The key reason for Bentley's success compared with its closest rivals is due to price, the Continental GT coupe and Continental Flying Spur sedan, for example, sell for roughly half the price of a Maybach 57 or Rolls-Royce Phantom. However, Bentley exec Stuart McCullough believes money is not the issue, claiming customers choose the Bentley because they find the Rolls-Royce Phantom too ostentatious, while the Maybach looks too much like a Mercedes.
With this level of sales, Bentley is also on the verge of losing significant brand-cachet. Numerous reviews have derided the Continental GT for being little more than a VW Phaeton with a bigger engine, while many critics have applauded BMW’s hands-off approach with Rolls Royce.