2023 Rolls-Royce Phantom

Overview

The Rolls-Royce Phantom is the world’s most recognizable symbol of automotive extravagance and status. Its huge waterfall grille and classic upright proportions convey a simple and singular message: wealth goes here. Or maybe royalty. The 2023 Phantom also stands out in the ultimate-luxury car class for its price, which is hundreds of thousands higher than those of rivals such as the Bentley Flying Spur or the Mercedes-Maybach S-class. We can attest to the fact that slipping behind the Phantom’s wheel—better still, into its back seat through its rear-hinged coach doors—will make you feel like a member of the one-tenth-of-one-percent. To the Phantom’s credit, there’s probably not a more comfortable luxury car on the planet. It wafts down the road, floating serenely over pavement imperfections while pampering its passengers with an array of sumptuous interior materials. Meanwhile, its big V-12 engine hums away nearly silently under the Phantom’s long hood, providing effortless power. There’s seemingly no end to the customization opportunities offered by the factory, either. The only thing missing from the options list is a chauffeur, but that feature is sold separately.

What’s New for 2023?

The Phantom receives a light styling makeover for 2023 that includes updates to the car’s iconic Pantheon grille and revised headlamps that add a slightly more modern—but not too modern—appearance. New wheel designs round out the exterior enhancements, but should you want more than a “standard Rolls” the company is launching a limited-edition Phantom Platino model through its Bespoke coachbuilding service. The Platino wears special silver-white paint and features an interior covered in hand-embroidered silk, special leather, and bamboo fiber-based cloth.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Sedan

$460,000 (est)

$540,000 (est)

Bespoke Platino

$650,000 (est)

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.

Rolls-Royce

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.

Rolls-Royce

The Car and Driver Difference

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.

How to Buy and Maintain a Car

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 lane-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

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 4- or 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

ESTIMATED BASE PRICES: Phantom, $450,000;

Phantom EWB, $500,000

ENGINE TYPE: twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 48-valve V-12, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection

Displacement: 412 cu in, 6749 cc
Power: 563 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque: 664 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 139.8-148.5 in
Length: 227.2-235.8 in
Width: 79.4 in Height: 64.8-65.2 in
Trunk volume: 19 cu ft
Curb weight (C/D est): 5650-5750 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):

Zero to 60 mph: 4.5-4.6 sec

Zero to 100 mph: 9.5-9.6 sec

Standing ¼-mile: 12.8-12.9 sec

Top speed: 155 mph

EPA FUEL ECONOMY:

Combined/city/highway: 14/12/19 mpg

More Features and Specs