For For those who prefer to travel in the rear of a car, the long-wheelbase Phaeton with a diesel engine provides enormous space and comfort with decent economy for such a big car.

Against This is pricier to buy than the already spacious standard model, and you'll not see any extra return on the cost when you come to sell the car.

Volkswagen Phaeton Saloon

What Car? says

2 out of 5 stars

Outstanding quality and comfort coupled to real-world economy from the diesel engine, but the Phaeton is not as sharp to drive as the Mercedes S-Class.

What Car? readers say

3.894737


Key facts

0–60mph
8.3 secs
Top speed
147 mph
Average mpg
32.2
Tank range
634 miles
See all running costs

Features

See all equipment

Size

schematic See all measurements

View the whole Volkswagen Phaeton Saloon range

Cheaper

More expensive

Read in full

The full Volkswagen Phaeton review


Buyer's notes

Target Price team says:

The aim with the VW Phaeton was to build the world's best luxury car. In many respects it's done a decent job, but one crucial element is missing from the Phaeton and that’s the right badge on its snout.

VW may have an enviable reputation for solidity and quality, but in such a rarefied atmosphere as luxury saloons, the VW moniker counts for little, so sales of the Phaeton are very slow and used values horrifically low.

This is all something of a shame as the Phaeton offers decent performance. The 3.0 V6 turbodiesel has a good blend of oomph and economy.

Inside, the Phaeton is eerily quiet thanks to double glazed windows and excellent noise suppression. It also covers ground with smooth aplomb and is magnificently well equipped inside, with plenty of space for front and rear passengers. So near greatness, yet so far.

Reader test team says:

Volkswagen Phaeton Saloon 3.0 V6 TDI 240 SWB 4dr

Bought 2.5 years ago, used with 10k on the clock. Very excited and delighted with the quality at first. However, dealer servicing costs are…

Paul Johnson

3 out of 5 stars

Volkswagen Phaeton Saloon 3.0 V6 TDI 222 4Motion 4dr

If you appreciate quality and don't subscribe to badge snobbery then this is the car for you. Having said that, do NOT, whatever you do, buy a new one…

Jason Soraff

5 out of 5 stars

Volkswagen Phaeton Saloon 6.0 W12 4Motion 4dr

I was interested to see the photograph of my car OVO3GHB on the Whatcar web page! It is a 6.0ltr W12 4motion tiptronic. Jeremy Clarkson rates this car…

Crispin Flint

4 out of 5 stars

Volkswagen Phaeton Saloon 3.0 V6 TDI 222 4Motion 4dr

I wanted a car that would be quiet, refined, able to cover long distances in complete comfort without costing silly money or being ostentatious. That…

Jonathan Hutt

4 out of 5 stars
Post a reader review for your car View all reader reviews

Phaeton rivals

Phaeton used car reviews