Summary
The Rolls-Royce Phantom is a large luxury saloon and the flagship of the Rolls-Royce range. It is available in two different lengths, with the longer model providing additional rear legroom. The current model is the eighth generation to carry the Phantom name and went on sale in the UK in late 2017.
The Phantom is comfortably the most expensive saloon car on sale in the UK, starting at about £360,000, and Rolls-Royce claims that most owners will spend substantial money over and above that price to personalise their cars in various ways.
The only engine available is a 6.8-litre petrol V12 unit supplied by Rolls-Royce’s parent company, BMW. All models are built at Rolls-Royce’s factory at Goodwood in West Sussex, England.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom has received universally high praise from the UK motoring media, and has been one of the highest-rated cars we’ve analysed with The Car Expert’s unique Expert Rating Index in recent years.
However, as our Expert Rating scores now account for emissions and running costs as well as reviewer praise, the Rolls-Royce Phantom holds a New Car Rating of C with a score of 60% as of March 2024.
The Phantom has been particularly complimented for its build quality and unparalleled luxury, with the only criticisms being that it is very expensive (obviously) and the running costs are similarly eye-watering.
Key specifications
Body style: large saloon
Engine: petrol
Price: From £360,000 on-road
Launched: Summer 2017
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“The new Rolls-Royce Phantom offers wealthy owners the ultimate in luxury, comfort and opulence.”
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Autocar
Model reviewed: Series II
Score: 9 / 10
“There is perhaps now just enough room to debate whether the Rolls Royce Phantum is quite the very best luxury conveyance in the world, but it remains the grandest – and arguably still the greatest too.”
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Car
Model reviewed: Series II
Score: 10 / 10
“You may encounter some envy in the Rolls-Royce Phantom, and you may find yourself questioning how much sense any of this makes when there’s a cost of living crisis and a climate crisis. But then you settle down in those glorious seats, press the starter button and waft away from such concerns…” (Colin Overland)
Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“Best luxury saloon car in the world? Yes, and by some margin. The Bentley Mulsanne and top-end Maybach version of the Mercedes S-class don’t even come close to the Rolls-Royce Phantom’s astonishingly blend of comfort, opulence, craftsmanship and sheer presence.”
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Carbuyer
Score: 7.2 / 10
“The Rolls-Royce Phantom has evolved into an even more comfortable, elegant and bespoke model than before. You could be looking at the world’s most opulent car.”
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Company Car Today
“The Rolls-Royce Phantom is one of the most imposing, iconic and luxurious cars in the world. The view down the long, long bonnet and the light steering, combined with the huge bulk that feels every gramme of its 2.5 tonnes, gives a feel like driving no other car could.”
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Daily Mail
Model reviewed: Range overview
“For a car so large and expensive and imposing, the Rolls-Royce Phantom is surprisingly easy to drive and nimble”
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Motoring Research
Score: 10 / 10
“Frankly, whether you’re asleep on the autobahn or simply chauffeuring your mum to her 70th birthday lunch, the Rolls-Royce Phantom endows every journey with a sense of occasion. I can’t think of a better car for an epic, cross-continental road trip.”
Author: Tim Pitt
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.8 / 10
“‘Best car in the world’? It’s up there…”
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The Telegraph
Score: 10 / 10
“Such is the level of luxury and refinement that it’s almost impossible to make comparisons, but rest assured the world’s super-rich can confidently claim to own the best car in the world – whether they drive their Phantom or let the chauffeur do the work. Peerless.”
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“Nothing in life is perfect but the Rolls-Royce Phantom gets close. An imperious, impeccably engineered automotive experience.”
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What Car?
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“The most luxurious car in the world is exceedingly hard to fault. You’ll need very deep pockets to buy and run one, though.”
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Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
The Rolls-Royce Phantom was not crash tested by Euro NCAP when it was launched in 2017 and we are not expecting it to see a series of £350K+ saloons smashed into walls and poles so that a few plutocrats can feel better about their prospects in an emergency.
If it does, we will update this section accordingly because you’ll probably want to watch the videos.
Eco rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No eco rating
As of March 2024, the Rolls-Royce Phantom has not been lab tested by Green NCAP. Again, not expecting it to happen anytime soon, so you’ll have to use your imagination to work out how environmentally friendly a three-tonne saloon powered by a 6.8-litre petrol V12 might be.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of March 2024, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Rolls-Royce Phantom 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 Phantom, 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 | 18 mpg | E | – mpg | E – E |
| CO₂ output | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| Petrol models | 340 g/km | D | 328 – 347 g/km | D – D |
| Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| All models | 50 | F | 50 – 50 | F – F |
The Rolls-Royce Phantom 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 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 Phantom 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 Phantom has received
2018
- UK Car of the Year Awards – Best Luxury Car
- GQ Car Awards – Best Supernatural Driving Experience
2017
- Top Gear Awards – Best Luxury Car
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Rolls-Royce Phantom, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Bentley Flying Spur | Mercedes-Maybach S-Class | Range Rover | Rolls-Royce Cullinan | Rolls-Royce Ghost
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