2017 Bentley Mulsanne

At over $300,000, the Mulsanne certainly lives up to the legendary Bentley name. This status symbol of a car (and yes, it is a status symbol, mind you), is completely assembled by hand from the ground up and takes over 400 man hours to do so from start to finish.

The updated 2017 Bentley Mulsanne features three trims and an endless array of customizable options for the interiors, all the while retaining that which is famous of the Bentley brand - a distinctly British sense of aristocracy and all things “proper”.

The 2017 Bentley Mulsanne now comes in three distinct trims, starting at the $304,670 mark going all the way up to $400,900 mind you, that's before the addition of an array of customizable options we're looking at close to half a million dollars here. In case you'd forgotten, each of these machines is built from scratch by hand over 400 man-hours go into assembling these beauties.

Trim	Mulsanne	Mulsanne speed	Mulsanne Extended wheelbase
MSRP	$304,670	$335,600	$400,900
Key Features	Polished stainless steel Mulsanne tread plates and commissioning plates	Dark tint stainless steel matrix to front wing vents	Voice control for all major systems and operations
	Wide oval polished stainless steel exhaust tailpipes	Solid stainless steel 'Speed' badge fitted to front wing lower bright ware	Satellite navigation system integrated in vehicle's hard disc, ensuring fast route calculation
	Twin Bi-Xenon projector headlamps with LED halo for supplementary main beam, light-sensing auto operation, daytime running light signature and integrated washer jets	Polished stainless steel 'Mulsanne' and 'Speed' tread plates	Four map configurations including 3D topographical maps and city views and day/night display modes 7-digit postcode destination entry, active traffic information
	Floating-ellipse style, LED rear light clusters and discreet high-level stop lamp to rear screen	Dark tint floating-ellipse style, LED rear light clusters and discreet high-level stop lamp to rear screen	Mulsanne audio system with 14 speakers, two subwoofers, powered through six channels, with digital sound processing
	Color-keyed, electronically adjustable door mirrors with heating, power folding, reverse-dip, two memory positions, electro-chromatic dimming and integrated puddle lamps	Twin dark tint Bi-Xenon projector headlamps with LED halo for supplementary main beam, light-sensing auto operation, daytime running light signature and integrated washer jets	Unique, hide-lined iPod drawer, with integrated connector, designed for storage and connection of multimedia devices. Supplied with two fly leads with connectors for iPod/iPhone Micro USB for other smartphones including BlackBerry
	Full iPod and MP3 player compatibility including full-color album art display and video playback	Full iPod and MP3 player compatibility including full-color album art display and video playback	Full iPod and MP3 player compatibility including full-color album art display and video playback
	Digital radio (DAB) or satellite radio (SDARS) depending on market	Digital radio (DAB) or satellite radio (SDARS) depending on market	Digital radio (DAB) or satellite radio (SDARS) depending on market

 

The Mulsanne with its rock-solid V8 engine offers up an immense 505 bhp and 752 lb-ft of torque in both its base and Extended Wheelbase models, whereas the Mulsanne Speed version touts an even more impressive 530 bhp and 811 lb-ft of torque. All three trims feature all wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission (with manual shifting mode) and is a sportier option when compared to its rival the Rolls Royce's Ghost.

We Recommend

Unless you're a Hollywood star with an entourage by your side at all times, we highly recommend choosing the Mulsanne's base model over the Extended Wheelbase version. The $100,00 difference in the trims would probably be better spent augmenting the interiors of a base model with the many options on offer from Bentley, which include the Mulliner Comfort and Entertainment package.

Engine and Transmission

The 2017 Bentley Mulsanne comes with a tried and tested 6.8-liter turbocharged V8, an engine that at the very core dates back over five decades. The Mulsanne Speed variant chugs out an impressive 25 more bhp than its base and Extended Wheelbase counterparts  a clear sign that Bentley is looking to match the immensely popular Rolls Royce Ghost in all aspects, including power delivery and performance.

With one of the only engines in the U.S. that features an engine with a pushrod valve train, this engine spits out over five hundred horses with utter ease. Cruising at 95 mph and deciding to do the same at 140 mph sees the car's speedometer needle get to the mark effectively and smoothly with no downshifting required  thanks to its torque peak set at 1750 rpm and near diesel-like torqueing redlines.

Considering this isn't the lightest car around (quite the opposite, actually, at a hefty 3 tons), its not entirely surprising that the Bentley Mulsanne comes with a set of solid ceramic brakes it can't be easy stopping an object going at THAT rate of speed to halt on command unless the brakes truly are that good.

