2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe: MPG and fuel economy
The 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 14 combined MPG, with 11 MPG in the city and 18 MPG on the highway. That lands well below the average for cars in the Compact Cars class in the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- Returns 34% worse combined MPG than the average car in the Compact Cars class for the 2009 model year (21.2 MPG class average).
- The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 2009 model year is the Honda Civic Hybrid at 42 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $14,000 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
- Subject to the federal Gas Guzzler Tax, which applies to passenger cars rated below 22.5 combined MPG.
- Requires premium gasoline, which typically adds about 40 to 60 cents per gallon to the EPA's annual fuel cost estimate.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 14 MPG |
| City MPG | 11 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 18 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $4,950 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 635 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Premium |
How the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe compares
The 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe returns 14 combined MPG. Cars in the Compact Cars class for the same model year average 21.2 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 34%.
The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 2009 model year is the Honda Civic Hybrid at 42 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2009 model year (across all classes) returns 19.5 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2009 model year is on its own page.
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for premium gasoline, which is $4.61/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 1071.4 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $2,475 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $4,950 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $8,250 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe
The EPA has rated the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe across 10 model years, from 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe through 2017 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run, hovering close to 14 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 14 MPG | 2017 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe |
| 2016 | 14 MPG | 2016 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe |
| 2015 | 14 MPG | 2015 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe |
| 2014 | 14 MPG | 2014 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe |
| 2013 | 14 MPG | 2013 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe |
| 2012 | 14 MPG | 2012 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe |
| 2011 | 14 MPG | 2011 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe |
| 2010 | 14 MPG | 2010 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe |
| 2009 | 14 MPG | this page |
| 2008 | 14 MPG | 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe |
Compare against other Compact Cars for 2009
If you are cross-shopping the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Compact Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Honda Civic Hybrid leads this group at 42 MPG, 28 MPG ahead of the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe.
Specifications
The 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe runs a 6.7-liter 12-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (s6), sending power through rear-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Compact Cars
- Engine
- 6.7L 12-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic (S6)
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Premium
- Annual petroleum use
- 21.3 barrels per year
- Gas guzzler tax
- Applies (federal)
Common questions about the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe.
-
Is the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe fuel efficient?
Not particularly. The 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe returns 14 combined MPG, which trails the average car in the Compact Cars class for the same model year by about 34%. -
What MPG does the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe get?
The EPA rates the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe at 14 combined MPG, 11 MPG in city driving, and 18 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $4,950 for the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
Does the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe require premium gas?
Yes. The EPA lists the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe as requiring premium gasoline. Running it on regular can reduce performance and may affect engine warranties, so it is not a recommended way to save at the pump. -
Has the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe become more fuel efficient over time?
Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, 14 MPG) and most recent (2017 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, 14 MPG) versions sit in the same range. -
How much CO₂ does the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 635 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 9,522 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe?
City driving returns 11 MPG and highway driving returns 18 MPG, a gap of 7 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise. -
What engine is in the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe?
The 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe has a 6.7-liter 12-cylinder engine. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe have?
The 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe comes with a automatic (s6) transmission and rear-wheel drive. -
How does the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 2009 model year is the Honda Civic Hybrid at 42 combined MPG. The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe returns 14 MPG, a gap of 28 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.