While it might be more common for owners of a Bentley Mulsanne to occupy the luxury rear seats, we find out if the model will suit new drivers.
Although Bentley has a well-documented history in motorsport as a dominant force, most today will recognize the brand for its luxury sedans and coupe models. Recently, the British marque introduced its very successful Bentayga SUV model, however, another Bentley product in its arsenal had to make way for the new arrival and that is the Mulsanne.
The Mulsanne started production in 2010 and served until 2020, after which the nameplate was retired. Under the bonnet of the land-yacht, it features a 6.75-litre, twin-turbocharged, V8 petrol engine which in the standard Mulsanne produces 377 kW and 1020 Nm of torque, while the Mulsanne Speed achieves 395 kW and 1100 Nm from the same powertrain configuration.
Considering the model’s luxury appointments and that you could order the model with an extended wheelbase for additional legroom for the rear occupants, it is no wonder many owners opted to sit in the back while being driven around. But what if you have recently obtained your license and you want to drive a Bentley Mulsanne? Let us take a look at some key considerations.
Size
Although the Mulsanne only measures 1521mm tall, it stretches to 5575mm in length and 2208mm wide, and this is for the standard or non-extended wheelbase model. But those large proportions do mean that you and your friends or family will have ample room as well as luggage space. But it has to be taken into account that although the Bentley Mulsanne has front and rear parking sensors, the large proportions will take some time for even experienced drivers to get used to.
Safety
Owners of Bentley Mulsanne models can expect safety systems such as ABS brakes, electronic stability control, emergency brake-force distribution, hill-start assist and traction control to feature as standard equipment. In addition to this, Bentley has fitted six airbags to keep the occupants safe during a collision.
Furthermore, the thick doors, long bonnet and big boot also make for good crumple zones, keeping the occupants further away from the accident.
Performance
As can be seen in the performance figures listed above, the Bentley Mulsanne is quite a powerful vehicle, however, with a large and heavy body and a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission, the Mulsanne is built for speed rather than staggering acceleration, completing a 0-100 km/h sprint in 5.3 seconds and a top speed of 296 km/h.
The acceleration characteristics result in more of a forward surge than a flat-out whiplash-inducing jump forward. But with so much power and torque ready on demand, new drivers shouldn’t underestimate the Mulsanne’s ability to get up to speed quickly or to start spinning tyres with the traction control system turned off.
As such we would recommend new drivers complete an advanced driving course to assist them in difficult or spirited driving conditions.
Verdict
While it might be seldom for a Bentley Mulsanne to be a vehicle used by a new driver, it is not impossible. Looking at some of the more important aspects to consider for a new driver, the Mulsanne seems to offer very few challenges. In fact, should the new driver take some time to familiarize themselves with the dimensions and power delivery characteristics of the engine, they should feel very confident behind the steering wheel.
The biggest hurdles will then be the purchase price of the model and the insurance premium, especially if they are considering using it as a daily driver.
Ryno FourieRyno started his career capturing press images of the latest and greatest vehicles which have subsequently adorned the covers and pages of prominent motoring titles locally and internationally. After a short stint as a photography lecturer, he once again joined the automotive industry as a sub-editor and photographer for a local publication, however, currently, you will find him spending most of his time in the studio creating written, video, and photography content as part of the AutoTrader content team.View News & Reviews
Keyword: Is the Bentley Mulsanne good for new drivers? Here’s our verdict.