Car Statistics: Bentley - Mulsanne Series 10 (3 stars)

Styling (3 stars)

It has presence, bearing and a fine fluency of line, but the Mulsanne's proportions are not quite right - the side windows are too small for the body and the rear doors are too short. The LED-ringed headlights look plain odd, too.

Handling (4 stars)

This is a big, heavy car, but it can be hustled along twisty back roads with a fluency that's both surprising and entertaining, despite the body-roll. Push it really hard and it gets slightly out of sorts and the steering, never the most feel-some tool, eventually turns strangely rubbery. Overall, though, it's capable and deeply enjoyable.

Comfort (4 stars)

You feel comfortable as soon as you step inside an interior this rich, and you're cosseted with highly effective air conditioning, four massage seats and an exceptionally silent cabin. However, the front seat cushions are too short, there's a slight shortage of rear foot-room and you feel the occasional thump from the otherwise excellent air suspension.

Quality (5 stars)

Bodyshells built in-house by Bentley on brand-new kit, painstaking hand spray painting and an artisan-crafted interior ensure a seven-star finish, and the Mulsanne's structure feels deeply robust. That the switchgear mirrors the layout of contemporary Audis does undermine the bespoke feel however, especially as a handful of switches actually come from the German maker. And we can expect excellent reliability as with other Bentleys.

Performance (3 stars)

Only three stars for a limo that can break 62mph in 5.1sec and nudge 184mph? Yes, because the original 1982 Mulsanne Turbo, and most of its successors, were about delivering a wall-of-torque surge for startlingly effective step-away from rest. This Bentley doesn't really have that, and the fumblings of the eight-speed auto often deny you the same distance-annihilating surge. But, work it and this car goes, making a great sound.

Roominess (3 stars)

Given the Mulsanne is over 5.5 metres long some may wish for a little more legroom in the rear, and more space under the front seats for feet. Owners will discover the ultra-wide-opening front doors call for an unseemly stretch to close, but more serious in this class is the meanly dimensioned boot. In-cabin storage is decent - and includes rear cup-holders that clip into the centre armrest.

Costs (2 stars)

We got 14mpg during some hard driving, so 20mpg might be possible, but this car is obviously going to be costly to run. Depreciation could be fairly steep, too. But, the Mulsanne is built for a 35-40 year-plus life - keep it that long, and it will almost seem a bargain.

Value (2 stars)

The Mulsanne is significantly more expensive than the Rolls-Royce Ghost that is arguably the better car, and vastly more than Bentley's four-door Continental Flying Spur, which does the Mulsanne's job almost as well. The Mulsanne will be rarer and for some that will be enough despite a price equivalent to a decent house.

Stereo (4 stars)

This is where the link with Audi (both Bentley and Audi are in the VW Group) pays off, the Mulsanne having an excellent sat nav and infotainment system. Its bespoke Naim stereo is superb, too.