Mystery machine

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The Volkswagen Phaeton is a bit of mystery really. You don't see any on the roads... or do you? Looking very similar to both its closely related A8 brother and its little sister, the Passat, you could easily lose this car in a car park and have to go and buy another one, which would be a shame as at $80,000 it costs a small fortune!

But despite all that, it is actually a very good car. If you're not the showy sort or want to hide the fact that you spent a fair bit on a great car, then this might be perfect for you. Even the V8 badge on the back is tiny, just in case you don't want anyone to know what you've got under the hood! Whilst Audi, BMW and Mercedes are busy screaming from the rooftops about their latest this or quickest that, you can glide serenely by, safe in the knowledge that no-one is going to notice you and your car will probably outlast theirs by a country mile.

To look at, the only major difference in body shape between the A8 and the Phaeton is the big VW badge stuck to each end. The cars are remarkably similar and equally impressively built. The fit and finish of both cars is excellent and Volkswagen certainly seems to know how to bolt things together. It also feels solid to the touch; there are no flimsy panels on the Phaeton and the doors shut with a satisfying thud. All very German really.

Inside, the fun really starts. The interior is absolutely top class, with comfortable electric leather seats and the dash board is simply laid out to make the most of the acres of space in front of the driver. The wood covered air vents that reveal themselves when the fan is switched on is a nice touch and smoothly executed. In the back, rear passengers enjoy the luxury of business class leg room, although the central arm rest is perhaps not as well appointed as some of its rivals. The stereo system is top quality and will keep music lovers amused for hours. Everything is well laid out and simple to use, which is a trait not shared with some of its rivals, especially BMW. Volkswagen has always been good at keeping it simple without cutting corners on the special bits of technology.

Under the bonnet, the huge V8 hums quietly to itself, in keeping with the rest of the car. Although not blisteringly quick, the engine does its job well and suits the job it's being asked to do. The gearbox is also excellent, as you would expect, smoothly shifting between gears and keeping both strong acceleration and smooth delivery at any speed.

On the road the Phaeton hides its size well, although it seems badly affected by side winds at highway speeds. The adjustable suspension hugs the body down onto the road and the big engine gives enough torque and power to overtake on a whim. It may not be as quick as many other uber-cruisers, but there's more than enough to get you out of trouble and get up to some serious highway speeds.

The car also corners well, but at two and a half tonnes it's no sports car. The brakes cope very well with the weight and bring the car to a smooth stop with no fade or worry.

It's difficult to sum up the Phaeton, as there is absolutely nothing wrong with the car. It runs great, looks ok, is well built and has a fantastic interior. The only question mark is the price. At over US$80,000 the Phaeton is only US$14,000 less than the equivalent Audi A8 and only around US$5,000 less than a BMW 740Li. And with the Mercedes S350 coming in at just US$87,000, it's hard to see why people would go for the least prestigious badge of the four. Will anyone be prepared to pay that much for a Volkswagen or will they simply upgrade a few thousand dollars? Don't forget that although it might sound like a stretch, Volkswagen pulled it off once before with the Touareg, so maybe they can do it again with the Phaeton. If they can convince buyers to take a Volkswagen over a Porsche, then why can't they do the same with an Audi?

Verdict: The Phaeton is an excellent car that does pretty much everything perfectly. There's no reason not to buy one... apart from the A8, 7-Series and the S-Class of course.

Engine
4.2 Litre V8

0-100 kph
6.9 secs

Top speed
250 km/h

HP
330

ME price
From US$80,300

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