Overview
No automobile shouts the presence of Old Money louder than the Rolls-Royce Phantom. Its massive size, stately proportions, and imperious upright grille—topped with the Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament—make a statement that passersby can’t look away from as they wonder who might be sipping champagne in the sumptuously padded rear seat. The Phantom hues to Rolls tradition—for now—by still being powered by a nearly silent gasoline V-12 under its long hood. A pillowy soft ride floats you gracefully across life’s harsh bumps. Plush leathers, handsome veneers, and beautifully hewn metal trim surround you in the capacious interior; coach rear doors power themselves open and closed regally at the touch of a button. There are endless customization possibilities, but no matter the color or interior trim, the Phantom delivers on its reputation for extravagantly luxurious motoring.
Where This Vehicle Ranks
What’s New for 2024?
The Phantom receives no updates for the 2024 model year, just a slight increase in pricing. The Phantom’s styling, powertrain and features otherwise remain and provides the same luxurious feeling sedan from the previous model year.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
One does not simply choose a Phantom—or any Rolls-Royce for that matter—off dealer lot. No. These cars are built to the exacting requirements of the millionaires and billionaires who purchase them—and these carriages of the rich are often customized down to the last detail. We won’t even begin to suggest which special-order options are worth adding because, well, how would we know? We would, however, suggest springing for the Extended Wheelbase model to take advantage of its limousine-like rear-seat legroom. As they say, go big or go home.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Prodigious power is provided by a silken 563-hp twin-turbo V-12 paired with an eight-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive. Acceleration is brisk, but Rolls-Royce’s claimed 5.1-second zero-to-60-mph time isn’t anything you’d appreciate your chauffeur trying to replicate. The Phantom is better suited to easing along lazily; delicate inputs to throttle and steering are what it likes best. To say that the ride is smooth would be an understatement—imagine being carried aloft on a fluffy cloud. The Phantom practically levitates over the road; it features a pothole-spotting camera that helps the suspension adapt to road imperfections in real time. It’s a library-quiet, sensory-deprivation cocoon.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
A Phantom owner’s conspicuous consumption is matched by the car’s penchant for consuming fuel. The EPA’s fuel-economy estimates run as low as 12-mpg city, although the Phantom’s 20-mpg highway rating actually bests the smaller Rolls-Royce Ghost’s by 2 mpg. If we ever are lucky enough to have a chance to put the Phantom through our 200-mile highway fuel-economy test, we’ll update this story with test results. For more information about the Phantom’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Acres of wood, metal accents, and vast expanses of supple leather cover the cabin, which is no surprise for a car of this class. But there’s so much more: for instance, should you want to use your Phantom to support the arts, you can specify custom artwork in place of the standard instrument panel trim. Rolls-Royce offers both a standard- and long-wheelbase version of the Phantom, the latter stretched by 8.6 inches, much of which results as additional rear-seat legroom. Rear-hinged coach doors open to allow graceful and dramatic arrivals and departures. Rear-seat passengers can be treated to myriad luxuries such as deep-pile carpeted floor mats, power-adjustable seats with massage, a refrigerated console compartment for libations, remote controls for the infotainment system, and much, much more.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Speaking of infotainment, the Phantom comes standard with a large infotainment display artfully hidden behind a glass panel that stretches the full width of the dashboard. It’s controlled via a rotary knob on the center console. Lest you think that rear-seat passengers are left out of the technology loop, the Phantom also features touchscreens that motor down from each of the front seatbacks to provide access to the car’s audio and navigation systems, as well as a live-TV tuner so passengers won’t fall behind on their favorite shows or sports while on the way to their next engagement.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The Phantom’s dizzying array of optional tech includes night vision and a distinct laser-light system, but Rolls-Royce also offers more conventional driver-assistance features such as forward-collision and lane-departure warnings as standard. For more information about the Phantom’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard forward collision warning
- Standard land-departure warning
- Available adaptive cruise control with night vision
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Like the Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV and the smaller Ghost sedan, the Phantom comes with Rolls-Royce’s four-year/unlimited-mile warranty and maintenance package as standard.
- Limited warranty covers 4 years or unlimited miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 4 years or unlimited miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for 4 years or unlimited miles
Specifications
Source: www.caranddriver.com