Volkswagen Phaeton — Generations, Specs & Review

Which Volkswagen Phaeton Version Should You Buy?

The Volkswagen Phaeton version to choose depends chiefly on whether you prioritize fuel consumption, acceleration, or the lowest kerb weight. Among the listed cars, the 3.0 AT Diesel combines up to 500 Nm with combined consumption as low as 8.5 l/100 km. The 4.2 AT Gasoline cuts the 0–100 km/h time to 6.9 seconds, while the 6.0 AT Gasoline reaches up to 450 hp and 560 Nm but uses 14.5–15.6 l/100 km combined. The lightest listed option is the original 3.2 MT at 1,995 kg; it is also the only Manual and FWD combination in the data. All versions are Sedans, and the catalogue divides the model into an original production phase and two restylings spanning March 2002 through March 2016.

Volkswagen Phaeton generations and restylings

The original 1 generation ran from March 2002 to March 2007. The database records 21 modifications and shows 12 of them. Its selection is the broadest of the three phases: 3.0 AT Diesel, 3.2 AT and 3.2 MT Gasoline versions, plus 3.6 AT, 4.2 AT, and 6.0 AT Gasoline alternatives. Most are AWD, but the listed 3.2 MT and one listed 3.2 AT are FWD.

The 1 generation, restyling ran from March 2007 to March 2010 as a Sedan with 10 listed modifications. Its engine range comprises 3.0 AT Diesel and 3.6 AT, 4.2 AT, and 6.0 AT Gasoline versions. Every listed modification uses an Automatic gearbox and AWD.

The 1 generation, restyling 2 ran from April 2010 to March 2016 as a Sedan with eight listed modifications. It retained the same four version names—3.0 AT, 3.6 AT, 4.2 AT, and 6.0 AT—with Automatic gearboxes and AWD throughout the listed range.

Volkswagen Phaeton engine specs and horsepower

Repeated version names are separated below by production phase, power, and—where the data contains otherwise distinct entries—other recorded specifications. Displacement is stated exactly in cubic centimetres so that similar names do not conceal different engine sizes.

Production phase and exact version	Power	Torque	Displacement	Fuel	Cylinders and layout	Boost	Gearbox	Drive
Original 3.2 AT, AWD	241 hp	315 Nm	3,189 cc	Gasoline	6, V low angle	No	5-speed Automatic	AWD
Original 6.0 AT, 450 hp/560 Nm	450 hp	560 Nm	5,998 cc	Gasoline	12, W-shaped	No	5-speed Automatic	AWD
Original 3.2 MT	241 hp	315 Nm	3,189 cc	Gasoline	6, V-shaped	No	6-speed Manual	FWD
Original 3.6 AT	280 hp	360 Nm	3,567 cc	Gasoline	6, V-shaped	No	6-speed Automatic	AWD
Original 4.2 AT	335 hp	430 Nm	4,172 cc	Gasoline	8, V-shaped	No	6-speed Automatic	AWD
Original 6.0 AT, 420 hp	420 hp	550 Nm	5,998 cc	Gasoline	12, W-shaped	No	5-speed Automatic	AWD
Original 6.0 AT, 450 hp/550 Nm	450 hp	550 Nm	5,998 cc	Gasoline	12, W-shaped	No	5-speed Automatic	AWD
Original 3.0 AT, 225 hp	225 hp	450 Nm	2,967 cc	Diesel	6, V-shaped	Turbo	6-speed Automatic	AWD
Original 3.0 AT, 233 hp	233 hp	450 Nm	2,967 cc	Diesel	6, V-shaped	Turbo	6-speed Automatic	AWD
Original 3.0 AT, 240 hp	240 hp	500 Nm	2,967 cc	Diesel	6, V-shaped	Turbo	6-speed Automatic	AWD
Original 3.2 AT, FWD	241 hp	315 Nm	3,189 cc	Gasoline	6, V-shaped	No	5-speed Automatic	FWD
Original 3.2 AT, AWD Euro 4	241 hp	315 Nm	3,189 cc	Gasoline	6, V-shaped	No	5-speed Automatic	AWD
Restyling 3.0 AT, 240 hp	240 hp	499 Nm	2,967 cc	Diesel	6, V-shaped	Turbo	6-speed Automatic	AWD
Restyling 3.0 AT, 245 hp	245 hp	500 Nm	2,967 cc	Diesel	6, V-shaped	Turbo	6-speed Automatic	AWD
Restyling 3.6 AT, 3,567 cc	280 hp	360 Nm	3,567 cc	Gasoline	6, V-shaped	No	6-speed Automatic	AWD
Restyling 4.2 AT, first entry	335 hp	430 Nm	4,172 cc	Gasoline	8, V-shaped	No	6-speed Automatic	AWD
Restyling 6.0 AT, first entry	450 hp	550 Nm	5,998 cc	Gasoline	12, W-shaped	No	5-speed Automatic	AWD
Restyling 3.0 AT, 240 hp duplicate entry	240 hp	499 Nm	2,967 cc	Diesel	6, V-shaped	Turbo	6-speed Automatic	AWD
Restyling 3.0 AT, 245 hp second entry	245 hp	500 Nm	2,967 cc	Diesel	6, V-shaped	Turbo	6-speed Automatic	AWD
Restyling 4.2 AT, second entry	335 hp	430 Nm	4,172 cc	Gasoline	8, V-shaped	No	6-speed Automatic	AWD
Restyling 3.6 AT, 3,597 cc	280 hp	370 Nm	3,597 cc	Gasoline	6, V-shaped	No	6-speed Automatic	AWD
Restyling 6.0 AT, second entry	450 hp	560 Nm	5,998 cc	Gasoline	12, W-shaped	No	5-speed Automatic	AWD
Restyling 2 3.6 AT, first entry	280 hp	360 Nm	3,567 cc	Gasoline	6, V-shaped	No	6-speed Automatic	AWD
Restyling 2 4.2 AT, first entry	335 hp	430 Nm	4,172 cc	Gasoline	8, V-shaped	No	6-speed Automatic	AWD
Restyling 2 6.0 AT, first entry	450 hp	550 Nm	5,998 cc	Gasoline	12, W-shaped	No	5-speed Automatic	AWD
Restyling 2 3.0 AT, first entry	240 hp	499 Nm	2,967 cc	Diesel	6, V-shaped	Turbo	6-speed Automatic	AWD
Restyling 2 3.6 AT, second entry	280 hp	360 Nm	3,567 cc	Gasoline	6, V-shaped	No	6-speed Automatic	AWD
Restyling 2 4.2 AT, second entry	335 hp	430 Nm	4,172 cc	Gasoline	8, V-shaped	No	6-speed Automatic	AWD
Restyling 2 6.0 AT, second entry	450 hp	550 Nm	5,998 cc	Gasoline	12, W-shaped	No	5-speed Automatic	AWD
Restyling 2 3.0 AT, second entry	240 hp	499 Nm	2,967 cc	Diesel	6, V-shaped	Turbo	6-speed Automatic	AWD

