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Aston Martin DBS Coupe (2008-2012) running costs and reliability

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Running costs rating: 1 out of 51.0

Written by Simon Harris Updated: 27 April 2023

Miles per pound (mpp)

Reliable fuel consumption data for comparison purposes is not available for this model.

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Fuel economy

A more stringent standard for fuel economy (WLTP) was introduced from September 2017, and this model was not required to undergo that test. Its fuel economy measured under the previous test system was 17 - 18 mpg. However these figures are less likely to be achievable in real world driving and so should never be compared to another car's mpg which was measured under the newer, more realistic WLTP system.

View mpg & specs for any version

It seems churlish to quibble about running costs on a car that will set you back £160,000 in the first place, but let’s make it clear that the expense won’t end the day you take delivery. Budget on covering no more than 15 miles from a gallon of fuel and paying a hefty insurance premium thanks to the group 20 rating. Servicing won’t be cheap either, but at least it’s only needed every 10,000 miles, not the 6250 miles some low volume sports cars require.

And the two-year waiting list means that the early cars should depreciate slowly.

The DBS performs miserably on the eco front. With an average of 408g/km CO2 across the line-up, its emissions are extremely high for a sports coupe. The range is very thirsty, averaging just 16mpg.

The Vanquish wasn’t very reliable and we’ve heard of problems with DB9s, particularly the early cars, but Aston seems to be getting to grips with the issue of quality control. The Vanquish was hand built at the company’s old Newport Pagnell facility but the DBS is constructed at the hi-tech Gaydon plant in Warwickshire.