Models	Bentley Mulsanne	Mercedes Benz AMG S 65	Rolls-Royce Ghost II
MSRP	$304,670	$226,900	$339,775
Engine	Twin-Turbocharged 6.8L V8 SMPI	6.0L SOHC Bi-Turbo 36-Valve V12	Turbocharged 6.6L V12 DOHC
Transmission	8-speed automatic	7-speed automatic	8-speed automatic
Horsepower	505 hp @ 4200 rpm	621 hp @ 5500 rpm	563 hp @ 5250 rpm
Torque	752 lb-ft @ 1750 rpm	738 lb-ft @ 2300 rpm	605 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm

Housing the biggest engine of the lot, the Bentley Mulsanne manages to hold its own amongst segment competitors with ease whether it's the might Rolls Royce Ghost or the Mercedes AMG S-65. The torque range on the Mulsanne feature some impressive numbers all you do is put your foot down and off it goes; pulling away and onward with a gentle ferocity that is typical of the Bentley brand.

Acceleration

The Bentley Mulsanne just about manages to be on par with other competitors in terms of overall speed and acceleration. Although not nearly as quick as the Mercedes AMG S 65 with a truly awe-inspiring 0-60 MPH figure of 3.9 seconds, the Mulsanne takes its time to get to the 60 MPH mark 5.3 seconds, to be precise.

Models	Bentley Mulsanne	Mercedes Benz AMG S 65	Rolls-Royce Ghost II
0-60 MPH	5.3 sec	3.9 sec	4.8 sec
Quarter mile	13.1 sec	12.3 sec	12.7 sec
Engine	6.8L	6.0L	6.6L
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	12.6	11.0	12.6

With a top speed of 190 mph, you can be rest assured that the Bentley Mulsanne is perfectly at home on those long drives between major cities on the highway or on winding countryside roads (save for the slightly annoying-at-times body roll). Its also notable that the tip-in of the throttle is wonderfully smooth making driving within the city quick and effortless.

Handling and Steering

Considering the 2017 Bentley Mulsanne is one of the widest luxury cars out there, negotiating smaller city roads can seem a bit of a task at first. However, thanks to the Mulsanne's hydraulically assisted steering, the car moves exactly where you want it to, when you want it to with utter ease. The new bushings, revamped air springs and variable engine mounts, besides rendering the car far quieter than previous versions, also aids in a smoother, more controlled drive.

Braking

The Mulsanne comes with excellent brakes as standard, with the added option of choosing high-performance carbon-ceramic brakes. Considering the heftiness of this car, the Mulsanne certainly needs the strong braking power to bring this massive machine to a dead stop on command.

 

Model	Bentley Mulsanne	Mercedes Benz AMG S 65	Rolls-Royce Ghost II
Brake Front (in.)	15.7	15.4	16.1
Brake Rear (in.)	14.6	14.1	15.8
Curb Weight (lbs.)	5919	4969	5490
60-0 MPH (ft.)	N/A	109	107

Both the front and rear brakes match up to the Rolls-Royce Ghost the stalwart of the luxury sedan segment. With a resting curb weight of close to 6000 lbs, the Mulsanne is a good 500 lbs heavier than the Rolls-Royce Ghost and a substantial 1000 lbs more than the Mercedes Benz AMG S 65.

Quite underwhelming on the fuel consumption front, the Mulsanne barely makes the cut with a paltry 11 mpg on city conditions and 18 mpg on the highway, making for an unimpressive combined figure of 14 mpg. These figures are slightly lower in comparison with the previous 2016 version, thanks to certain changes in EPA testing methods that they claim reflect real-world conditions more accurately.

Model	Bentley Mulsanne	Mercedes Benz AMG S 65	Rolls-Royce Ghost II
MPG (city)	11	13	12
MPG (highway)	18	22	19
MPG (combined)	14	16	14

Seating and Comfort

Bentley has always been known for it supremely plush interiors and the Mulsanne does not disappoint. The kind of attention to detail that Bentley has gone into with the Mulsanne is almost criminal  the leather interior is made up exclusively of hides from Scandinavian bulls. Why, you ask? The apt climatic conditions in the Scandinavian region mean fewer insects, which translates into fewer blemishes in the hide. Chew on that for a minute.

Besides the flawless leatherwork, the Mulsanne features finely polished wood and sparkling stainless steel typical of the Bentley brand almost to the point that when the reflective surfaces catch the light right, it can damn near blind you.

Model	Bentley Mulsanne	Mercedes Benz AMG S 65	Rolls-Royce Ghost II
Passenger capacity	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	40.1/-/41.9	39.7/59.7/41.4	40.6/59.4/41.7
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.1/-/42.9	37.4/59.1/34.1	39.0/55.8/42.3

With oodles and oodles of legroom at the rear of the car, the Mulsanne comes with footrests for the rear passenger as well as fully motorized picnic tables that are perfect for an iPad or a laptop. The 10.2-inch tablets that rise out of the front seat feature easy access to the car's various controls. The center console up front comes with Apple CarPlay and a wider than before 8-inch capacitive touchscreen.