Power per litre helps explain what each engine delivers for its size. The 2,967 cc 3.0 AT Diesel produces approximately 75.8 hp/litre at 225 hp, 78.5 hp/litre at 233 hp, 80.9 hp/litre at 240 hp, and 82.6 hp/litre at 245 hp. The 3,189 cc 3.2 AT and 3.2 MT produce approximately 75.6 hp/litre. The 3.6 AT versions produce approximately 78.5 hp/litre with 3,567 cc and 77.8 hp/litre with 3,597 cc. The 4,172 cc 4.2 AT reaches approximately 80.3 hp/litre, while the 5,998 cc 6.0 AT produces approximately 70.0 hp/litre at 420 hp or 75.0 hp/litre at 450 hp.

Volkswagen Phaeton performance and mpg

For the original phase, the 3.2 MT records 8.4 seconds to 100 km/h, 245 km/h, and consumption of 16.1 l/100 km city, 8.7 highway, and 11.4 combined. The FWD 3.2 AT takes 9.2 seconds, reaches 242 km/h, and records 17.1 city, 9.3 highway, and 12.1 combined. The AWD 3.2 AT with the V low angle layout takes 9.7 seconds, reaches 239 km/h, and records 17.4 city, 8.9 highway, and 12.1 combined.

The original 3.0 AT Diesel options become stronger as output rises. The 225 hp version records 8.8 seconds, 234 km/h, and 12.9/7.7/9.6 l/100 km city/highway/combined. The 233 hp version records 8.7 seconds, 236 km/h, and 12.9/7.7/9.4. The 240 hp version records 8.9 seconds, 234 km/h, and 12.8/8.1/9.7. On these figures, the 233 hp 3.0 AT is both quicker and more economical than the 225 hp version, whereas the listed 240 hp car does not improve either measure.

The original 4.2 AT reaches 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and 250 km/h, with consumption of 18.9/9.6/13.0 l/100 km. The 420 hp 6.0 AT also takes 6.1 seconds but reaches 285 km/h and records 23.9/10.9/15.6. The original 450 hp 6.0 AT entries take 6.1 seconds; their listed consumption is 21.2/10.5/14.5. A separate 450 hp, 560 Nm entry also records 250 km/h and 14.5 l/100 km combined. Converting 0–100 km/h results into 0–60 mph times is not measured in the supplied data.

During the first restyling, the 240 hp and 245 hp 3.0 AT Diesel versions both take 8.6 seconds and consume 11.6/6.7/8.5 l/100 km. Their top speeds are 237 and 238 km/h respectively, so the extra 5 hp and 1 Nm buy a 1 km/h increase in the recorded maximum, with no recorded acceleration or consumption gain. The 3.6 AT entries take 8.6 or 8.9 seconds and consume 11.4 l/100 km combined. Every 4.2 AT records 6.9 seconds and 12.5 combined, while the 6.0 AT records 6.1 or 6.3 seconds and 14.5 combined. Top speed for each listed restyled Gasoline version is 250 km/h.

