Wines, cheese, whiskey, and art. Things get better with age, they say. Automotive brands are no exception, although competition and innovation emerge as key contributors. Aston Martin, the 106-year-old iconic brand best known for its luxury sports cars, has finally followed ventures into sport utility vehicle marketplace by its competitors. Earlier this year, it pushed the boundaries of traditional British styling and engineering and launched its first: the DBX.
Originally teased in 2019, the branded “makers of beauty” who have long solidified their marque on performance, style, and luxury introduced this all-action, all-terrain model all-new for 2021. Within less than a year, as recently reported by Reuters, the DBX has pushed Aston Martin dealer sales up 224%.
As part of the brand’s vision to further its long history of automotive artistry, in 2015, it announced its Second Century Plan. The DBX model is but the final phase of the three-part scheme to elevate its stature, financials, and portfolio to epic new heights. Hard to believe, but the DBX is an idealized sports family sedan that performs well on just about any terrain or condition, even including a water depth of up to 19.7 inches.
Behind the wheel, all is open and functional. If you’ve driven an Aston Martin before, you’ll be just as comfortable in the driver’s seat here. That feeling of familiarity is intentional and not due to or lack of ingenuity. The steering wheel is completely new, sporting switchgears with paddles to operate the automatic 9-speed gearbox, delivering a satisfying feel of control and mastery. The seats recall those of the DB11, albeit with an abundance of head clearance above and stowage below, along the door interiors, and in the bridged center console, so you never have to worry about where to stow those large water bottles or a tote bag for that quick fridge-replenishing excursion.
Her frameless door glass plus the overhead full-length glass panoramic, combined with class-leading overhead space and leg clearance both front as well as back create unprecedented comfort for all. Those exquisite leathers for which the brand is known are everywhere you look and touch here, along the door panels, surrounding the air conditioning vents both front and back and everyone’s comfort is assured with cooling and heating controls in both the front and rear seats in the 3 zone comfort system will make Gran very content. Perhaps not you nor older kids so much since the infotainment units surrounded in opulent hide up front and in back are not touchscreen. If you prefer being driven, the passenger seats are pitched higher, so passengers enjoy a full visual thrill of the open road ahead.
With decidedly room for five, the DBX boasts great proportions, neither too big nor too small. When the split passenger seats are folded down the 22.3 cubic foot trunk is expanded to a whopping 54 cubic feet to allow stowage of loads of luggage or sports gear, including skis. Add to that gesture control opening of the boot.
A vast array of both dynamic and passive safety features -- some entirely new to the brand -- only enliven the thrill of driving the DBX. These include blind-spot warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist with lane departure warning, hill descent control, and 360-degree parking camera: all are standard. Also introduced are new features enabling drivers to easily tackle terrains on which an Aston Martin has never ridden. The latest 48V electric anti-roll control system boosts confidence, exerting 1033 feet per pound of force per axle. The new triple volume air suspension and adaptive electronic dampers permit an ability to raise the ride by 1.7 inches or lower it 1.97 inches.
his brings us to peaking beneath that sleek bonnet. The twin-turbo 4 liter V8 engine is a modified version of what you love in the brand’s Vantage roadster or the DB11 coupe. In the DBX, it delivers 542 horsepower and 516 pound-foot of torque, producing a top speed of over 181 miles per hour that will propel you and fellow joyriders -- or a demanding family unit -- from 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds.
Aston Martin has put a lot of effort into every detail. Melding the highlights of SUVs with sportscars is thirsty business, though. You can expect to get 17 mpg in the city, 18 mpg on the highway. Still, the way she takes those corners makes that fuel efficiency forgivable.