Interior Features

Here is a list of the standout features in the 2017 Bentley Mulsanne's cabin:

• Infotainment system with 8-inch screen
• Twin pop-out 10.1 inch tablets
• Multi zone climate control
• Integrated navigation system
• Noise cancellation in cabin
• On board 4G Wifi-Hotspot
• Adaptive cruise control
• Blind spot warning

Infotainment

The 2017 Bentley Mulsanne features a slew of gadgets and tech from its new 8-inch capacitive touch screen to a built-in 60 GB solid state hard drive, the Mulsanne has spared no expenses when it comes to comfort and relevance within the cabin.

It doesn't end there, however. If you're willing to shell out $20,000, Bentley offers up the 2,000-watt 20-speaker Naim audio system in addition to the aforementioned pop out 10.1-inch tablets that give the rear passengers control over various functions of the car. Pair this with the on-board Wi-Fi Hotspot capability, and long drives are certain to be a breeze whether you're streaming music online or catching up on your latest Netflix shows.

Cargo

Although the Bentley Mulsanne is one of the largest cars in its segment, the boot space featured is a surprisingly low 15.6 cubic feet. The Rolls Royce Phantom, on the other hand, gets a worthy 17.3 cubic feet of cargo space.

Model	Bentley Mulsanne	Mercedes Benz AMG S 65	Rolls-Royce Ghost II
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	15.6	15.2	17.3

This is one heavy car that looks big and bulky, the Bentley Mulsanne weighs in at a monstrous 5919 lbs in curb weight, making it the heftiest car in a segment that is shared with the likes of the Mercedes Benz AMG S 65 and the Rolls Royce Ghost. It's also the longest car in this class  with the length maxing out at 219.5 inches for the base model and features a ground clearance of 5.5 inches a full inch more than the Mercedes Benz AMG S 65.

Model	Bentley Mulsanne	Mercedes Benz AMG S 65	Rolls-Royce Ghost II
Curb weight (lbs.)	5919	4969	5490
Length(in)	219.5	208.1	212.6
Width(in)	75.8	75.0	76.7
Height(in)	59.9	59.0	61.0
Ground clearance (in)	5.5	4.5	5.9
Wheelbase (in)	128.6	124.6	129.7
Track width (in) F/R	63.2/65.0	64.6/64.7	63.9/65.4

Exterior Features

Some of the exterior features include:

• Newly fashioned bumpers
• More wide and muscular looking front grille
• Doors come with open/close assistance
• Automated folding-in side view mirrors
• Subtly enhanced headlight design
• New fenders feature B motif vents

Wheels

The Bentley Mulsanne comes with 21-inch wheels as standard, and it's notable that the other trims come with their own unique wheel design. The wide profile of the tires and the beautifully contoured wheel arches allow for the Mulsanne to look ever so poised and more importantly, well planted on the road.

The 2017 Bentley Mulsanne comes with front and rear facing cameras as a standard safety feature. Other safety features include:

• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Stability And Traction Control
• Blind Spot Warning Indicator
• Multi-angle cameras
• Front And Rear Parking Sensors

 

Mercedes Benz AMG S 65

With a significant difference in price, the Mercedes AMG S 65 spews out a seriously impressive 630 bhp thorough its massive V12 engine. It's also the faster car when compared to the Mulsanne 0 to 60 MPH in a mere 3.9 seconds.

Rolls Royce Ghost

Quite old school in its look and performance, the Rolls Royce Ghost is a stalwart of the segment much like the Mulsanne it comes from a highly polished and refined breed and oozes luxury in every sense of the word. The wider of the two cars, the Ghost boasts a larger boot than the Mulsanne and is quicker to the 60 mph mark as well.

The Bentley Mulsanne is a familiar beast for sure the old school aristocracy and pedigree that the Bentley brand carries with it is certainly evident in its styling and the interiors are on par with any other car in its segment. With lush interiors and a super quiet cabin save for some wind noise, the Mulsanne excels in rear passenger comfort and those of your who are chauffeur-driven (and we're pretty sure that you are) are most certainly in for one of the smoothest rides of your life.

With over 400 man-hours having gone into each of these machines, the Mulsanne is more of a commissioned vehicle than a truly manufactured one. One thing is for sure the 2017 Bentley Mulsanne retains everything that is Bentley, while tweaking it subtly and more importantly, just ENOUGH to make it a relevant competitor in today highly contested luxury sedan segment.