Bentley Mulsanne (2010 – 2020) Review
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Bentley Mulsanne (2010 – 2020) At A Glance
Amazing luxury and refinement. Surprisingly fun to drive. Huge depreciation makes them a used bargain.
Extremely thirsty V8. High servicing and repair costs. Flying Spur probably makes more sense.
The Mulsanne was once Bentley's flagship, but in 2020, it made way for the much more modern Flying Spur, taking with it the oldest production V8 in the process. Although the Flying Spur is better in most ways, its predecessor still has plenty going for it, as we'll explain in our Bentley Mulsanne review.
The Bentley Mulsanne is an extremely important car in the British company's history. It was effectively a turning point for the brand, being its first properly bespoke model (rather than a rejigged Rolls-Royce) in 80 years, and the last one to use its V8, which had been around in one form or another since 1959.
First introduced in 2010, the Mulsanne bowed out in 2020, superseded by the Flying Spur, a car that's better in pretty much every measurable way, and at the time quite a bit cheaper. There's something about the Mulsanne, which is brimming with character, and isn't as noticeably influenced by Bentley's Volkswagen Group owners.
Costing well over £200,000 towards the end of life, the Mulsanne was incredibly expensive to buy, even before you added options and costly personalisation options. Initial depreciation was extremely steep, which means today, you can buy one for a fraction of the original amount. But should you?
You'll need deep pockets to keep one running, whether that's for fueling its thirsty V8 or keeping up with servicing costs. You'll be rewarded, though, with a luxury car that doesn't run with the pack and feels luxurious in a quintessentially British manner that makes German competitors seem a bit 'cold'.
It's a massive car even in its standard form, stretching out 5575mm in length, while the extended wheelbase version is a massive 5825mm. The Grand Limousine upped the ante even further, with an extra metre of wheelbase compared to the standard car, making room for an extra row of seats that face backwards towards the rear bench. Just don't expect to find one of those in the classifieds – only 12 were made, and the targeted customers were heads of state.
You'll probably still feel like one in the regular car, though, all for about £50,000 and up. Whatever example you get will be powered by an old-fashioned but fabulous 6.75-litre V8, making for smooth and swift progress. It's also probably the most imposing car you can buy for the price.
Reviews for Bentley Mulsanne (2010 – 2020)'s top 3 rivals
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Bentley Mulsanne (2010 – 2020) handling and engines
- Engines range from Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase to Mulsanne
Bentley Mulsanne (2010 – 2020): Handling and ride quality
You might expect the Mulsanne to be sumptuously wafty, but that's not the case. It's definitely not firm, but it doesn't glide over the road surface with the grace of a Rolls-Royce. Refinement is excellent, though, with little wind or road noise entering the cabin thanks to double-glazed windows, masses of soundproofing and foam-filled tyres.
Although it can't match a Rolls for outright comfort, the Mulsanne definitely has an edge on twistier roads. Yes, it does still lean quite a bit and pitch forward under braking, but it's impressively tidy considering the sheer weight of the car. It's also impressive how much traction there is from the rear tyres, despite the huge torque output they have to deal with.
Bentley Mulsanne (2010 – 2020): Engines
There's only one engine available in the Mulsanne, and it's a cracker. The 6.75-litre 'L Series' V8 has been around since 1959 and powered myriad Bentleys and Rolls-Royces, although it was smaller to begin with, and didn't gain turbo power until the Turbo R of the 1980s and 1990s.
The version fitted to the Arnage featured a twin-turbo layout, a setup which would be used by the Mulsanne throughout its life. Initially good for 506PS, the later Mulsanne Speed pushed out 537PS. The torque figures are the most impressive thing about the engine - all versions make over 1000Nm, and the Speed generates an absurd 1100Nm.
The Mulsanne's chunky weight means it's not massively quick, but 0-62mph in 5.3 seconds (4.9 for the Speed) is impressive enough. And anyway, you're not going to want to spill the champagne your rear-seat passengers are sipping. Which they might well be, if the optional dual bottle cooler (complete with champagne flutes) has been specced.
It's very different from pretty much every other V8 of the last few decades, with a diesel-like peak power mark of 4000rpm and a redline just after. There's something satisfying about the nose of the car visible pitching upwards as you put your foot down, with slick shifting from the eight-speed automatic gearbox and a low rumble from the engine giving a pleasant surge of acceleration with little interruption.
