Car Report: The Rolls-Royce Ghost is a driveable sedan at the height of luxury

The Ghost is the least expensive way to drive a Rolls-Royce sedan. It has a starting price of $315,000. But there are many options and packages to choose from, and my test car clocked in at an eye-popping $428,900.

While you might think the Rolls-Royce is a better car to be driven around in as a passenger, that’s not the case with the Ghost, which provides an exquisite driving experience.

While a large car, the Ghost is smaller than other Rolls-Royce sedans, making driving easier overall. It takes a few minutes to get used to the light steering and larger size, and you sit up higher than a normal sedan.

While large, the Ghost is no slouch thanks to a twin-turbo V12 engine with 563 horsepower.

Nothing else really has the same presence as a Rolls-Royce, and even the smaller Ghost stands out in the crowd. This Rolls is still a large car and sits high with a taller roof line.

The car is long and the coach doors with the front and rear door handles close together as a focal point.

Large 21-inch wheels adorn the sedan and the center cap with RR always stays upright.

Rolls-Royce allows you to customize most of the car. Paint color like the $20,700 Iced Selby Grey with an iced clearcoat does especially well in making a statement.

The rear doors are “coach” style, so they open opposite of the usual way. Power door closers allow you shut the door from inside the car.

I would like to say, “crazy, who would dare?” — because of that asking price. But I really can’t, since the interior is simply exquisite — only the best materials are used.

Leather covers the seats, dash, door panels and the center console. The interior came with three colors. The primary color was a Selby Grey with black as the secondary color and lastly, Consort Red which plays as a beautiful trim color on parts of the dash and steering wheel.

What is not covered in leather is covered in Smoked Chestnut wood and aluminum trim pieces.

Even the radio pre-select buttons are glass and not plastic.

You don’t really hear anything from inside the car. No wind, road or tire noise spoil the serenity.

The suspension soaks up almost every road imperfection and bump without notice, only the bumpiest of bumps slightly intrude.

The Ghost isn’t a sports car in the curves, its larger size and heavier weight means it’s happier being driven in a gentler fashion. I sure didn’t care to push it as I soaked up the special feeling this car gives you from behind the wheel.

This Rolls-Royce also comes equipped with useful tech: The night vision with object recognition warned me about a deer in the way that I couldn’t see.

The Ghost’s interior is hand-crafted by some of the best in the business, and it shows. The interior rises to the next level with several options packages. The most eye-catching is the $15,725 Rolls-Royce Signature Package that adds a Starlight Headliner, making it appear like a star-lit night above your head. It also includes the plushest floor mats made of lamb’s wool.

The back seats have the $8,000 individual configuration, so they operate independently and you can sit or lounge in ultimate comfort.

I think Rolls-Royce was the originator of the larger front grill — it’s bright and rich-looking, made of metal with not a piece of plastic in sight.

The heritage of the brand is there, but the look is modern with LED lighting that gives a somewhat sleek front face. The hood is long and the Spirit of Ecstasy is front-and-center and retracts when parked or with a touch of a button.

There is also a rear compartment cool box that keeps beverages chilled. Trunk space isn’t as big as you would expect for a car of this size and the middle back seat isn’t very comfortable, but that just about rounds out my nitpicks.

The Rolls-Royce Ghost is that ultimate statement luxury car for drivers. Its hand-made luxurious interior, combining power and technology, make a special experience for those who demand nothing but the best.