Volkswagen Phaeton MPG by year — every rating on record
The Volkswagen Phaeton has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 3 model years, from 2004 to 2006. Across those years its best rated version returned 16 mpg (2004) and its thirstiest returned 13 mpg (2004). The EPA record holds 6 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Large Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 2 | 16 mpg | 13 mpg | #33 of 41 (20th pct) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars |
| 2005 | 2 | 16 mpg | 13 mpg | #34 of 42 (20th pct) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars |
| 2006 | 2 | 16 mpg | 13 mpg | #38 of 49 (23th pct) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Volkswagen Phaeton placed highest in 2004 at #33 of 41, and lowest in 2006 at #38 of 49. It spent 0 of its 3 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 6 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 6.0L 12-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium | 6.0L 12-cyl | 11 | 17 | 13 | 884.6 | 22.9 | $5,950 | 683.6153846153846 | n/a |
| 2006 | 4.2L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 4.2L 8-cyl | 14 | 21 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $4,850 | 555.4375 | n/a |
| 2005 | 6.0L 12-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium | 6.0L 12-cyl | 11 | 17 | 13 | 884.6 | 22.9 | $5,950 | 683.6153846153846 | n/a |
| 2005 | 4.2L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 4.2L 8-cyl | 14 | 21 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $4,850 | 555.4375 | n/a |
| 2004 | 6.0L 12-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium | 6.0L 12-cyl | 11 | 17 | 13 | 884.6 | 22.9 | $5,950 | 683.6153846153846 | n/a |
| 2004 | 4.2L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 4.2L 8-cyl | 14 | 21 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $4,850 | 555.4375 | n/a |
What Phaeton fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2006 Volkswagen Phaeton burns 719 to 885 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $2,156 | $2,654 | $498 |
| $3.50/gal | $2,516 | $3,096 | $581 |
| $4.00/gal | $2,875 | $3,538 | $663 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2006 model year is $4,850 to $5,950 a year in fuel, or $13,000 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Large Cars
Across the 305 nameplates EPA classifies as Large Cars, the median best combined rating is 21 mpg. At 16 mpg the Volkswagen Phaeton is 5 mpg below the median, which is worth about $599 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Large Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Volkswagen nameplates
Every Volkswagen model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.