FEW luxury saloons offer the sophisticated elegance and seemingly timeless styling that the Volkswagen Phaeton does.

It simply exudes quality engineering and it seems VW has left no stone unturned in its quest to deliver sublime comfort and the ultimate driving experience.

The long wheel base version of the Phaeton is extremely lengthy - 5,179mm in fact - and that extra space means that rear seat passengers can truly stretch out in style.

And if you are being chauffeured, the ride quality in the back is excellent with every bump and dip absorbed along the way. There are individual climate control settings, heated seats with massage function along with window blinds for extra privacy.

It's not too shabby up front either. The fine leather seats can be adjusted electrically in 18 ways and offer heating, cooling, massaging and memory settings.

VW has incorporated the finest materials to create a premium cabin environment such as the eucalyptus wood trim, sensitive leather upholstery and air vents that revolve away into the wooden dashboard when not in use.

There are techno treats galore to be explored such as the 12-speaker sound system, eight-inch colour touchscreen with sat nav, DAB radio, CD auto-changer, Bluetooth, multi device interface with USB and iPod cables, rear-view camera, cruise control, 4Zone electronic climate control and plenty more besides.

The car looks sleek from every approach thanks to its smooth streamlining, sweeping light clusters and 18-inch alloys. But it's once you sit behind the multi-function steering wheel that it's impossible not to be impressed with the craftsmanship and technology that surrounds you.

Light floods into the car via the electric glass sunroof and the all-round comfort levels are truly superb.

Despite its size, the Phaeton is actually quite agile and easy to manoeuvre, although a larger-than-life parking space will be essential and the nose or tail will poke out from any standard length parking bay. But in all honesty, that's a small price to pay for all the extra interior space and comfort.

Luggage limitations will never apply either as the large boot - which is opened or closed automatically - can cater for 500 litres worth of storage.

And when it comes to power and performance, the Phaeton definitely lives up to any high expectations.

The 3.0-litre diesel engine delivers all the power you could wish for and the six-speed automatic gearbox is beautifully smooth and responsive. In fact, this car can sprint to 62mph in just 8.6 seconds with a top speed of 147mph.

The road-holding is flawless and there is a lack of any road surface or engine noise within the cabin.

The car has a whole range of safety features along with VW's 4MOTION four-wheel-drive system which will help keep you moving in all driving conditions.

Admittedly, the Phaeton is not cheap - the test car started at £57,305 but with optional extras, that price-tag rose to £65,340. But it's worth taking into consideration it is competing in the luxury saloon market where prices are generally at the higher end of the scale.

All in all, the Phaeton is a beautifully sculpted car that offers excellent comfort and handling capabilities. It may not have all the razzmatazz of some luxury saloons, but it's packed with quality and has a certain sophisticated edge to it that many others lack.