Volkswagen Phaeton 2002–2007 car dimensions: 5055 mm long, 1903 mm wide and 1450 mm high. Unladen weight is 1,995 kg. Braked towing is 2,500 kg.
The cabin has standard 4Zone Climatronic climate control for independent temperatures in four zones with air quality and humidity sensors plus draught-free vents. Cruise control is standard on the multifunction steering wheel. Ultrasonic parking sensors front and rear give optical and audible warnings as standard. The infotainment system includes a standard 7-inch colour screen for navigation, audio and climate settings. A reversing camera was available on some later grades in the generation.
Boot space is 500 litres with the rear seats in place. The load area has chrome lashing points and the lid can open and close electrically on higher grades.
Braked towing capacity reaches 2500 kg on a 12 percent incline with unbraked at 750 kg and towbar load limit of 100 kg. Payload varies by engine and specification around 400 kg. Air suspension with auto-levelling is standard for load carrying and ride control.
The cabin uses leather with wood and chrome accents, four-zone Climatronic climate control that works draught-free via indirect vents, and multi-adjust power seats. Lower models get 12-way front seats with heat and lumbar. higher grades and packages add 18-way seats with ventilation through perforated leather, massage, and memory. Rear seats gain heat, ventilation and massage in four-seat packs. A glass tilt-slide sunroof is available, standard on long-wheelbase versions. The space feels generous with quiet laminated glass and air suspension smoothing the ride.
Fuel tank holds 90 litres. official combined figures vary by engine around the mid-teens l/100 km range.
LongLife flexible service regime standard, with intervals from roughly 9,000-20,000 miles or 12-24 months depending on use.
No Euro NCAP or full NHTSA star ratings published for the generation.
Standard safety includes dual front airbags, front and rear side airbags, side curtain airbags, active front head restraints, ESP, ABS with brake assist, tyre pressure monitoring and 4MOTION all-wheel drive.
Engines range from V6 petrol and diesel through V8 and W12 petrol plus V10 TDI, all paired with automatic transmissions and permanent 4MOTION all-wheel drive. Official fuel use sits in the luxury-sedan band for the era, with a 90-litre tank supporting long ranges on the highway.
Servicing follows Volkswagen’s LongLife system. The car monitors conditions and displays the next interval on the instrument panel, typically allowing up to two years or around 30,000 km between oil services when using approved oil, or fixed shorter intervals if preferred. Three-year/60,000-mile warranty cover was offered new, plus longer paint and corrosion protection.
Safety kit centres on a rigid high-strength steel passenger cell, multiple airbags covering front, side and curtain protection, crash-active front head restraints, ESP stability control, ABS with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, plus tyre-pressure monitoring. All-wheel drive and four-corner air suspension with adjustable damping add active control. No official crash-test star ratings appear in public records for this generation.
Living with the car means budgeting for complex air-suspension and electronics upkeep plus specialist parts availability. Full service history is essential. the LongLife regime and onboard diagnostics help keep intervals efficient when the car is driven as intended.
Length 5055 mm, Width 1903 mm, Height 1450 mm, Wheelbase 2881 mm (Phaeton 2002–2007)
Sources: manufacturer data, VW Phaeton 2002 UK brochure, carexpert.ru and autoevolution, UK brochures.