- Newest year: 2006
- Gas
- Large cars
- Same as 2005
2004-2006 Volkswagen Phaeton MPG & Fuel Cost
3 model years · 13–16 MPG combined
15,000 mi/yr · premium gasoline $5.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026)
Cheaper to fuel than 1 of 10 large car configurations, MY2006. Ranked against all rated configurations, not sales-weighted.
2004-2006 Volkswagen Phaeton at a glance
The 2004-2006 Volkswagen Phaeton covers 3 model years in the EPA database (6 configurations in all), rated 13–16 MPG combined. The newest model year, 2006, costs about $5,020 a year to fuel for its most efficient version, the Phaeton 4.2L 8-cyl 4WD (16 MPG), at premium gasoline $5.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026). EPA lists identical ratings for every model year of this generation.
EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.
2004-2006 Volkswagen Phaeton by model year
What the 2006 Phaeton 4.2L 8-cyl 4WD costs to drive
Per month
$418
$5,020 a year ÷ 12
Per 25 miles
$8.37
Per 100 miles
$33.47
Five years
$25,100
5 × the yearly cost, prices held at today's level
vs the large car median
$1,390more a year
Class median $3,630 a year, MY2006
Based on 15,000 miles a year and premium gasoline $5.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026).
2006 Volkswagen Phaeton MPG
EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.
EPA lists the same ratings for the 2006 Volkswagen Phaeton as for the 2005 model, so the configurations and costs are the ones in the 2005 section above.See 2005
Gas configurations (2)
| Trim | Engine | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phaeton 4.2L 8-cyl (Most efficient) | 4.2L 8-cyl | 4WD | 14 | 21 | 16 | $5,020 |
| Phaeton 6.0L 12-cyl | 6.0L 12-cyl | 4WD | 11 | 17 | 13 | $6,180 |
2 configurations require or recommend higher-octane gasoline and are costed at premium gasoline $5.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026).
2005 Volkswagen Phaeton MPG
Same EPA ratings as 2004
EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.
EPA lists the same ratings for the 2005 Volkswagen Phaeton as for the 2004 model, so the configurations and costs are the ones in the 2004 section above.See 2004
2004 Volkswagen Phaeton MPG
13–16 MPG · $5,020–$6,180/yr
EPA re-estimated ratings of 1985-2007 vehicles under its 2008 method; these figures are the re-estimated values.
Gas configurations (2)
| Trim | Engine | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phaeton 4.2L 8-cyl (Most efficient) | 4.2L 8-cyl | 4WD | 14 | 21 | 16 | $5,020 |
| Phaeton 6.0L 12-cyl | 6.0L 12-cyl | 4WD | 11 | 17 | 13 | $6,180 |
2 configurations require or recommend higher-octane gasoline and are costed at premium gasoline $5.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026).
Fuel cost by state
Yearly cost of the Phaeton 4.2L 8-cyl 4WD: $5,990 in California and $4,350 in Texas, a $1,640 difference.
- California $5,990
- Washington $5,630
- New York $4,960
- Florida $4,590
- Texas $4,350
Similar cars
Closest combined MPG among MY2006 large car models.
Generations
- 2004-2006
Frequently asked questions
What gas mileage does the 2004-2006 Volkswagen Phaeton get?
EPA rates the 2004-2006 Volkswagen Phaeton at 13–16 MPG combined across 6 configurations and 3 model years. The most efficient version, the 2006 Phaeton 4.2L 8-cyl 4WD, is rated 16 MPG (14 city, 21 highway).
Which years had the best MPG in the 2004-2006 Volkswagen Phaeton?
Every model year of the 2004-2006 Volkswagen Phaeton tops out at 16 MPG combined, so no year is better than another.
Did EPA ratings change during the 2004-2006 Volkswagen Phaeton?
No. EPA lists the same ratings for every model year from 2004 to 2006.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2006 Volkswagen Phaeton per year?
Driving 15,000 miles a year at premium gasoline $5.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026), the Phaeton 4.2L 8-cyl 4WD costs about $5,020 a year. Across all 2 configurations the cost runs $5,020–$6,180 a year. That is a $1,160 difference between the cheapest and the costliest configuration.
How much does it cost to drive a 2006 Volkswagen Phaeton 100 miles?
About $33.47 per 100 miles for the Phaeton 4.2L 8-cyl 4WD at premium gasoline $5.36/gal (U.S. average, Sep 2026), and between $33.47 and $41.20 across all configurations. That is the annual cost over 15,000 miles divided by 150.
Is the 2006 Volkswagen Phaeton more efficient in the city or on the highway?
The Phaeton 4.2L 8-cyl 4WD is rated 14 city and 21 highway MPG, so it is more efficient on the highway, by 7 MPG.
How does the 2006 Volkswagen Phaeton compare with other large car configurations?
The Phaeton 4.2L 8-cyl 4WD costs about $5,020 a year to fuel, $1,390 more than the class median of $3,630, and less than 1 of 10 large car configurations. The comparison covers all 73 rated large car configurations for MY2006, not weighted by sales.
Is the 2006 Volkswagen Phaeton different from the 2005 model?
No. EPA lists the same ratings for 2005 and 2006: 2 configurations rated 13–16 MPG combined. See the 2005 Volkswagen Phaeton for that year.