Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended Wheelbase 4dr Car Review - March 2012

With a 6.75 litre engine there is plenty of power to move this two and a half tonne behemoth, but the Phantom doesn't feel like a big, heavy car to drive. The steering is not too heavy and responds immediately to any movement in the wheel, and the car is also composed through the corners, in stark contrast to Rolls-Royces of old. The driving position is very good and much higher than in some other vehicles offering plenty of adjustment in the driving seat, but visibility has been sacrificed because of the privacy of the passengers.

Considering that this is a massive car, the engine performance is the match of many sports cars, with the acceleration from 0-62mph taking only 5.9 seconds. The top speed of 149mph means that this car can move its passengers quickly and comfortably, but when driving quickly it is disappointing that there is a bit of wind noise which leaks into the cabin.

The Phantom has been with us for nine years now and the design hasn't changed. Nevertheless, the car is still the very embodiment of class, luxury and style, providing that the Rolls-Royce grille isn't too garish for your tastes. Inside, the Phantom is a sumptuously luxurious car which looks classy throughout, and this is one of few cars which is designed to offer much more space in the back of the car than for the driver and front seat passenger.

This car also comes with a high standard of equipment, with satellite navigation, a hands free phone kit and Bluetooth connectivity included, and the leather seats are of course wonderfully comfortable. The car does come with a high quality CD stereo included as standard, but the inclusion of the DVD player is only an optional extra.

The Phantom is a car that can comfortably accommodate four people in complete luxury, and the space is increased with the extra 25mm which has been added to the wheelbase in this version. The boot space is also excellent, so there'll be plenty of space for luggage. It is also a very safe car which has plenty of airbags to look after driver and passengers, and it also has an impressive array of driver aids to make controlling this giant simple and straightforward.

The engine for this Rolls Royce is from BMW, which is hugely reassuring for those who are worried about the reliability of the car.

With a list price of £336,700, only the very well-heeled are even going to consider a Phantom. The Extended Wheelbase version is a full £50k more expensive than the standard car and even the very rich are going to struggle to justify the price differential.

However, despite the high price tag, there is no other car on the road which offers this level of luxury and refinement and, if you have £336k, there is no better car to be driven around in.

Running costs are also significant, with the 6.75-litre engine only able to deliver a combined 17.9mpg. Insuring a Rolls Royce Phantom is also hugely expensive, but it is reassuring to know that resale values for the Phantom are quite good. The car comes with a four year warranty and roadside breakdown assistance.