Rolls-Royce and Bentley are the two most famous British luxury car brands, and for most of the 20th century they were the same company. Rolls-Royce bought Bentley in 1931, and for decades many Bentleys were Rolls-Royces with a different grille. Since 2003 they have been rivals under different owners: Rolls-Royce belongs to BMW and builds cars at Goodwood, while Bentley belongs to the Volkswagen Group and builds cars at Crewe. The simplest way to remember the difference today: a Rolls-Royce is built to be driven in; a Bentley is built to be driven.

At a glance

Rolls-Royce Bentley
Founded 1906 (Charles Rolls and Henry Royce met in 1904) 1919, by W.O. Bentley
Owner today BMW Group Volkswagen Group
Factory Goodwood, West Sussex Crewe, Cheshire
Current models Phantom, Ghost, Cullinan, Spectre Continental GT, Continental GTC, Flying Spur, Bentayga
Character Serenity, presence, chauffeur-friendly Performance, craftsmanship, driver-focused

Two very different beginnings

Rolls-Royce grew out of the partnership between engineer Henry Royce and aristocratic car dealer Charles Rolls, who met in Manchester in 1904. Their Silver Ghost of 1907 earned a reputation as “the best car in the world” for its quietness and reliability.

Bentley was founded in 1919 by W.O. Bentley, an engineer who had designed aircraft engines during the First World War. His cars were fast and tough, and the wealthy amateur drivers known as the “Bentley Boys” won the Le Mans 24 Hours five times between 1924 and 1930.

Seventy years under one roof

The Great Depression sank W.O. Bentley’s company, and Rolls-Royce acquired Bentley in 1931. From then on, Bentleys were built alongside Rolls-Royces — first at Derby, then from 1946 at Crewe. By the 1960s and 1970s, a Bentley T-series was essentially a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow with a different radiator and badge.

The Bentley Mulsanne Turbo of 1982 and the Turbo R began to give Bentley its own sporting identity again, and by the 1990s Bentleys outsold Rolls-Royces.

The 1998 split

In 1998 the owner, Vickers, sold Rolls-Royce Motors. Volkswagen bought the company, including the Crewe factory and the Bentley brand, but the right to use the Rolls-Royce name and logo on cars was controlled by the aero-engine company Rolls-Royce plc, which licensed it to BMW. After a transition period, BMW took over the Rolls-Royce brand on 1 January 2003 and opened a new factory at Goodwood. Volkswagen kept Crewe and Bentley.

How the cars differ today

Rolls-Royce makes four model lines, all built around a 6.75-litre V12 or, in the case of the Spectre, electric power. The emphasis is on silence, ride comfort, and a sense of occasion: rear-hinged coach doors, the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot, the Starlight Headliner, and near-limitless bespoke options.

Bentley blends luxury with performance. The Continental GT is a fast grand tourer, the Flying Spur is a four-door sports sedan, and the Bentayga is the brand’s SUV. After more than two decades, Bentley ended production of its W12 engine in 2024 and now uses V8 and plug-in hybrid V8 powertrains. Bentley interiors are known for diamond-quilted leather and hand-finished wood, but the driving experience is sharper and more involving.

Which is better for being chauffeured?

If the goal is to sit in the back, Rolls-Royce has the edge — especially the Phantom and the long-wheelbase Ghost, which are designed with rear passengers in mind. The Bentley Flying Spur is a superb car to be driven in too, but its personality leans toward the person at the wheel. In professional chauffeured transportation, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Mercedes-Maybach are more common than either, thanks to their rear-seat engineering and serviceability. See our S-Class, or read the history of the Phantom.