Definitive, Super Luxury Saloon? The 2014 Bentley Mulsanne Review

Does your CV read oil tycoon from Dubai or Goldman Sachs Investment Banker? If so, the 2014 Bentley Mulsanne might be the car for you. On the other hand, if you’re feeling the pinch of the recession, currently driving something less plush, average Joe like the rest of us, you may need to add a few extra zero’s to your salary before sliding behind the wheel of Bentley’s flagship road yacht.  But hey, there’s no harm in dreaming, right?

In order to ensure an accurate fantasy, intimate knowledge of the 2014 Bentley Mulsanne is required. The W12 has been replaced by a throaty yet refined, twin turbo V8 plucked from the Volkswagen Phaeton. The new eight piston engine produces 505bhp and a stump pulling 1020Nm of torque – a number that puts many medium duty diesel trucks to shame. All that power travels to the rear wheels through an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission. With that kind of torque on tap, the Mulsanne has seat-of-your-pants power that makes excellent use of Newton’s first law of physics. For a little added finger fun, you can play with the steering wheel mounted paddle shifters on your way to 60mph, which takes just 5.4s at a relaxed 1,500rpm. Top speed is a tremor inducing 184mph.

Straight line performance is one consideration when you’re shopping for the ultimate luxury hotrod, but how does it handle? Excellent, especially considering the beast weighs 2585kg and is nearly 18-foot long. Seeing a car of such epic proportions carve through the road with precision is a testament to the wonders of modern technology.

Of course, if you’re buying a Bentley, you want onlookers to know you’re driving a car worth more than their home. There’s no mistaking the heritage of the 2014 Bentley Mulsanne. The design is based on the stunning 8.0-litre model of 1930 as well as the 1950’s S-Type. The front features the traditional long bonnet and big oval headlights. Walk along the side of the 2014 Bentley Mulsanne and you will appreciate the graceful panel work and defined swage line. The tail end is finished off with angular taillights and flat oval shaped exhaust tips. Perfect.

You can get performance and beauty from a Ferrari or a Porsche, but if you intend to be chauffeured from one swanky spot to the next, it’s what’s inside that really matters. The Mulsanne doesn’t disappoint – the big Bentley has it where it counts. To start with, there is leather created by a proprietary tanning process, using hides selected from only the prettiest cows in the heard. Wood trim polished to a degree that you can adjust your suit in the reflection, adorns just about everything. If that’s not enough for you, the gleaming glass switches and chromium plate ought to seal the deal. All this beauty comes courtesy of the peons who spend 12 weeks and 480 man hours to build each and every 2014 Bentley Mulsanne, with 170 of those hours being spent on the cabin alone.

More elegant, if not extravagant, touches include a ring of polished wood encompassing the entire cabin, a dashboard furnished with classic organ stop vents and stainless steel trim, and a leather wrapped steering wheel that takes 15 hours to hand stitch. All of this luxury would be trite without the latest and greatest creature comfort gadgetry to back it up. To address this concern, Bentley provides the Mulsanne with keyless entry that automatically remembers way more about your personal preferences than your spouse ever will, including your desired seat position, radio stations and seat belt location. At 443-litres, the boot is rather small, but will provide ample space for a set of golf clubs or luggage.

Fuel mileage does not seem like it would be of high priority for Bentley owners, but even the rich have to at least appear concerned about their carbon foot print in order to save face. With that in mind, engineers have introduced variable displacement to the Mulsanne, allowing the engine to shut down half of its cylinders during light throttle opening. This technological trick, nets approximately eight per cent better mileage while cruising, and around five per cent in mixed driving. In other words, while this new system puts on a good show, the 16.7mpg combined cycle and 393g/km of CO2 prove the real world gains are not substantial. It’s hard to keep a 2.6 ton vehicle from chugging fuel. The 2014 Bentley Mulsanne is hefty by design to promote a feel of quality and durability.

Has the buttery soft leather and subtle rumble of the twin turbo V8 prompted you to dip into the kids university fund and run down to the nearest Bentley dealer? If so, you’re not to blame. The Mulsanne is hypnotic, encompassing both beauty and function while providing a unique experience unlike any other vehicle on the road. If I had a spare £5,000 a month, there might be one parked in my drive!

If you want to get hold of the 2014 Bentley Mulsanne, don’t hesitate to leave us a message on our contact page, or give us a call on 01903 538835 to find out more about our 2014 Bentley Mulsanne lease deals.

What do you think of the 2014 Bentley Mulsanne?