Restyling 2 preserves the same performance pattern. The 3.0 AT Diesel records 8.6 seconds, 237 km/h, and 11.6/6.7/8.5 l/100 km. The two 3.6 AT entries record 8.6 and 8.9 seconds, with 11.4 combined. Both 4.2 AT entries record 6.9 seconds and 12.5 combined. The 6.0 AT entries record 6.1 and 6.3 seconds, with 14.5 combined. Against the 3.0 AT Diesel, the 4.2 AT saves 1.7 seconds to 100 km/h but uses 4.0 l/100 km more combined; the quickest 6.0 AT saves 2.5 seconds but uses 6.0 l/100 km more.

Volkswagen Phaeton weight, dimensions, and tank

Overall body length, width, height, and wheelbase are not measured in the supplied data. Wheel sizes are also not measured for every listed version. The available dimensional comparison is therefore limited to kerb weight, gross weight, ground clearance, and fuel-tank capacity.

Every listed Volkswagen Phaeton has a 90-litre tank. Recorded ground clearance ranges from 120 to 145 mm. Original versions list 120 or 145 mm; first-restyling entries list 120 or 140 mm, with one 3.0 AT entry not measured; and all Restyling 2 entries list 120 mm.

The original 3.2 MT and FWD 3.2 AT are the lightest listed cars at 1,995 kg kerb weight and 2,600 kg gross weight. At 241 hp, each carries approximately 8.28 kg per horsepower. The original 4.2 AT weighs 2,205 kg, or approximately 6.58 kg/hp. The original 420 hp 6.0 AT weighs 2,300 kg, or approximately 5.48 kg/hp, while an original 450 hp 6.0 AT at the same kerb weight improves that ratio to approximately 5.11 kg/hp.

Among first-restyling entries, the 3.6 AT ranges from 2,154 to 2,173 kg, the 4.2 AT from 2,182 to 2,201 kg, and the 6.0 AT from 2,300 to 2,359 kg. The 3.0 AT Diesel spans 2,252 to 2,325 kg. Restyling 2 ranges from 2,154 kg for a 3.6 AT to 2,433 kg for a 6.0 AT. At those listed weights, the 280 hp 3.6 AT has approximately 7.69 kg/hp, the 335 hp 4.2 AT at 2,182 kg has approximately 6.51 kg/hp, and the 450 hp 6.0 AT at 2,300 kg has approximately 5.11 kg/hp.

Volkswagen Phaeton reliability, problems, price, and cars for sale

Reliability results, problem records, repair costs, prices, and sale listings are not measured in the supplied data. They therefore cannot distinguish one version from another here. The same applies to a hypothetical Volkswagen Phaeton 2026: the latest production stop in the data is March 2016. A V10 TDI version is not present in the supplied modifications, so its horsepower, weight, performance, and consumption are not measured here. Comparisons with an Audi A8 are also not possible because no Audi A8 data is supplied.

Which Volkswagen Phaeton version to choose

Choose the 3.0 AT Diesel if consumption is the priority. The restyled 240 hp and 245 hp versions deliver 499–500 Nm and 8.5 l/100 km combined. Compared with the 335 hp 4.2 AT at 12.5 combined, they save 4.0 l/100 km, although the 4.2 AT reaches 100 km/h 1.7 seconds sooner. Between the two first-restyling Diesels, the 245 hp version offers only 5 hp, 1 Nm, and 1 km/h more, while both retain the same 8.6-second acceleration and consumption figures.

Choose the original 3.2 MT if low kerb weight, Manual transmission, and FWD matter most. Its 1,995 kg kerb weight is 90 kg below the lightest listed original AWD 3.2 AT and 305 kg below a 2,300 kg original 6.0 AT. Its 8.4-second acceleration is also 0.8 second quicker than the listed FWD 3.2 AT, while combined consumption falls from 12.1 to 11.4 l/100 km.

Choose the 4.2 AT when the goal is a middle position between Diesel economy and W-shaped 12-cylinder performance. Its 335 hp and 430 Nm produce a consistent 6.9-second result. Against a 450 hp 6.0 AT recording 6.1 seconds, it gives away 115 hp and 120 Nm but saves 2.0 l/100 km in combined consumption and can be 118 kg lighter when comparing the 2,182 kg and 2,300 kg entries.

Choose the 6.0 AT for the strongest listed output and quickest recorded acceleration. Its peak figures are 450 hp and 560 Nm, and the best listed 0–100 km/h time is 6.1 seconds. The trade-off is explicit: combined consumption is 14.5–15.6 l/100 km, and kerb weight reaches as much as 2,433 kg. For buyers comparing the two later production phases, Restyling 2 changes little in the headline performance figures; the decision should therefore rest on the exact engine entry, kerb weight, ground clearance, and consumption recorded for the individual 3.0 AT, 3.6 AT, 4.2 AT, or 6.0 AT.