Volkswagen Phaeton Range Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: Volkswagen Phaeton range
Prices: £43,304-£73,800 - on the road
Insurance Group: 16–20
Emissions: 248-374g/km
Performance: [W12] 0-60mph 6.1s / Max Speed 155mph
Fuel Consumption: [3.0 V6 TDI] (urban) 22.1mpg / (extra urban) 37.7mpg / (combined) 30.1mpg
Safety: Twin front/side and curtain airbags / ABS with ESP WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE? Length/Width/Height, 5150/1903/1450mm

LET’S GO ROUND AGAIN

Our Rating: 7.0 / 10

Volkswagen hasn’t given up with its luxury Phaeton saloon. Andy Enright checks out the latest changes

We’re now well used to the idea of paying around £40,000 for a Volkswagen. The impressive Touareg luxury 4x4 has broken that barrier well and truly, as has the Phaeton luxury saloon we’re looking at here.

Of the two cars, it’s the Phaeton that has struggled to make an impression on the British market, but that’s more to do with the fact that luxury saloon buyers are more badge-conscious than their 4x4 counterparts than any real failing in the product. Still, Volkswagen haven’t given up and we’re looking here at the revised version that features more changes than you might think from a casual glance.

Inside, revised touchscreen satellite navigation and climate control systems feature as standard as part of a redesigned centre console, alongside a refreshed instrument cluster and multifunction display. A ‘Side Scan’ blind-spot monitor is now available as an option on the Phaeton for the first time, building on the already extensive list of safety equipment fitted to the vehicle. This technology monitors the area next to the vehicle and acts as a lane changing aid with an audible alert and a small warning lamp in the wing mirrors to warn of the danger of collision. Subtle design tweaks have also been made to the exterior, including a revised front grille featuring a three-dimensional Volkswagen roundel.

Disappointingly, it’s no longer possible to get the awesome 5.0-litre V10 TDI engine in the Phaeton as this would have required massive investment to pass the latest Euro IV emissions standards: as sales volumes were so small, this wasn’t deemed feasible. Therefore, the only oil burner in the Phaeton line up is a 3.0-litre TDI unit that develops 236bhp. This engine already exceeds the tough Euro V requirements that become law in 2009.

Today’s Phaeton range is built around this diesel engine but for long wheelbase customers who want more power, the mighty 6.0-litre W12 petrol unit is still on offer, cranking out no less than 446bhp. Go for the diesel and you’ve the choice of both short and long wheelbase versions. With the extra 120mm discreetly massaged into the car’s wheelbase, lwb customers get the benefit of that Club Class seat pitch without looking like a membe

Whichever wheelbase you choose, you’ll find a number of subtle touches included. The ‘Front and Side Scan’ system is fitted for example. ‘Front Scan’ can bring the Phaeton to a complete stop should the system detect a hazard ahead, while ‘Side Scan’ monitors the area beside the vehicle for any obstacles, the idea being to make lane changing on motorways safer and easier. Should an obstacle be detected in your blind spots, a warning is transmitted to the driver. A Bluetooth-enabled phone with voice control and the ability to store up to 1,000 contacts is also offered.

Set aside the badge snobbery and the Phaeton starts to make a case for itself. The 6.0-litre W12 model that represents the extreme of the model range is an astonishing thing insofar as it remains totally focused on the task of being a luxury car. This may at first sound a little odd, but consider how the sporting pretensions of Audi and BMW have affected their brief as luxury expresses in the often-knobbly low-speed ride of the A8 and the 7 Series. The Phaeton makes no bones about the fact that it’s a plutocratic wafter, the chassis raising an unamused eyebrow should you attempt to hurry it through a corner. Although the all-wheel drive W12 can hit 60mph in 6.1 seconds and would run on to over 180mph were it not electronically restricted to 155mph, its key assets are its huge torque, its relaxed air and its silky ride quality.

The interior will be familiar to most Passat drivers, the layout of many of the controls being similar, but the materials quality is a league removed, the comfort features mind-boggling and the sheer space a distinct revelation. The five-speed automatic transmission’s take up is so smooth that it comes almost as a surprise to see the view outside changing, your inner ear not registering the fact that the car has started rolling. The adjustable damper settings vary between ‘blancmange in the midday sun’ and merely soft, but high speed body control is always kept well in check.