The Phaeton received a good deal of publicity when it was introduced for 2004, as Volkswagen's largest and most expensive vehicle by far. And so far, the vehicle has been a sales flop. One reviewer called the vehicle "the best car no one wants", citing the Volkswagen badge as the reason for the vehicle's downfall. While that is no doubt part of the reason, the car itself didn't help matters much. The roomy interior is spectacularly finished, to the point where it even overshadows the luxury-branded Audi A8 with which it shares its platform and powertrain. However, the car has an overly-stiff ride, sloppy handling, unimpressively-shaped seats, and really does not stand out in any way besides its near-perfect interior quality. And for not all that much less than its competitors, the Phaeton needs some more work before it can truly compete at this level.

        The Phaeton rides comfortably over smooth pavement, though it can become a bit floaty at highway speeds. However, it does not absorb bumps well, crashing over them and not recovering quickly. It also doesn't filter out rough pavement as well as the others in this group. The engine is very quiet, but road noise is noticeable. The Phaeton's 5,200-lb mass does not respond well to fast cornering; it feels ungainly, but at least manages to limit body roll. The overly-light steering is slow to respond, and does not provide any feedback. The Phaeton is not as quick as the others here (thank the car's excessive weight here as well), but is more than sufficient. Fuel economy is the worst of this group.

      Inside, the roomy front seats feature many possible adjustments, but none manage to give the seats enough support, or make them as comfortable as the others here. The rear features excellent legroom, but limited headroom and no footroom under the front seats. The cushion is also too short. As noted, the high-quality interior detailing represents the Phaeton's best trait. The dash is covered in a variety of top-notch materials that fit together extremely well. Details that include power covers for the dash vents impress further. Ergonomics are somewhat less impressive, though still adequate by the standards of this class. The instruments are large and well-placed, though flush against the center stack, and some can be a bit confusing to use. The deeply recessed power window switches were also annoying. The gauges could be larger, but they are clear enough. Visibility could be better, but the driver sits comfortably enough. Large doors and footwells, as well as a well-shaped roofline, help entry/exit. The trunk is surprisingly small.

      Overall, the Phaeton has failed to impress consumers looking for a $75,000 status symbol because of its VW badge, and fails to impress here because of its relative lack of comfort and sportiness compared to its competitors, all without a significant price advantage. The interior quality alone cannot make up for those flaws, and the Phaeton comes up short overall. Consumers looking for a luxury sedan in this class can limit their shopping list to the other five vehicles here.

Pros:

-Interior Quality

-Interior Space

-Features for the Money

Cons:

-Ride Comfort

-Handling

-Fuel Economy

-Seat Comfort

-Trunk Volume

Overall:

While still not a bad car, its competitors do most things better.

Options Added to Vehicle Reviewed:

 -

Price of Version Reviewed:

$74,855

Powertrain:

4.2-liter V8

335 horsepower

6-speed automatic

Vehicle Overview