Overview

Aston’s DB lineage, named after one-time owner David Brown, stretches right back to 1950 and includes the iconic DB5 of Goldfinger fame.

The DB11 is the firm’s latest non-SUV as well as its flagship. It takes on the likes of the Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari Roma, McLaren GT and Porsche 911 – not an easy feat by anyone’s standards.

By the company’s own admission, its previous offerings were too closely aligned, each car trying to straddle the line between luxury GT and sports car. Aston’s latest strategy is to provide greater differentiation, which means the DB11 can concentrate on being a truly great long-distance GT, leaving the job of supercar to the Aston Martin DBS.

There’s a familiarity about the front-end styling, which still features the classic Aston Martin face, albeit subtly re-contoured. But move to the rear and the design becomes more radical, exhibiting no sign of previous DBs’ trademark kicked-up tail, its job of providing downforce now passed to a jet of air taken in at the split C-pillar and fired upwards from the boot lid to create a virtual spoiler.

There are numerous options – and at this level, when it comes to personalisation, anything goes if you’ve got the money – but only two engines and one transmission. The cheapest models come with a Mercedes-sourced V8, while more expensive cars come with a 5.2-litre Aston Martin V12. All models have the excellent and ubiquitous ZF eight-speed automatic ‘box driving the rear wheels exclusively.

Keep reading to discover what the DB11 is like to drive, how easy it is to live with, how much it’ll cost to run and whether we recommend one or not.