Yes, it looks like a giant Passat.  But it isn’t.

Volkswagen’s new ultra-luxury sedan, the Phaeton, has been criticized for its anonymous face, but we had a moment that belied this.  We found ourselves cruising through upscale Farmington Hills, Michigan, on I-696, and a Mercedes S-Class raced up alongside, braving triple digits to catch up, and then paced us.  Within moments, there was another S-Class on our right, also matching our speed.  The affluent couples in both cars were looking at the Phaeton and talking excitedly to each other.  Even if the blue-collar crowd can’t tell this big VW from its lesser stablemates, we suspect that the people who can afford it have certainly noticed.

Volkswagen’s first foray into the high-luxury market was viewed with some skepticism and disbelief.  After all, a $90,000 luxury sedan is not what you expect from a company whose name still harkens back to the days when it was an affordable “people’s car.”  But the Phaeton came into existence nonetheless, with an innovative engine, all-weather handling and enough wood and leather to challenge Jaguar and Mercedes for spots in the executive parking lot.

First impressions are important in this class, and despite a resemblance to its lesser siblings, the Phaeton is impressive at the curb.  It’s a big, car, just under 204 inches long, and much of that has been devoted to rear-seat passengers, as evidenced by the long wheelbase and oversized rear doors.  The Phaeton is all about quiet elegance, with a wide, chrome-barred grille and projector headlamps.  Fit and finish are precise and perfect.  The big 18″ wheels fit nicely with the body without being ostentatious, and the four chrome exhaust outlets indicate the presence of the range-topping W12 engine.  Everything, right down to the alloy trunk hinges, has an air of care and meticulousness about it.

Inside, the Phaeton is impressive whether you’re driving or riding in back.  Up front, a sweeping cabin and wide wood console complement the dash.  When the Phaeton is sleeping, wood covers slide down to conceal the radio and air vents.  Slick cupholders push straight down into the console and lie flush when not in use.  The front seats are adjustable in 18 directions; the heat-reflective coating on the side windows is shatter-resistant.  The fit and finish inside is fantastic, of course, but then we’ve come to expect that from VW, and we couldn’t decide if it was really $40,000 nicer than what’s in the Touareg SUV.  The navigation system was a sore point; even after reading the owner’s manual, we couldn’t get it to show street names.  The Phaeton’s rear cabin is very much like a private jet.  Both rear seats are multi-adjustable, and a moveable footrest on the floor makes living room-level comfort easy.  There’s a screen for the four-zone climate control in the rear, and of course the back seats are heated.  There’s an available massage function as well (BMW’s works better).  Those triple-sealed, oversized rear doors are a bit heavy, but chances are back-seat passengers won’t have to pull them shut anyway–the doorman can do that.

A special car just isn’t impressive if it hasn’t got a special engine, and our test Phaeton didn’t disappoint.  Volkswagen stuffed the groundbreaking W12 under the hood.  This 6.0 liter twelve-cylinder engine was crafted by siamesing together two narrow-angle V6 engines side by side, thereby foregoing the need for a long engine compartment to contain a big V12.  The double-V layout makes for an exceptionally strong engine block, and a powerful one as well.  The W12 sings to the tune of 420 horsepower.  On the road, the Phaeton is smooth and powerful bordering on terrifying, thanks to all the power on tap.  It’s not a stoplight drag race champ by any stretch, but executives who have to make the airport on time will find that it’s still accelerating at 100 or so.  Our metropolitan Detroit test loop had no room to let the Phaeton run.  A five-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic selectable gears is standard equipment.  The Phaeton is also available with Volkswagen’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive, for added stability and confidence.

Unlike some VIP-haulers, the Phaeton is nice to drive, too.  The ride is firm and comfortable, thanks to an adjustable air suspension that’s computer-controlled to adapt to different road surfaces and driving conditions.  The Phaeton is poised when driven hard; the body rolls slightly, then takes a comfortable set while the tires howl.  Making a 5400-pound car feel relatively un-ponderous is an impressive trick.  4MOTION all-wheel drive helps, as does the standard ESP stability control.

Safety equipment in Volkswagen’s premium road-tripper includes anti-lock brakes, a tire pressure monitor and eight airbags, including side-curtain bags.  Electronic parking assist aids in easing this big car into tight spots.

The price of entry is steep, of course.  How much consumers would pay for a luxury Volkswagen is the $64,000 question–literally, because Phaeton pricing starts just north of that.  For the top of the line W12 we drove, the price of entry rises to $79,900.  Our test car was decked out with the massaging rear seats, high-gloss paint and electronic parking assist, as well as being slapped with a $3000 gas guzzler tax, bringing the total cost to $91,415.

Specifications:

All specs are for the 2005 Volkswagen Phaeton W12.
Length:         203.7 in.
Width:            74.9 in.
Height:            57.1 in.
Wheelbase:        118.1 in.
Curb weight:        5399 lb
Cargo space:        13 cu.ft.
Base price:        $79,900
Price as tested:        $91,415
Engine:         6.0 liter W12
Drivetrain:         five-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Horsepower:         420 @ 6000
Torque:         406 @ 3250
Fuel capacity:        23.8 gal.
Est. mileage:        12/19

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