There are flagship sedans, and then there is the Rolls-Royce Phantom. The almost-half-a-million-dollars base price, extremely exclusive features and design options, and imposing size make it an unforgettable car. While it’s possible to buy a used Rolls on a dealer’s lot, the automaker doesn’t just “make cars.” Its buyers are involved in every step of the process, from the paint color selection to interior materials, making a completely bespoke car in the process.

What’s New for the 2023 Rolls-Royce Phantom

The Phantom got a subtle facelift for 2023, which brought updates to the grille and headlights, new wheel designs, and a new coach-built model with exclusive paint and interior materials, such as hand-stitched silk.

Design

Like all Rolls-Royce models, the Phantom is completely customizable from top to bottom. That means user-selected paint colors, wheel designs, and trim options. The car has reverse-opening rear doors, and its imposing size gives it a stately look, even when it’s sitting still. Its front end features the brand’s signature “Spirit of Ecstasy” hood ornament, a large, upright grille, and slim LED headlights.

Powertrain

The Phantom comes with a twin-turbocharged 6.75-liter V12 engine making 563 horsepower. An eight-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive (RWD) come standard, and while the car can run a solid low-five-second zero-60-mph time, it’s much more of a luxury cruiser than a sports sedan. Air suspension and adaptive dampers are standard and scan the road several times per second to detect imperfections.

Interior

Phantom buyers have a near-unlimited number of customization options for the interior, including a range of leathers and accent materials, colors, and lighting features. The car is available with unique art-inspired painting and graphics inside, including on the dash, where owners can opt for almost any artwork of their dreams. The rear-opening doors make gracefully entering and exiting the car a breeze, and the back seats have a champagne refrigerator, massaging functionality, and more.

Technology

The Phantom comes with a large infotainment screen and digital gauge cluster that bring desirable features like Apple CarPlay. It also offers rear touchscreens with audio and climate settings, and there’s a TV tuner for live entertainment on the go. Though it's built by BMW, Rolls uses its own software and infotainment interface. The Phantom’s display is a non-touch system, requiring a rotary dial to control.

Safety

Nobody wants to pay to crash test a $400,000-plus Rolls-Royce, so the Phantom is not subjected to the typical safety evaluations. That said, it comes with a decent list of standard safety tech, including forward collision warnings, lane-departure warnings, adaptive cruise control, and more.

Pricing

Pricing for the 2023 Rolls-Royce Phantom starts at a little more than $450,000 and climbs to almost $700,000 in the Bespoke trim. Of course, those are just starting prices, and most buyers add significant upgrades that can drive the price much higher.