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- Highs Aristocratic pedigree, effortless acceleration, positively palatial cabin space.
- Lows Swills fossil fuels, costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, no V-12 option.
- Verdict The Mulsanne rewards the well-to-do with ultimate comfort and unrivaled prestige.
Overview
Affluent folks like to show off their wealth almost as much as they like to be chauffeured, and the 2020 Bentley Mulsanne helps them accomplish both. The hand-crafted sedan is the patriarch of the Bentley family, with an imposing outward appearance and intimate cabin experience. Its forceful twin-turbo V-8 provides effortless acceleration, and the Mulsanne is surprising agile for its size. This combination gives the Mulsanne the performance to ensure that its passengers arrive on time and in style. Inside, elegance is realized through the sedan's rich ornamentation, opulent features, and expansive roominess. Although the 2020 Mulsanne is a shining example of excess and status, that's precisely what Bentley customers crave.
What's New for 2020?
Bentley hasn't made any significant changes to the Mulsanne lineup this year, but this ultra-luxury sedan is headed for retirement after the 2020 model year.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
With a price tag that could be confused for a mortgage, the 2020 Mulsanne is a six-figure sedan for the one percent of the population. If we were part of that select group, we'd make sure our version was a rolling showpiece. Likewise, the extended wheelbase provides the limousine-like qualities that are so important in this class. Bentley's sheer variety of paint colors and interior options offer endless combinations that should prevent the Mulsanne from having a twin. Still, we think the 21-inch Classic wheels and ventilated front and rear seats with massage function are must-haves. We'd also spring for the Comfort and Premier specifications. These together add more comfortable headrests and seat bolsters as well as a jewel fuel-filler cap, stainless-steel door finishers, and the iconic flying "B" radiator sculptor.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Mulsanne is propelled by a 505-hp twin-turbocharged 6.75-liter V-8 drives that turns the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Acceleration is effortless and the engine's power seems infinite. In fact, the big Mulsanne hustles like a much smaller sedan. Although perfect for chauffeur duty, the Bentley is also a driver's car, with sharp steering and a poised chassis. Despite its size, the Mulsanne feels surprisingly wieldy on narrow city streets and parking lots. For a sharper driving experience, check out the Mulsanne Speed (reviewed separately).
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Unlike chief rivals such as the Mercedes-Maybach S-class and Rolls-Royce Ghost, the Mulsanne fuels an eight-cylinder engine versus a 12-cylinder. Despite having fewer cylinders, the Bentley's block is actually bigger and thirstier. The EPA estimates the Mulsanne will earn 10 mpg in the city and 16 mpg on the highway. For comparison, the S650 is rated at 13/21 mpg city/highway and the Ghost has estimates of 12 mpg city and 18 highway. We haven't tested any of these huge sedans on our 75-mph fuel-economy route, so we can't evaluate their real-world highway mpg.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Made with the finest materials and outfitted with luxurious features, the Mulsanne's cabin is a utopia compared with most cars. The leather-swathed space can be personalized with a variety of color schemes, veneer options, and creature comforts such as massaging front and rear seats. Everything from the door handles to the switchgear feels expensive, with smooth and deliberate movements that infer richness. While the front seats face a timelessly designed dashboard, the Mulsanne's main attraction is in the back. Although the regular model isn't short on passenger space, the extended version transforms the rear seats into a studio atmosphere. With its wheelbase stretched by 9.8 inches, there's enough room to stretch out and luxuriate with the available power-operated leg rests. Of course, the Mulsanne also has plenty of interior cubby storage and a massive trunk that can store loads of luggage (Louis Vuitton, of course).
Infotainment and Connectivity
Every Mulsanne has an 8.0-inch infotainment system and a 14-speaker audio system as standard but a 20-speaker Naim system is optional and comes with a 20-GB onboard hard drive for storing music. The Mulsanne also can be equipped with dual 10.4-inch rear-seat entertainment displays that can be detached and used as tablets.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The 2020 Mulsanne hasn't been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Bentley does provide driver-assistance technology such as automated emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring as standard but charges extra for adaptive cruise control. Key safety features include:
- Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
- Standard blind-spot monitoring
- Available adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Bentley backs its luxurious lineup with a warranty that spans three years and unlimited miles, but equally extravagant alternatives such as Rolls-Royce offer even better coverage. Bentley also provides some measure of complimentary maintenance.
- Limited warranty covers three years or unlimited miles
- Powertrain warranty covers three years or unlimited miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for 1 year or 10,000 miles