Bentley Mulsanne (2010 – 2020): Safety
Euro NCAP isn't in the business of smashing up cars costing more than £200,000, so it isn't a surprise to see that the Mulsanne doesn't have a rating from the safety body. It has a decent complement of airbags, but lacks a lot of the safety features we now see in very affordable cars, including lane departure warning and blind spot detection.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mulsanne | 19–19 mpg | 5.3 s | 342 g/km |
| Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase | 19 mpg | 5.5 s | 342 g/km |
| Mulsanne Speed | 19 mpg | 4.9 s | 342 g/km |
Bentley Mulsanne (2010 – 2020) interior
- Boot space is 443 litres
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 5575–5825 mm |
| Width | 2208 mm |
| Height | 1521–1541 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3266–3516 mm |
Bentley Mulsanne (2010 – 2020): Practicality
The Mulsanne's boot isn't massive at 443 litres – a BMW 7 Series of the same era offers more like 500 litres. Still, that should swallow a couple of sets of golf clubs easily enough. And we're guessing that'll be important to the average Mulsanne owner.
The interior, as you'd expect, offers plenty of space, with an abundance of legroom for rear-seat passengers even in the standard wheelbase version. You might be cursing that rear legroom when parking, though, because to make it possible, the Mulsanne has to stretch out to a length of more than five and a half metres.
There are various options to make the cabin more practical still. Well, if you count a cocktail cabinet as 'practical. Other potentially handy interior options include curtains and fold-down vanity mirrors.
Bentley Mulsanne (2010 – 2020): Quality and finish
For the most part, the Mulsanne oozes quality and premium feel, as you would expect from a car originally costing over £200,000. Cheap plastics are entirely absent, but the festooning of buttons under the infotainment screen does look a bit messy and confusing.
Bentley Mulsanne (2010 – 2020): Infotainment
The eight-inch infotainment system is small by modern standards and will now feel a bit dated, but it's easy enough to use and has plenty of features. There's also an optional rear seat entertainment pack that involves twin 10.4-inch screens for rear-seat passengers running on Google's Android operating system.
Further showing its age, the Mulsanne has a single-slot DVD player in the front and a six-disc DVD changer in the rear.
Bentley Mulsanne (2010 – 2020) value for money
Bentley Mulsanne (2010 – 2020): Prices
Towards the end of its life, the Mulsanne was around £230,000. But you could push the price much further north, particularly if you engaged the services of Bentley's Mulliner bespoke division. The especially well-heeled could spend three-figure sums having their Mulsanne made to their exacting desires.
Each Mulsanne would shed an incredible amount of its purchase price very soon after leaving the factory at Crewe, though, and today, we've seen some for not much over £40,000. That's the price of a base-spec BMW 3 Series these days. But as we'll explain shortly, and as you probably gathered, it doesn't have the running costs of a 3 Series.
Bentley Mulsanne (2010 – 2020): Running Costs
Funnily enough, an old-fashioned V8 powering a 2.7-tonne car doesn't make for good efficiency. The official fuel economy figure is 19.3mpg, but make the most of the car's engine, and you'll see a great deal less than that.
There are specialists who service these cars, so you won't need to go back to Bentley if you'd rather not, but even so, you're looking at around £500 to £900, depending on which interval it's for, while replacing the front brakes could cost you the best part of £2000. Replacing tyres won't be cheap, and neither will be your yearly insurance premiums.
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For much of its life, the Mulsanne was available simply as the Mulsanne (calling it 'entry-level' doesn't quite right) and as a Mulsanne Speed, although the latter was more of a model in its own right, featuring more power as well as some additional equipment.
