrome grille topped off by a retractable Flying B mascot, and the distinctly sculpted bonnet, the Bentley DNA is strong throughout the car.

Moving on to the side profile, you'll notice the characteristic shoulder lines, especially above the rear wheel arches, which is yet another clear Bentley touch. And it is all finished with a very Bentley rear end with its clamshell rear boot lid and a pair of LED taillights sporting a simple signature that seems inspired by Bentley's logo.

Perhaps, if I were to choose one component as the highlight of the Flying Spur Hybrid's design, it would be the intricately designed head lights that evokes the same emotions as an exquisite whisky glass.

Sustainability, eco-friendliness and refinement can go hand-in-hand

Of course, I can't talk about my experience of the Flying Spur Hybrid without touching on the most important point - its powertrain. When first introduced, the third generation Bentley Flying Spur showcased here had a massive 6.0-litre W12 twin-turbo engine. With such a large engine, you can expect its drive to be smooth, powerful and effortless.

Today's Flying Spur Hybrid is powered by a much smaller 2.9-litre V6 twin-turbo engine that is supported by an electric motor to put out a total of 536bhp and 700Nm of torque. With 700Nm of torque, the Flying Spur Hybrid is no slouch. In fact it can complete the century sprint in just 4.3 seconds - truly impressive considering its massive size and kerb weight of 2,505kg.

However, performance clearly isn't the top priority when shopping for a luxury limousine, comfort and a refined experience is.

And after driving it for a bit, you can be rest assured in knowing that not a single bit of refinement was lost during this hybridisation process.

The strong electric motor in the hybrid powertrain ensures that it never feels laborious when moving off, and when more power is needed, the transition from motor to engine power is perfectly seamless - as the driver, I'm unable to notice it without glancing at the tachometer.

Even when the engine is running, it is extremely quiet until you push hard on the accelerator, then the silence turns into a smooth athletic purr while the car firmly picks up speed.

Being a plug-in hybrid, you can drive it in pure electric mode. And despite the motor putting out just 134bhp and 400Nm of torque, it is fully capable of powering the hefty car. However, with a pure electric range in the ballpark of 40km, and much less if you were to be accelerating harshly, I reckon the Flying Spur Hybrid would benefit from a larger battery pack for the electric motor.

A cushy and luxurious living room on then go

Inside this Flying Spur hybrid is everything you'll expect from Bentley as well. Most interior surfaces are slathered with fine leather in Camel and Burnt Oak - a nice blend of lighter and darker shades of brown, and accentuated by the Dark Fiddleback Eucalyptus veneer. The luxurious interior is completed with a copius amount of chrome pieces, perhaps even a little too much under glaring sunlight.

With its large body, the interior is expectedly spacious. Seated in the back, you could easily cross your legs if you want to. The seats, trimmed with quality leather, are also highly adjustable and features massage and ventilated functions (this applies to the front seats as well).

Cabin insulation is definitely a highlight of the Flying Spur Hybrid - save for some road noise on coarser road surfaces, almost nothing else gets in, not even the engine noise of a van zooming past you. In fact, the noise, vibration and harshness are so well managed that the sense of speed is dulled - going at 80km/h feels like you are barely moving at all.

The ride quality is once again praiseworthy. As a rear passenger, most disturbances in the road surfaces are numbed down to a minute sensation. And as the driver, you would still feel some of the larger bumps, but it is also obvious that the chassis is extremely rigid as the impact of each bump feels localised to the particular end of the car, and doesn't affect the roadholding ability of the car.

Not all limousines handle like barges

On the topic of roadholding, the Flying Spur Hybrid's performance comes as a surprise, considering its size, heft and luxury credentials. You don't get the boat-like experience as expected of luxurious limousines. Instead, there is a lack of body roll and the exceptional stability of the car shows itself when you put the car through its paces on some tight, twisty roads.

What the Flying Spur Hybrid manages is a confidence-inspiring drive due to its excellent body control. It does live up to Bentley's reputation of building cars that appeal not only to people who want to be chauffeured in comfort, but also to enjoy a good drive.

Without any experience with the variants equipped with larger engines, I would say that the Flying Spur Hybrid's powertrain is extremely refined and produces enough grunt to ensure an undiluted experience. And it gets even more attractive when you consider its fuel economy of 9.1km/L that I managed to achieve during our 125km drive - pretty impressive for a luxury limousine.

In the market for a luxury limousine? Here are some great reads on them

BMW i7 squares off against Mercedes-Benz EQ S450+

BMW 735i is a portal to a fantasy world

The BMW i7 is a stellar flagship model

Audi A8L goes up against the Mercedes S-CLass