Overview

It’s very rare that a circa £130k car is referred to as a junior, but then again we are writing about James Bond’s preferred marque here. The relatively slim range ensures there’s not much crossover and each car can offer something different.

The Aston Martin Vantage counts the Porsche 911 as its chief rival, while the Jaguar F-Type and Mercedes-AMG GT will also be on similar shopping lists. Unlike the 911 Turbo and F-Type SVR with their four-wheel drive systems, the Vantage is more akin to the rear-wheel drive AMG, featuring a front/mid-mounted engine. This means the engine sits ahead of the driver, but behind the front axle for better weight distribution and more agile handling.

In fact, the regular Vantage uses the same twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine that you’ll find in the Mercedes-AMG. It makes 496hp, which means the Vantage accelerates from 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds. The V12 Vantage wedges the Aston Martin DB11’s 5.8-litre V12 into the front, resulting in a different character. It’s a bit like a British hotrod – in that it has a big engine shoehorned into a small car – with a 0-62mph time of 3.5 seconds. Just 0.1 second faster than the V8, but a very different experience.

Despite the use of aluminium, the Vantage is quite heavy at 1,630kg – similar to the AMG GT and four-wheel drive 911 models, but more than 150kg heavier than a rear-wheel drive Porsche 911. Even so, the near 50:50 weight distribution and electronic rear differential help with the way the Vantage drives.

The interior is stuffed full of old Mercedes bits, meaning it can look and feel a bit basic in places, especially the switches and infotainment. However, in terms of personalisation the opportunities are near endless, as you’d expect at this end of the market.

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