The Bentley Mulsanne comes with the following equipment as standard:
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- Air suspension
- LED front and rear lights
- Keyless entry/start
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Rear parking camera
- Powered tailgate
- Leather upholstery
- Wood veneer
- 12-way electrically adjustable front seats
- Eight-way adjustable outboard rear seats
- Front and rear massage seats
- Four-zone climate control
- Cruise control
- Eight-inch infotainment system
- 14-speaker sound system
The Mulsanne Speed adds the following equipment:
- 21-inch alloy wheels
- Dark-tinted accents
- 'Rifled' exhaust tailpipes Upgraded
- LED headlights
- Additional colour options
- Diamond-quilted door panels
- Contrast stitching
- Knurled metal trim pieces
- Drilled metal pedals
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 5575–5825 mm |
| Width | 2208 mm |
| Height | 1521–1541 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3266–3516 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 2585–2730 kg |
| Boot Space | 443 L |
| Warranty | 3 years / Unlimited miles |
| Servicing | 10000 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £230,505–£289,520 |
| Insurance Groups | 50 |
| Road Tax Bands | M |
| Official MPG | 18.8–19.3 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | - |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | - |
On sale until December 2022
| Saloon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Saloon 6.8 V8 Auto 4dr | - | 18.8 mpg | 5.3 s |
| Saloon 6.8 V8 Extended Wheelbase Auto 4dr | - | 18.8 mpg | 5.5 s |
| Saloon 6.8 V8 Extended Wheelbase Mulliner Driving Specification Auto 4dr | - | 18.8 mpg | 5.5 s |
| Saloon 6.8 V8 Mulliner Driving Specification Auto 4dr | - | 18.8 mpg | 5.3 s |
| Saloon 6.8 V8 Speed Auto 4dr | - | 18.8 mpg | 4.9 s |
On sale until April 2017
| Saloon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Saloon 6.8 V8 Extended Wheelbase Auto 4dr | £276,175 | 18.8 mpg | - |
| Saloon 6.8 V8 Extended Wheelbase Mulliner Driving Specification Auto 4dr | £289,520 | 18.8 mpg | - |
On sale until October 2015
| Saloon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 6.8 V8 Sedan 4dr Auto | £230,505 | 19.3 mpg | - |
Model History
- August 2009: Bentley unveiled the Mulsanne
- January 2010: Bentley Mulsanne prices announced
- February 2012: Bentley Mulliner Driving Specification launched
- January 2014: Limited Edition Birkin Mulsanne launched
- February 2016: Revised Mulsanne launched
- July 2018: Mulsanne W.O. Edition by Mulliner introduced
August 2009
Bentley unveiled the Mulsanne
Bentley described the new Mulsanne as "a thoroughly modern statement of luxury driving and grand touring. Conceived, styled and engineered entirely at Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe, England, the Mulsanne, with its completely new and unique platform, goes into production in 2010 in a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility within the Crewe factory."
5,575mm long x 1,926mm wide x 1,521mm high.
The return of the Mulsanne name to a car carrying Bentley’s iconic ‘Winged B’ emblem underlines the company’s racing pedigree and nowhere reflects that heritage better than the famed Le Mans circuit, the scene of six Bentley triumphs. Few places offer a stronger or more emotive connection with the Bentley marque than the famed Mulsanne straight.
January 2010
Bentley Mulsanne prices announced
From $285,000 in the United States. The Mulsanne offers buyers customers a palette of 114 paint colours, 21 carpet colours, nine wood veneers and 24 interior leather hides, all of which will be tanned using a decades-old process to ensure this future classic retains its distinctive scent.
In addition, through Bentley’s bespoke service, unique colours can be developed which will exactly match a customer’s vision and taste. With more standard leather and wood veneer than any other Bentley in the modern era, it is understandable that each Mulsanne will take nine weeks to build.
Bentley’s hand-assembled V8 engine pays homage to its predecessors yet for the new Mulsanne it has been comprehensively re-engineered to employ advanced technologies that deliver unstressed, refined performance. The new Bentley V8 engine is lighter and features cylinder de-activation and variable cam phasing, a combination that can significantly reduce both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Within the Mulsanne’s opulent cabin, behind its heritage-inspired dials and new glass-effect switches lay leading edge features including iPod and mp3 connectivity, Bluetooth and a SIM card reader, as well as a 3G MMI system. Those opting for NAIM’s premium audio system will be treated to the world’s most powerful system fitted to a production vehicle – a 20-channel 2,200-watt experience.
February 2012
Bentley Mulliner Driving Specification launched
The new Mulsanne Mulliner Driving Specification blends a range of striking design features including unique 21-inch alloy wheels, Bentley Flying ‘B’ wing vents and Diamond Quilted leather trimmed cabin with driver-selectable, sports-tuned suspension and steering, underscoring the performance credentials of Bentley’s 6.75 litre V8 ultra-luxury sports saloon.
At the same time, Bentley also announces the introduction of two new options for the Mulsanne range: a large tilt-opening, tinted glass sunroof and an exquisitely designed, electrically operated bottle cooler complete with hand-blown and hand-cut lead crystal champagne flutes.
