Pros: Incredible V8 noise and performance, brilliant to drive
Cons: Need to spend more to get the perfect specification
Aston Martin DBX S Design
Aston Martin hasn’t drastically altered the design of the DBX since it was first launched in 2020, and we’re ok with that as it remains a stylish large SUV with plenty of design details linking it to Aston’s sports cars.
For the S, there’s a new front grille, a redesign of the bodywork below that in the name of aerodynamics, new side sills and stunning 23-inch wheels. The latter, forged alloy as standard, can be upgraded to lightweight magnesium rims, while the panoramic glass roof can be replaced by a carbon-fibre item instead – further reducing weight while bringing the car’s centre of gravity down.
At the back is more detail redesign lower down, again to enhance the car’s aerodynamic balance and clean up the style. It’s easy to spot thanks to a new ‘stacked’ layout for the quad exhaust outlets. The finishing touch is a smattering of red “S” badges, though buyers can of course make the car as outlandish or as subtle as they wish depending on how they specify it.
Aston Martin DBX S Interior
Same story inside of course, where there’s a seemingly infinite number of ways you can have the cabin finished in an array of colours and materials. The S specification brings with it sporty Alcantara trim by default, extending to a set of gorgeous sports seats with a special herringbone pattern that – if you specify the carbon-fibre roof – is added to the headlining as well. There are S logos in the seat material and on the door sills, too.
Aside from that, the DBX now features the new generation of infotainment and switchgear first seen on the Aston DB12, mixing a sharp digital display for instruments with a 10.25-inch touchscreen and a suite of tactile physical switchgear. This car also now comes with Apple CarPlay Ultra, which is more integrated with the car’s sub-systems – such as the climate control and driving modes – than the regular CarPlay system.
Aston Martin DBX S Performance & Drive
The headline number here is 727hp, as that’s the peak output of the DBX S’s mighty V8 engine. And while that’s only 20hp more than the DBX707 manages, this twin-turbocharged, 4.0-litre unit is as special as ever, with a massive 900Nm of torque making easy work of the heavy body. It gets new turbochargers and a new exhaust system, and it sounds simply sublime at all times. We have no doubt it can manage Aston’s claimed 3.3-second 0-100km/h time. Not that it’s relevant to the real world, but it’s a remarkable feat that this SUV can also do 310km/h – i.e. not far off 200mph…
Thankfully, the DBX S feels special to drive even when it’s at sane speeds, and despite a chassis packing high-voltage anti-roll control, air suspension and adaptive damping, it engages the driver with an organic-feeling driving experience. Massive carbon-ceramic brakes give you confidence to use its performance in the right conditions and the S gets faster steering than the DBX707 for a little more responsiveness. Despite all that it is a perfectly acceptable car to drive in daily life, too – assuming you don’t have to worry about the considerable fuel consumption.
Aston Martin DBX S Pricing
The nearest Aston Martin dealership is in Belfast so there’s no official Irish price for any version of the DBX. In reality, it won’t cost less than €450,000 to import, and as most Aston buyers spend quite a bit on personalisation of their cars, that’s likely to be only a starting point. Nonetheless, the S is only about 10 per cent more expensive than the DBX707, which will remain on sale, so relative to that it’s not bad value. Admittedly, you can get similarly high-performance models from Porsche and Range Rover for less.
Carzone Verdict
We’ve always liked the Aston Martin DBX and yes, we like it even more now. The S model enhances the car’s inherent sportiness, but without detracting from the SUV side of the equation in terms of a practical interior and a modicum of ‘utility’. It is of course a road car first and foremost and it balances everyday usability with a sporty side that’ll leave many sports cars for dust. It’s simply phenomenal.