Summary
The Rolls-Royce Ghost is a large luxury saloon, and the smaller sister to the flagship Phantom. The current model was launched in 2020, with standard- and extended-wheelbase versions offered.
Unlike the previous Ghost, this one is not based on an old BMW 7 Series platform, and shares much of its underpinnings with the larger Phantom saloon and Cullinan SUV. If such things are important to you, its £260K starting price is about £100K cheaper than the Phantom so it’s basically a bargain…
As of January 2025, the Ghost holds a New Car Expert Rating of D with a score of 58%.
While the large saloon has received plenty of very positive reviews from motoring journalists who praise its comfort and luxury, the Ghost’s inevitably high running costs and poor emissions seriously hinder its score, like much of the Rolls-Royce range.
Ghost highlights
- Engineering excellence
- Exquisitely finished interior
- Unsurprisingly comfortable ride
- Full of advanced technology
Ghost lowlights
- Surprisingly enjoyable to drive
- Eye-watering running costs
- No plug-in electric option
- Your mates will think you can’t afford a Phantom
Key specifications
Body style: Large saloon
Engine: petrol
Price: From £261,100 on-road
Launched: Summer 2020
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed:
Score: 9 / 10
“From the way it drives to the comfort and refinement it offers from within a spacious and cosseting cabin, the Rolls-Royce Ghost is something of a luxury car masterclass.”
Read review
Score: 9 / 10
“The new Ghost is a masterclass when it comes to luxury and refinement. The attention to detail and depth of engineering are staggering, as is the price, even before you start adding on options. Rolls-Royce has a monopoly on this section of the market, so in reality, it can charge whatever it likes.”
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Auto Trader
Score: 10 / 10
“The new Rolls-Royce Ghost has its feet rooted in the fine traditions of the brand but is also, to a degree, a forward-looking car and modern expression of ultimate luxury.”
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Car
Model reviewed: Black Badge edition
Score: 8 / 10
“The new Ghost is better than the last car in every way. Rolls-Royce has spent a lot of time, and money, fixing issues that its customers probably never noticed, and the sum of these solutions is an ever-so-slightly better, distilled version of the Ghost.”
Read review
Score: 10 / 10
“Rolls-Royce has spent a lot of time, and money, fixing issues that its customers probably never noticed, and the sum of these solutions is an ever-so-slightly better, distilled version of the Ghost.”
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“Despite being one of the most cossetting and relaxing cars available, the Rolls-Royce Ghost is almost as rewarding to drive as it is to be a passenger”
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Carwow
Model reviewed:
Score: 9 / 10
“The Rolls Royce Ghost is the cheapest car Rolls Royce makes, but it certainly doesn’t feel cheap to drive or sit in. The only trouble is, a Phantom isn’t much extra and feels even more special.”
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Daily Mail
“Arguably the biggest surprise from the driver’s seat is just how easy the Rolls-Royce Ghost is to live with. Driving it is not at all intimidating, despite its gargantuan dimension.”
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Daily Mirror
Score: 10 / 10
“The Rolls-Royce Ghost is without question one of the most comfortable cars in the world. Pity about the price, but then the comfort is that luxury cars, including Rolls-Royces, depreciate heavily. It just might take a decade or two before this one becomes affordable.”
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Evo
Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The latest Rolls Royce Ghost builds on its predecessor’s abilities thanks to a new platform and even more advanced technology.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed:
Score: 8.6 / 10
“The Rolls Royce Ghost is full of character, luxury and engineering excellence.”
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The Sunday Times
Model reviewed:
Score: 9 / 10
“The Rolls Royce Ghost is exquisite, as expected.”
Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The new Rolls Royce Ghost is a sublimely engineered, hugely charismatic motor car. Less really is more.”
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
The Rolls-Royce Ghost hasn’t been crash tested by Euro NCAP and we really don’t think it’s ever likely to happen. If it does, we will update this section accordingly.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of January 2025, the Rolls-Royce Ghost has not yet been lab tested by Green NCAP.
The Ghost weighs about three tonnes with passengers on board and is powered by a 6.7-litre V12 petrol engine, so it’s safe to assume it won’t be winning any environmental awards.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of January 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Rolls-Royce Ghost to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Ghost, we’ll publish the results here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
| Fuel consumption | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| Petrol models | 19 mpg | E | 18 – 19 mpg | E – E |
| CO₂ output | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| Petrol models | 355 g/km | D | 347 – 366 g/km | D – D |
| Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| All models | 50 | F | 50 – 50 | F – F |
The Rolls-Royce Ghost is – unsurprisingly – a very expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our technical partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
For evidence of how costly this saloon is to drive on a daily basis, look no further than the very poor CO2 output and similarly poor fuel consumption. Mind you, that’s exactly what you’d expect from a heavy saloon powered by an enormous V12 petrol engine.
We don’t have servicing costs for the Ghost at the moment, but as the saying goes: if you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it…
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Rolls-Royce Ghost has received
2021
- GQ Car Awards – Best Luxury Car
- News UK Motoring Awards – Best Luxury Car
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Rolls-Royce Ghost, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Audi S8 | Bentey Flying Spur | BMW 7 Series | Lexus LS | Mercedes-Benz S-Class | Mercedes-Maybach S-Class | Porsche Panamera | Rolls-Royce Phantom | Rolls-Royce Wraith
Buy a Rolls-Royce Ghost
Regardless of whether you’re looking for a new or used Ghost, The Car Expert’s partners have thousands of cars to choose from
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