The Mulsanne is a pure example of the Grand Touring Bentley combining coach-built elegance and hand crafted luxury with immense power and sportiness that together offer the world’s most exclusive driving experience. It is a luxury car that makes the joy of driving its central focus. In an era of mass production, it stands at the pinnacle of British luxury motoring.
With a 0-60 mph sprint time of just 5.1 seconds and a top speed of 184 mph the 512PS Mulsanne has always offered thunderous levels of performance for an ultra-luxury saloon. Now, for customers seeking an even sportier look, feel and character to their Mulsanne, Bentley is introducing the Mulliner Driving Specification.
The Mulsanne’s beautifully balanced proportions convey a unique sense of dynamism and movement. These are reinforced by muscular haunches and sharply sculpted, gracefully flowing lines, hinting at the phenomenal levels of power and torque that are in reserve at all times.
For the Mulliner Driving Specification, new 21-inch, light aluminium alloy wheels with race‑derived, titanium fasteners, bright-finished rims and 265/40 ZR21 tyres, underscore the Mulsanne’s potent yet elegant stance while providing even more dynamic handling. Available in both painted and polished finishes, the 2-piece wheels are exclusive to the Mulsanne Mulliner Driving Specification and are also compatible with Bentley’s optional self-levelling wheel badges.
The Mulsanne Mulliner Driving Specification also has a unique design language which underscores its sporting character, setting it apart from other Bentleys.
The sporting motif is emphasised by a pair of sweeping wing vents made from cast, polished stainless steel. The vents cleverly emulate Bentley’s iconic ‘Flying B’ emblem which is engraved with the Mulliner script. The flowing appearance accentuates the impression of speed and movement and the black matrix grille integrated into the design provides an attractive contrast to the polished stainless steel.
For the new sportier Mulsanne, the Drive Dynamics Control system, which allows suspension and steering systems to be tuned to a preferred driving style, now has a unique ‘Sport’ setting. Operated by the rotary switch mounted next to the gearshift selector, the new ‘Sport’ settings provide enhanced grip, body control and steering accuracy without compromising ride comfort.
Inside the Mulsanne’s sumptuous cabin Bentley’s styling team have created a bespoke, driver-focussed look and feel for the Mulliner Driving Specification. In keeping with the tradition of sporting Bentleys, the leather hide on the front and rear seats and door casings features an intricate Diamond Quilting pattern, complemented by an indented leather headlining.
A new and bespoke hide perforation process, developed specifically for the Mulsanne Mulliner Driving Specification, produces perforations in exact diamond shapes with non‑perforated ‘tramlines’ in between. This allows Bentley’s seamstresses to produce perfect stitching every time without risk of distortion and means that it can now be combined with the optional seat ventilation system.
For confident, spirited driving, the accelerator and brake pedals of the Mulliner Driving Specification are made from drilled alloy. Beautifully crafted, each one of the raised grips on the pedals is individually polished. As a finishing touch to the cabin, Mulliner treadplate plaques are applied to the vertical surface of the driver and front passenger door sills.
In common with all Mulsannes, customers of the Mulliner Driving Specification have the opportunity to create a truly bespoke car from a palette of over 100 paint colours, a virtually limitless choice of unbleached premium quality veneers (with two marquetry options) and a selection of 22 leather hides.
In addition to the new Mulliner Driving Specification, Bentley is announcing enhancements to the specification of the Mulsanne’s optional feature specification. All Mulsanne modelsmay now be specified with an exquisitely detailed, Bentley-designed, luxury bottle cooler and rear cabin storage area with space for two full-size Champagne bottles in a canted position, allowing opened bottles to be placed back in the cooler.
With one touch of a button, the frosted glass door quietly slides open to reveal three hand‑blown and hand-cut lead crystal champagne flutes, displayed beautifully by the white LED accent lighting. These flutes have been exclusively created for Bentley by the renowned British designer, David Redman of London and echo the racing spoke design of the Mulsanne’s 21” 5-spoke Sports alloy wheel.
The flutes can be placed in the bespoke-design bright chrome holders that deploy from the centre seat cushion. These also adapt cleverly to work as normal cup holders when required. As is traditional at Bentley, the bottle cooler and flute holders are discreetly concealed when not in use and the elegant design of the cooling system means that no boot space is compromised.
