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Exotic car; Built in England
  • 4-door sedan
  • 4-door sedan
  • longitudinal front-engine/rear-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $NA – $NA*


2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost Front


2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost Rear


2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost Interior


2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost Profile


2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost Front-2

Pros:
  • Interior materials
  • Quietness
  • Ride
Cons:
  • Fuel economy
  • Maneuverability

Rolls-Royce’s Ghost lacks the sporty character of big sedans from Bentley or Mercedes-Benz, but trumps both with near-absolute cabin isolation. We prefer the Bentley’s special blend of hustle and coddling, but well-heeled shoppers looking for extravagant cabin appointments and bank-vault quiet may find the Ghost to be just what they’re seeking.

Overview

First seen in concept form as the experimental 200EX (previously code-named RR4), the Ghost debuted in production form as a 2010 model. Borrowing the “Ghost” name from posh sedans of an earlier era, the 2010 four-door from this renowned British luxury-motorcar builder seated five and had rear-wheel drive. Although it had been billed as a smaller, “entry-level” companion to the larger Rolls-Royce Phantom Sedan, the Ghost was really more of a higher-performance offering. Though less formal in appearance, it was nevertheless meant to be instantly recognizable as a Roll-Royce. The Ghost aimed at buyers who intended to drive the vehicle themselves, as opposed to being chauffeured. Design work was inspired by contemporary furniture, architecture, and yachts, according to Rolls-Royce. Compared with the Phantom, the Ghost was shorter in wheelbase by about 11 inches and in overall length by 17, making it about half-a-foot longer than a Bentley Continental Flying Spur or Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan. Carried over from the bigger Phantom were rear-hinged rear doors. The sole powertrain was a 563-horsepower, turbocharged 6.6-liter V12 mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Available safety features included antilock braking, traction control, an antiskid system, front-side airbags, rear-side airbags, and curtain-side airbags. Unique paint, trim, and leather colors were available through Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke program that allows buyers to tailor the vehicle to their taste. Available features included a lane departure warning, active cruise control, head-up display, and an infrared night-vision camera. Ghosts rode on standard 19-inch tires. Sticker price for the 2010 Ghost was $245,000, and Rolls-Royce claimed 0-60 mph acceleration in a brisk 4.8 seconds.

Yearly Updates

2011 Ghost
Only slight changes marked the 2011 Rolls-Royce Ghost. Black cashmere headlining was now a no-cost option, and seat piping was available.
2012 Ghost
An extended-wheelbase model joined the original Rolls-Royce Ghost for 2012, adding 6.7 inches to both wheelbase and overall length. That extra length translated to greater rear-passenger legroom, and added $40,000 to the Ghost’s price.

Engines

longitudinal front-engine/rear-wheel drive

Each Ghost held a turbocharged 6.6-liter V12 engine that generated 563 horsepower, working with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Turbocharged dohc V12
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 6.6/403
Engine HP 563
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 575
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
8-speed automatic

 13/20

Road Test

Acceleration is strong from a stop, though the Ghost doesn’t leap off the line as strongly as its 563-horsepower rating might suggest. Once it’s moving, on the other hand, a Ghost builds speed with authority, with ample passing and merging reserves.

Consumer Guide has had no opportunity to measure fuel economy in real-world driving. EPA estimates were non-thrifty at 13-mpg city/20-mpg highway, but those figures are better than some top-end luxury sedans, including Rolls-Royce’s immense Phantom. All Rolls-Royce cars require premium-grade gasoline.

Few vehicles afford occupants greater isolation from road imperfections. Surprisingly, the rare major bump or rut can filter into the cabin with an alarming jolt.

With an emphasis on isolation, Ghost handles with a less-sporting nature than the Bentley Flying Spur. That said, despite its size and heft, Ghost never feels cumbersome. Quick stops can induce moderate nosedive.

A muted engine and nearly complete lack of wind and road noise combine for a library-like cabin environment. Only full-throttle acceleration will induce the engine to rise above a whisper, at which time the silky V12 sounds classy and refined.

Large gauges are plainly marked and easy to read at a glance. Unfortunately, the Ghost’s control system incorporates a variation of parent company BMW’s iDrive, complicating audio and navigation functions. Other controls are reasonably easy to identify and manipulate. Some testers have found the thin steering-column-mounted shifter awkward to manipulate, and out of character with Ghost’s otherwise solid, substantial feel. More sublime than immediately luxurious, the Ghost’s cabin is comprised of tasteful wood, real-metal bright accents, and top-notch leather, all put together with apparent attention to detail.

Ample front space and large, richly padded seats combine to create a driving environment that invites long-distance travel. Thick rear roof pillars complicate aft visibility.

Despite their appearance, the rear-hinged doors are not the boon to entry and exit that they might be, forcing passengers to shimmy slightly forward before sliding into the cabin. Once inside, however, occupants are coddled by deeply padded but supportive seats.

The large trunk is made more useful by a generous opening. Cabin storage is less impressive than the Ghost’s overall size might imply. A modest center console and decently large glovebox provide at least adequate stowage space.

Ratings

Model Tested: 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 8
80%
Fuel Economy - 2
20%
Ride Quality - 9
90%
Steering/Handling - 6
60%
Quietness - 10
100%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 7
70%
Room/Comfort Front - 10
100%
Room/Comfort Rear - 9
90%
Cargo Room - 4
40%

Other

Value - 4
40%

Total: 69

Specifications

4-door sedan
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
129.7 212.6 76.7 61
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
17.3 21.8 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
40.6 39 41.7 42.3
4-door sedan
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
136.4 219.3 76.7 61
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
17.3 21.8 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
40.6 39 41.7 49
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: N/A

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Front Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Rear Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

Recall History

2010-2011 Ghost Turbo
Description: Circuit board for the electric auxiliary water pump can overheat, leading to smoldering or a fire.
2012 Ghost
Description: Vehicles have 20-inch tires but tire information label says they are 19-inch tires.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on July 24, 2014.
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