2019 Rolls-Royce Ghost Promises Unparalleled Serenity on The Move

By A.Giron | November 7, 2019

Rolls-Royce is known for building sturdy, luxurious vehicles for the ultrawealthy, and the Ghost is an entry-level vehicle for those who have perhaps made it to that esteemed crowd status. The Ghost intentionally retains that same old-world charm that many people love about the brand that still refers to its luxury vehicles as “motor cars.” 

While largely based on the entry-level BMW 7 Series that DNA is almost unrecognizable in the 2019 Ghost except for the iDrive infotainment system, which fortunately can be hidden away by pressing a button. So, there are no components being shared between both vehicles, and fortunately both cars don’t drive the same either. The 2019 Ghost is more comfortable, smoother, and offers a surreal experience, unlike the term “beast” used to best describes the 7 Series. 

How Does it Feel on The Road? 

When you are in the market for almost any other luxury vehicle, you get to choose from diesel, hybrids and engine capacities. However, just about every 2019 Rolls Royce Ghost has a 6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine that produces 563bhp with the only the Black Badge model producing 603bhp. 

While the Ghost is large, looks gigantic, and hard to maneuver, it is a pleasure to drive. It starts up smoothly, whirs over with a purr and settles comfortably into a good idle. Shift it into drive, using the gear selector on the steering column, and you’re off to a wonderful drive without the vehicle feeling the least bit strained. 

While built for luxury, the 2019 Ghost has a decent kick to it. The Ghost delivers an impressive 0-62mph in just 4.9sec. The only time you will hear the engine growl, albeit muted, is when you go past 4000rpm. Anything under that, even at 70mph is soundless, and we mean that literally! 

The eight-speed automatic transitions from one gear to the next without the slightest hesitation. That feat is achieved in part by the car’s ability to use the onboard GPS to choose an appropriate gear. However, we did manage to hear a slight thud when we hit the breaks hard in stop-start traffic. 

Around corners, the Ghost feels nimble, but it’s a large vehicle, and you’ll still have to be careful with it. However, to us it felt much more agile than the S-Class or the 7 Series. The ghost is also more ponderous and responds immediately. The ultra-light steering is accurate and direct, which makes entering corners a breeze and parking isn’t as cumbersome as most people who haven’t driven it assume. 

The only drawback of the driving experience is the vibrations and slight kickbacks you feel when driving over bad surfaces. It’s something that you wouldn’t expect in an ultra-luxury vehicle. On the other hand, the Ghost is so well insulated that you don’t hear road noise, wind, tire noise, or anything else happening on the outside. 

Interior Design, Finish and Our Impression of It 

The 2019 Ghost’s interior offers a nostalgic design made possible with the underpinnings of modern technology. It’s opulent, and we wouldn’t expect anything less but layered with art deco style instruments, a rotary control for the heater, thin-rimmed steering wheel and large bullseye air vents all appear to have been borrowed from the classic 1970s Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II. 

Step inside, and it is hard not to miss the glossy polished, expertly stitched, wood veneers, and soft-touch lavalina leather. The Ghost’s interior is without a doubt in a class of its own, and it makes the Bentley Flying Spur look cheap in comparison. 

However, everything chrome on the inside isn’t metal, and there is a fair bit of plastic, which includes the bullseye vents. However, they in no way feel cheap but instead add diversity to the interior. 

The iDrive infotainment system, along with the shortcut buttons and the rotary controller is easy to operate and feels slick. It is even better than the Flying Spur and the S-Class’s Comand touchscreen. If you don’t need the screen, press a button, and it disappears behind a veneer. 

Coping with Passengers

Sitting in the front, and it is not hard to notice that there is more than enough leg and headroom. There is also enormous width in the interior with a center armrest that feels soft and yet sturdy. However, passengers too can flex their elbows on the armrest in the back. But that’s just the beginning!

Swing open those unusual looking suicide doors and getting in is very easy. Even the standard model feels more than spacious for two very tall adults who can sit comfortably. That said, we were easily able to fit three young men around 6ft tall. The only drawback is that the person in the middle is robbed of some headroom because of the shape of the electrically adjustable outer seats. 

If you are going to spend most of the time in the back, we’d recommend that you get the Ghost with an extended wheelbase. Having an extended wheelbase will not just enable you to sit more comfortably but also stretch and lounge. 

Over to the boot and here too, you get a good amount of space that will comfortably accommodate a few luxury size suitcases. However, there is no option to extend the volume of the boot by folding down the rear seats. Then again, this vehicle is designed for people who will mostly be chauffeured, so that’s not an option. 

Final Verdict 

The 2019 Rolls Royce Ghost is an ultraluxury vehicle done right with each iteration. So, the 2019 model is as you’d imagine just as good if not better than the previous ones. It is also much better than most other competing luxury vehicles but also costs more. However, the real charm of buying a Ghost is the ability to customize it with various bespoke options. These options vary from interior leather colors to different stains for the polished veneers. You can also choose the starlight roof lining that uses dozens of engineered fiber optic lights to give it a night sky effect. So, if you want to buy the most luxurious vehicle that money can buy, then Ghost is your best bet. It is hands down the best of the best out there!  

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