The cabin of the Mulsanne is whisper-quiet, utilising the latest double-glazing and sound‑proofing technologies to isolate it from the hectic world. However, should you want to let the outside in, there is now the option of a large tilt-opening, tinted glass sunroof in the front cabin. It floods the cabin with light and gives an extra dimension of space, providing additional ventilation while avoiding the security risk of open windows.
The ultra-slim sunroof mechanism retains the Mulsanne’s fast, sweeping roof profile with negligible effect on cabin headroom. To provide welcome shade on the hottest days, a colour-matched Alcantara blind closes quietly at the touch of a button.
January 2014
Limited Edition Birkin Mulsanne launched
Taking inspiration from Sir Henry ‘Tiger’ Tim Birkin – the legendary Bentley Boy who travelled and raced extensively around Europe in the 1920s and 1930s – this new model features numerous unique styling details and represents the pinnacle of British luxury motoring in its most discerning form.
The Limited Edition of just 22 cars is available in three colour specifications: a fresh and contemporary Ghost White, Damson for a more vibrant touch, and a sophisticated contrast of Fountain Blue and Dark Sapphire, offering a modern interpretation of the classic two-tone Bentley paint design.
Numbered door sill plaques, a unique 21-inch wheel design inspired by those on the original Mulsanne concept car, and a striking 3D ‘Flying B’ logo stitched into the vehicle headrests and inlaid into the wood of the front fascia and rear picnic tables, identify the Birkin models. In addition, all three specifications feature a stunning tailored luggage set – each one hand-crafted, individually numbered and matched with the interior of each car.
Items have been selected for the Birkin Limited Edition from the Mulsanne’s extensive options list for the well-travelled connoisseur and the Mulliner Driving Specification delivers an engaging motoring experience thanks to a unique ‘Sport’ setting on the Drive Dynamics Control system. An intricate diamond quilting pattern to the seats and door panels, complemented by an indented leather headlining and ‘knurling’ details to the interior metalwork, create a contemporary and tactile finish to the cabin.
For those travelling in the rear of the Birkin Mulsanne’s spacious cabin, the Entertainment Specification offers a luxurious and comfortable space to work or relax while on the move. Each car features exquisitely-packaged twin 8-inch LCD screens in the rear of the seat headrests, a DVD player, a Wi-Fi hotspot, the Naim for Bentley premium audio system and iPads integrated into the hand-crafted solid wood picnic tables.
February 2016
Revised Mulsanne launched
For the first time, the Mulsanne family now comprises three distinct models, all with their own unique abilities and attributes. The Mulsanne, Mulsanne Speed and Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase.
Additional 250mm makes it 5,825mm long x 1,926mm wide x 1,521mm high.
The new Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase, for example, has been designed with the rear-seat passenger in mind. The additional 250mm of rear legroom, airline-style extending legrests and a rear compartment sunroof combine to create the most relaxing automotive environment in the world. The Mulsanne Speed, meanwhile, is tailored for the driver with 537PS and 1100 Nm of torque resulting in a 0-60mph time of just 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 190mph.
A suite of elegantly executed styling revisions mark the new Mulsanne out from its predecessor. The entire front-end style of the car has been completely redesigned. The fenders, bonnet, radiator shell, grilles, lights – and bumpers fore and aft – have all been updated, giving the car a more modern and integrated appearance.
On the inside, occupants will of course find the world’s finest handcrafted wood, leather and metal fittings, and the new Mulsanne also boasts redesigned seats, new door trims and armrests, unique glass switchgear and an industry-leading palette of 24 exquisite hide colours.
The new Mulsanne also features a suite of innovative, cutting-edge technologies. A new touchscreen infotainment system has been developed for the Mulsanne.
July 2018
Mulsanne W.O. Edition by Mulliner introduced
The Mulsanne W.O. Edition by Mulliner pays homage to the founding father of the company and incorporates a genuine piece of Bentley history in every car.
Inside each of the 100 limited edition Mulsannes, a slice of the original crankshaft taken from W.O. Bentley’s personal 8 Litre car decades ago – the last model he designed for Bentley Motors back in 1930 – is displayed.
The Mulsanne W.O. Edition can be specified on any of the three-model Mulsanne range, based on customer preference. Key features include a colour split interior cut from Heritage Hide reflecting the patina of vintage cars, elegant Beluga black wheels, and a stunning cocktail cabinet or bottle cooler featuring a slice of W.O.’s own 8 Litre crankshaft set into the armrest.
What to watch out for
Engine failed in a 2010 Mulsanne. Was replaced under warranty.
