2020 Bentley Mulsanne

Now, the 2020 Mulsanne is at the top of the family tree at Bentley. And it does everything right to match its famed family’s name. Starting at an MSRP of $310,800, it is far from being cheap. However, it is one of the most desirable cars on the planet. The 2020 Mulsanne rivals the likes of Mercedes-Benz Maybach S650, Porsche Panamera Turbo S, and Rolls Royce Ghost.

Bentley offers the 2020 Mulsanne in a solitary trim. But the Mulsanne can also be had in one more trim which does give you a lot more space. It can be optioned with the Extended Wheelbase, which stretches the car out an extra 10 inches with the wheelbase standing at 138.4 inches rather than the usual 128.6 inches. It also comes with a few more features but the premium you pay is quite high. 

Which Trim should you buy?

The Mulsanne Sedan and the Extended Wheelbase have nothing significantly different except the 10 inches extra, which go to the rear seat occupants. And even without the EWB option ticked, there is more than ample room to rest your legs. So we recommend you go for the base and customize it with Mulliner specifications. Bentley has an extensive palette of paint to choose from and the interior options are endless as well. The classic 21-inch wheels are a must-have along with the front and rear ventilated seats with the massage functionality.

Under that gigantic hood lies the Mulsanne’s beating heart. It houses a twin-turbocharged 6.8L V8 generating 505hp of power along with 752 lb-ft of torque. And this mighty engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission for a seamless experience. The acceleration feels effortless even for a sedan of its size and the power does not die out. The V8 engine used in the Mulsanne is a primitive engine that has been brought up to speed by numerous features such as cylinder deactivation to save that extra bit of fuel.

The gearbox handles the power delivery effortlessly. One can always take control for a more spirited and engaging driving experience as there are paddle shifters. This helps the Mulsanne attain a respectable quarter-mile timing of 13.1 seconds. Moreover, the sedan comes in a standard RWD drivetrain configuration. Although it is more of a premium comfort offering, it does pack enough power under the hood for drag races if need be. Overall, it feels athletic and capable.

The Bentley’s power figures, though hefty, start looking meek when compared to its two main rivals, the Porsche Panamera and the Mercedes-Benz Maybach S650. The Mercedes Maybach leads the battle on paper by a large margin followed by the Panamera. When compared to the other cars, the Bentley turns out to be the slowest of the lot, hitting 60 MPH at 5.3 seconds. But the torque figure makes up for the power deficit especially because it hits at an rpm as low as 1,750 and continues all the way to the red line. 

How well does the 2020 Bentley Mulsanne handle?

First of all, it should be remembered that neither of these cars had the driver in mind when the cars were being designed but Bentley did a great job at masking it. The Mulsanne feels smaller than it is and is easy through traffic and city conditions. It can clearly be understood that the car was made in a manner that put luxury and comfort above handling but the Bentley provides a surprisingly sharp steering response which is a treat in the corners.

The vehicle comes with air ride suspension with adjustable ride height which evens out all bumps in the road. Even though most of the owners of this car will hardly spend time behind the wheel, it is also a driver’s car with a stiff chassis and more direct and sharp steering. But if you are buying one for a more engaging driving experience, get the Mulsanne Speed instead.

2020 Bentley Mulsanne Braking Performance

The Mulsanne being the heaviest of the lot presents us with extremely respectable braking for a 5900 lbs car. The braking department is handled by 15.7-inch ventilated brake rotors at the front and 14.6-inch ventilated brake rotors at the rear.

The brakes do a good job even under constant pressure during tests; they don’t show signs of wear or fade anytime soon.

Despite weighing the most by a big margin, the 2020 Bentley Mulsanne has a respectable braking performance stopping the car from 60-0MPH in just 110 feet. The Rolls-Royce Ghost takes 107ft for the same and performs better than the lightest car in the comparison, the Porsche Panamera. The Mercedes Benz Maybach S650 takes 114ft to come to a halt from 60 MPH.

The 2020 Bentley Mulsanne won't have the friendliest relationship with your wallet when it comes to fuel economy. But one buying a car in this segment would not be interested in fuel economy in the first place. Despite being four cylinders down when compared to two of its rivals, Bentley’s engine is actually thirstier. It chugs down fuel like beer and returns about 10 MPG in the city and 16 MPG combined. Moreover, to counteract the poor fuel economy, it comes equipped with a 25.4-gallon large fuel tank.

The Mulsanne returns the poorest fuel economy figures but on the flip side, it has the biggest tank which gives it the ability to cover more distance before needing to stop for a refill. The Porsche Panamera is the most efficient of the lot and comes with a respectable fuel tank which helps it achieve the highest overall driving range as well. The Maybach follows suit but is not nearly as efficient as the Porsche.

The most important part of the 2020 Bentley Mulsanne or any stately car is its interior, and the one offered here does not disappoint one bit. It starts with opening that hefty door wide to give you a sense of luxury. The interior is made with the finest of materials and is feature-rich. The leather-wrapped cabin can be had in a variety of leather and veneer options. Everything your skin comes in contact with is placed strategically and feels expensive and well put together. 

The front-seat passengers are greeted with a timelessly designed dashboard but the rear seats are the place you want to be in. The seats feature folding tables and are the place you want to be in for long hours. It reeks of sheer British opulence. The seats are 8-way power adjustable along with heating and ventilation functions. And the car can be had with massaging seats too. The car also features two 10.2 inch tablets that rise out of the front seatbacks which help the rear seat occupants control a number of functions.

