Written by Alan Taylor-Jones Updated: 18 December 2024

Overview

As you’ve probably already worked out, the Aston Martin DB12 Volante is the drop-top sibling of the DB12 Coupe. It’s not an out and out sports car, more of a grand tourer (or Super Tourer if you believe Aston’s marketing spiel) that just so happens to have no roof and the small matter of 680hp being sent to the rear wheels.

It’s fast, but also luxurious. That’s more true than ever thanks to a largely new interior that’s a huge step on from the DB11 Volante. Rivals include the even plusher but less overtly sporting Bentley Continental GT Convertible, sharper Mercedes-AMG SL, and more rarified stuff like the Maserati GranCabrio.

We’ve driven the DB12 Volante in the UK, and Aston Martin wasn’t too worried about sending us down a potholed B road on the launch, either. If you’re wondering how we test here at Parkers, we’ve an explainer page for you.

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What’s it like inside?

Gone is the tiny and outdated Mercedes infotainment screen of the DB11 Volante, replaced by an all-new Aston Martin-designed system. The 10.25-inch touchscreen has slick graphics, sharp responses and logical menus. Its only real sin is the angle at which it sits, low down in the centre console, making it tricky to read in direct sunlight.

Beneath it you’ll find the satisfyingly mechanical-feeling rotary drive mode selector, stubby gearlever and lots of buttons and physical controls for the important stuff like the heating and the excellent Bowers & Wilkins stereo’s volume control. It’s much easier to use than touch-reliant systems such as the SL’s. Quality impresses, too, making this a massive step on from the DB11 and a real challenger to the Bentley Continental.

Space up front is plentiful, and there’s loads of seat adjustment, so people of almost all heights will be able to get comfortable. The rear seats are tight, with taller drivers liable to remove all legroom for those in the back. Many will find they’re fine for kids, while those that don’t have extra storage for luggage. That could be handy as the DB12 Volante has a supermini-like 206 litres of boot space, shrinking to 169 litres with the roof down. That’s significantly down on most rivals and the DB12 Coupe.

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It takes 14 seconds to open the fabric roof and 16 seconds to close it at speeds up to 31mph. This is controlled via a dedicated switch on the centre console, a far better solution than burying it in the touchscreen infotainment system.

What’s it like to drive?

Unlike the DB11, you no longer get a choice of V8 or V12 engines, with the 4.0-litre AMG V8 now your only option. Aston Martin has done plenty of work to increase its output to 680hp, dropping the 0-62mph time to 3.7 seconds. Efficiency is predictably poor, with 23.2mpg and 276g/km of CO2 listed on the official WLTP figures.

If anything it feels faster than the 0-62mph time suggests. There’s more traction than I expected for something so powerful and rear-wheel drive, but the DB12 does its best work at higher speeds. Even so, the engine is docile and quiet if you avoid the Sport modes, which combined with a comfortable ride, makes it a great cruiser.

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However, Aston Martin has worked hard to make the DB12 Volante handle sharper so there’s less of a dynamic gap between it and the coupe. It works to a point, with lots of grip, minimal body lean, and the option to slide the tail if you want. You are aware of a bit of flex in the chassis and the additional weight of the Volante over the coupe if you’re really pushing on, though.

There’s still plenty of fun to be had when you’re not driving hard. The quick steering delivers plenty of messages about the front tyre’s activities at all speeds, and flicking the exhaust to a noisier setting gives the V8 its voice. I also found myself reaching for Sport mode’s stiffer suspension whenever the road got twisty. GT mode is a bit too soft and wafty for spirited driving.

Gearchanges are smooth in GT mode with Sport bringing a greater keenness to kick down a gear or two. Sport+ changes are faster still, but avoid feeling harsh. Manual mode is good, but there are faster-acting gearboxes out there.

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Road and wind noise aren’t a great deal more bothersome than in the coupe with the roof up. With it down, you’ll be doing the national speed limit before things get too blustery assuming the side windows are up, and the detachable wind deflector is in place.

What models and trims are available?

Aston Martin don’t really do trims, there’s just the model you want and a list of options. You do get a fair amount of equipment as standard, including a full suite of ADAS self-driving systems, auto high beam, blindspot monitoring, a 3D parking camera system, the adaptive dampers and 21-inch alloy wheels.