Don’t fix what isn’t broken is a very good philosophy in most cases, but not so much when you are a car company selling the same model for five years. That’s even true when the model in question is the most luxurious Bentley money could buy at the time, and for a long time before that, and after that. So, the 2016 Mulsanne got a major update which included a more modern exterior with even more design cues traced to the 1930 8-Litre. And that’s fitting given that the Mulsanne is the first independently developed Bentley model since the 8-Litre. To follow the exponentially advancing digital technology, the 2016 Mulsanne also got new infotainment while the interior became even more bespoke than before with a total of 40 parts being entirely handmade. Suspension and chassis got a rework as well giving the driver even more setups to play with and adjust the Mulsanne’s suspension to his preferred driving style. Thanks to all those improvements, the 2016 Mulsanne comes at a substantial premium on the used market, but even so, it has lost more than 50% of its value making it no less of a deal. If you are in the market for one, check out if any are currently available here at Exotic Car Trader before we take this review further.
The history of Bentley is a long one, but also an unfortunate one as the brand has been owned by other manufacturers ever since 1931. And while Bentley still kept some of its original character, it was greatly influenced by Rolls Royce and later VW. That’s why the Mulsanne came as quite a surprise as it’s a model developed entirely by Bentley for the first time in 80 years. No, the Mulsanne doesn’t share a platform with a Volkswagen, or the engine, or anything else for that matter apart from the infotainment system. What makes it even more special is the fact it kept the old Bentley 6.75 liter V8 engine in favor of the VW W12, and that’s good because the engine alone is a true wonder. And thanks to Bentley's faithful customers who recognized just how special the model is, the Mulsanne sold over 7,300 examples during its production and that’s despite the prices being north of $300,000. During its ten years of production, the Mulsanne saw two notable updates, one in 2014 and the most extensive one in 2016 which was essentially the final send off before it went out of production in 2020. With all current Bentleys sharing platforms and engines with VW and Porsche, the Mulsanne stands as a true authentic gem sporting more Bentley DNA than any model since 1930.
Not only did the 2016 Mulsanne bring about more technology than ever, it also doubled down on bespoke details making it even more luxurious. The entire switchgear is now covered with glass to give more visual depth and it constitutes a number of those 40 hand built interior parts. There is even more wood and leather than before thanks to redesigned door trims and arm rests. Moving forward to the infotainment system, it’s now much bigger and is a touch screen with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. That alone makes the 2016 Mulsanne interior much miles more convenient than earlier models. The older optional laptops in the rear are replaced by Android tablets with keyboards that can also be connected to the main infotainment system eliminating the need for a remote. New driver aid technology includes headlights which automatically adjust depending on the driving location, town, country or highway. But these are all just details in the grand picture and little to nothing can translate just how special the Mulsanne is inside without experiencing it for yourself. After all, 150 hours don’t go into building the interior just because Bentley’s manufacturing is inefficient.
Despite going on sale in 2016, the exterior updates on the Mulsanne made look generations ahead while at the same time implementing design cues from the old 8 Litre. One such design update is the front grille which is 3.1 inches wider than before while also featuring vertical bars in place of the old metal mesh. That takes the 2016 Mulsanne exterior more in the luxurious direction instead of sportiness and it’s the easiest way to distinguish it from the earlier models. The front bumper also got a redesign dividing the intake into three parts. And there are the headlights which are now full LED and the daytime running lights run the full circle which looks cutting edge even today. The rear end wasn’t spared either with new flying B shaped tail lights which take the back end away from the old Arnage it was based on. At the same time, the Mulsanne looks even bigger than before despite being wider and longer than most full size SUV’s thanks to wider bumpers both front and rear. Overall, these subtle changes improved the Mulsanne’s look substantially and are by no means neglectable.
Even though the 2016 Mulsanne is no super sedan, its performance figures used to shame sports cars when it first came out and are no less impressive even today. All of that is largely thanks to the giant V8 because its weight and the fact that it’s rear wheel drive certainly don’t do it any favors. With 505 horsepower and 752 lb-ft of torque available at 1,750 RPMs, the engine is unlike any other built in the past decade or longer. Coupled with a modern 8 speed transmission, it punches the Mulsanne to 60 in just 4.9 seconds despite carrying 5,700 lbs of weight. And even though it’s shaped like a sledgehammer, the top speed sits at a comfortable 190 mph. These performance figures are dangerously close to the Flying Spur of its generation which on paper should be a much faster car. The 2016 update also brought new technologies like active engine mounts, revised bushings and more suspension setups including sport, comfort and custom.
Together with the 2016 facelift, the Mulsanne’s price also got an upgrade and the starting price was now $303,000. Naturally, almost every option would cost thousands to the starting price and the Mulsanne quickly entered the $350,000 territory. Even today, the 2016 Mulsanne prices are still noticeably higher in 2024 than those of the earlier models. Pre facelift Mulsannes go for around $100,000 while the 2016 model barely falls below $150,000. That said, the difference is certainly noticeable and well worth the extra $50,000 for most people. And even with the premium, the Mulsanne still lost around $200,000 from its original value and that’s quite a deal considering that most examples have right around 10,000 miles on them.
Ultimately, the 2016 Mulsanne is one of the best model years available as the update it got is a major one all around. And with the name being discontinued in 2020, it should hold its value much better than the rest of the lineup. Moreover, the Mulsanne still has blistering performance which will satisfy virtually all drivers despite being the only car to rival the Rolls Royce Phantom since it came out. Lastly, if you are looking to buy your next luxury car, doing so through Exotic Car Trader is one of the safest and most convenient methods. Exotic Car Trader offers escrow protection, delivery and first inspection while also giving you the option to finalize the entire deal online. The same goes if you sell a car through Exotic Car Trader only in that case you will save even more time and effort.
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