The Bentley Mulsanne comes with 15.7 cubic feet of cargo storage, which seems a bit unreal considering how big the car is. But when compared to its rivals, it starts making sense. The Mulsanne fits two full-size trolleys and a couple of duffel bags. So this car gets ruled out as soon as you start planning your weekend getaway. But the Bentley is only about wrapping you in luxury and it does that extremely well. What brands like Bentley do is overwhelm you in it. 

Some standout interior features include:

• Four-zone automatic climate control with a separate rear-seat control panel
• 14-way power-adjustable front seats and eight-way adjustable rear seats 
• Heated seats
• Massage and ventilation function
• Diamond-quilted and perforated seats
• Massaging function

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The front passengers in the Mulsanne have 8-inch touchscreen infotainment with satellite navigation. Along with that, you get a 14 speaker audio system as standard. You can also upgrade to a 20 Speaker Naim Audio system and it brings along 20 GB of onboard hard drive storage.

The car can also be equipped with two 10.4 inch tablets for the rear seat occupants which rise from the rear seatbacks. Standout infotainment features:

• 8-inch touchscreen infotainment
• Satellite navigation
• 20 speaker 2200 watt Naim audio system
• 10.1-inch tablets for each rear passenger
• Bluetooth connectivity
• USB ports

The way the Mulsanne feels from the inside is one thing while from the outside it’s the definition of a luxury barge. The way the 2020 Mulsanne looks might come across as more orthodox and classical in front of its two rivals but no one can deny the fact that it is absolutely beautiful.

The DRLs glow in an outer ring around the headlamps giving it a distinct and elegant look. The all-LED front headlamps along with the 21-inch classic wheels up the looks of the Mulsanne and make it feel a lot more upmarket.

The 2020 Mulsanne is designed in a manner that is completely British and period-perfect. It matches the classical style and aura with contemporary design features in the smoothest manner. The Mulsanne comes with a lot of striking exterior features which highlight the design language and the talent of the craftsmen back at the Bentley factory. Among the rivals, the Maybach is slightly better in terms of interior space thanks to the large wheelbase. Otherwise, Mulsanne is the longest one in the lot. Standout exterior features:

• Stainless steel grille
• 20-inch wheels
• Air ride suspension with adjustable ride height
• Soft-close doors and trunk, LED headlights, and taillights
• Special 21-inch wheels and a sport-tuned suspension
• Flying B hood ornament and stainless-steel door pillar finishers
• Sunroof

In the search for more comfort and luxury that can bless a vehicle on the road, Bentley did not forget about the safety of the occupants. It comes with a whole bunch of safety and driver assistance features such as automated emergency braking, collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Some of them also come with an extra price tag, but one cannot worry about that when the price is already at a whopping $300,000 for the Mulsanne. Standout safety features:

• Forward-collision warning
• Automated emergency braking
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Adaptive cruise control
• Parking sensors
• Brake Assist

2020 Bentley Mulsanne vs 2020 Mercedes-Benz Maybach S650

The Bentley Mulsanne and the Mercedes-Benz Maybach are purpose-built luxury cars. The Mercedes Maybach S650 boasts a bigger engine and a higher power figure but we cannot let that overshadow the purpose of these cars. The Mercedes Maybach comes at a much lower price tag which is just shy of the $200,000 mark whereas the Bentley exceeds it massively. The value of the brand matters more and that’s where Mercedes falls short even after acquiring Maybach and using it to tag their ultra opulent sedans.

2020 Bentley Mulsanne vs 2020 Rolls Royce Ghost

Just like the Mercedes falls short in front of the Bentley, this time the Bentley falls ever so slightly short in front of the Rolls Royce. The Rolls Royce Ghost is regarded as the pinnacle of craftsmanship when it comes to cars. And the Bentley just does not have enough to bridge that gap. Had it come with a V12 and more power, that would have been one more reason to go for it, it would have been different. But the Bentley misses out on the drama as the Flying B isn’t valued as much as the Spirit of Ecstasy.

2020 Bentley Mulsanne vs 2020 Porsche Panamera Turbo S Executive

The Bentley and Porsche are very different cars. Although part of the same Volkswagen group, these two cars are as different as they come. On one hand, we have the Panamera Turbo S which is the ultimate athletic luxury sedan. This means it has much better power, handling, and fuel efficiency. However, the Bentley’s interiors, craftsmanship, and build quality are a lot greater than the Porsche’s. This makes it better if your focus is on luxury.

The Bentley Mulsanne is an absolute beast on its own and it provides luxury and class like only a few others in the market. The legacy and history of this brand are enough for it to be placed amongst the best of the best when it comes to luxury vehicles. Though when pit against its rivals, it underperforms but in no way is it lackluster or mediocre. The Bentley showcases true British Craftsmanship and highlights all the features of a luxury car in a splendid manner. 

Its state-of-the-art interior can hold its ground even against a Rolls Royce. The Mulsanne lets you have the performance to arrive at the Opera in style whilst showcasing your wealth. And inside, the rich interior and soft-touch leather personalized for you will never fail to amaze. The rich features and ornamentation catch your eye every time you grace the seat. The 2020 Bentley Mulsanne is an amazing example of excessiveness and status at the same time, and that is the kind of customers Bentley has.