Overview

Aston Martin might be better known for its sports cars but since 2020 it’s been competing in the super-SUV segment with its DBX. It was the first genuinely practical car to come from the British firm and it’s produced at a new factory in St Athan, Wales. The DBX has been a big success for Aston Martin, now accounting for more than half of its sales. 

It’s a trend mirrored by many of its other ‘super’ rivals, with most sports car manufacturers also now selling similar SUVs. It’s a lucrative business, with key competitors including the Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus. Even Ferrari now sells a similar vehicle with its Purosangue, though the firm stresses it’s not an SUV. 

Ever since the start the DBX has been renowned for its breathtaking styling that manages to retain a lot of Aston’s traditional sports car DNA, and combine that with a sensational driving experience and thunderous V8 engine. This was taken up a notch in 2022 with the introduction of the DBX707, which brought a significant power boost (707hp compared to 550hp) and a range of other tweaks that made this one of the best-driving SUVs around. 

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But it has always had one major drawback, and that’s its interior. Borrowing a range of parts from previous generation Mercedes models – Aston Martin has a technology partnership with the German manufacturer – it instantly felt old fashioned and with a particularly frustrating infotainment system. Aston Martin now acknowledges that it wasn’t the best, and as part of this latest update has given the interior a significant overhaul. 

Other changes for 2024 also include the removal of the entry-level DBX model – meaning you can now only buy the 707, though this was chosen by about 90% of customers anyway. But can all these changes elevate this Aston Martin SUV further? Read on to find out what we make of it and then see our overall verdict on the next page. 

What’s it like inside?

Previously it was the DBX’s interior that really let the side down. The large infotainment system might have looked good, but was let down by its usability, and despite looking like it was, it wasn’t actually a touchscreen. Instead, you operated it with a fiddly touchpad. Aston Martin has now developed its own screen based on a new architecture, going its own way from Mercedes with this as it still favours traditional buttons, of which there are plenty.

The screen is a big improvement, and is much quicker and easier to use than before. You can get wireless Apple CarPlay for the first time, while Android Auto is also on the way, two things new to the DBX. It’s joined by a new digital instrument cluster, which again is a welcome improvement over the old car. 

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It’s by no means perfect, however. The screen could do with being a bit brighter as it can be quite prone to sun glare, and the gloss-black centre console’s multitude of buttons aren’t always the most intuitive. 

What you can’t knock the DBX for is the quality of its materials, which feel more than worthy of this Aston Martin’s expensive price. A full leather and Alcantara interior is included as standard, with an option to upgrade to more luxurious semi-aniline leather as well. 

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The DBX is a proper full-size SUV too, and more than capable of serving as your only family car. Though there’s no seven-seat option like you can have on a Bentley Bentaga, five adults can sit quite comfortably and, at 638 litres, the boot is huge. It’s worth remembering the DBX is a big car that takes up a lot of road space – it’s longer than a Range Rover Sport. 

Aston Martin DBX engines

The DBX’s engine is one that originates from partner Mercedes-AMG, but is heavily tuned by the British marque.

The DBX707 is up there with some of the most powerful SUVs around, producing 707hp and 900Nm of torque, it’s able to sprint from 0-62mph in just 3.3 seconds, which is staggeringly quick and, where permitted, could achieve a 193mph top speed. It’s paired to a nine-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel-drive, though it’s able to send all its torque to the rear wheels for those seeking the most driving pleasure. 

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While staggeringly quick, its fuel economy is poor, even for a vehicle of this size. Aston Martin claims just 19.9mpg and CO2 emissions are especially high at 323g/km. Expect slightly better fuel economy on a motorway run but less in normal driving. It’s certainly a car that will require very deep pockets to run. 

What’s it like to drive?

The DBX impressed from the offset with how it drove, and things were taken up a level with the DBX707. There aren’t all that many mechanical tweaks as part of this latest update, but that’s most certainly not a bad thing in this instance. 

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It’s the DBX’s ability to go from being a fantastic motorway cruiser to a brutish sports car at the press of a button that impresses most. Despite sitting on huge 23-inch alloy wheels, the ride quality is excellent and it can soak up bumps in the road with ease, though there is quite a lot of road noise, especially on rougher surfaces. 

At a cruise, the engine is wonderfully quiet and refined, but switch into a sportier drive mode and it comes alive with a wonderfully raucous tune, amplified by a retuned exhaust system that aims to dial up the audible factor. It sounds glorious though never in a particularly antisocial way. 

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For an SUV of this size and weight it’s exceptionally agile, with wonderfully precise and accurate steering. The speed you can carry through tighter corners seems to defy the laws of physics and you have strong stopping power courtesy of those huge ceramic brakes. It’s an exceptional all-rounder behind the wheel. 

What models and trims are available?

As we’ve mentioned, Aston Martin used to offer a ‘standard’ DBX but these days it’s only the 707 you can choose. Prices start from an eye-watering £205,000 – making it more expensive than a Bentley Bentayga, roughly comparable to a Lamborghini Urus but quite a lot cheaper than a Ferrari Purosangue. 

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It comes with plenty of equipment at least, including 23-inch alloy wheels, ceramic brakes, a 360-degree camera system and heated front and rear seats. There’s unsurprisingly a very extensive options list available too, including a raft of fancy colours (name a colour and Aston Martin probably has it – or they’ll create it for you), all sorts of carbon accessories and the must-have Bowers & Wilkins sound system.