2022 Aston Martin DBX Review
Test Drive

2022 Aston Martin DBX Review

The world was ready for the Aston Martin SUV. Yes, by the time the Aston Martin DBX debuted, Bentley had given birth to the Bentayga, Lamborghini had given birth to the Urus, and even Rolls Royce had given birth to its Cullinan.

Nevertheless, the appearance of the next "super SUV" is always a little exciting. Will it be a real Aston Martin, how will it look compared to its competitors and is it generally a good SUV?

Anyway, that's what I wanted to know about the Aston Martin DBX, and I've learned along with everything else you need to know, from its performance to its practicality, in this review.

Aston Martin DBX 2022: (base)
Safety Rating
engine's type4.0 L turbo
fuel typePremium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency12.4l / 100km
Landing5 Places
Price from$357,000

Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10


I'm not the type to name a fall but I joked with Marek, this is Marek Reichman, Aston Martin's VP and Chief Creative Officer, the guy who's designed every Aston in the last 15 years, this Marek. Whatever the case, he told me before the release of the DBX that any SUV he designs would be unmistakably an Aston Martin.

I think he nailed it. The Aston Martin's wide grille is unmistakably the same as the DB11's, and the tailgate, which although it's the rear hatch of a large SUV, is exactly the same as the back of the Vantage.

Everything in between has all the family hallmarks. There are those oval headlights and huge nose of the hood, chiseled side panels with wheel arches that rest on the sky, and those rear hips.

The tailgate, which although it is the rear hatch of a large SUV, is exactly the same as the back of the Vantage. (Image: Richard Berry)

Don't like minimalist design? Then you'll love the DBX's cabin and its dashboard cluttered with dials, buttons and switches.

It looks like an airplane cockpit and it's very characteristic of Aston Martin - just look at the DB5 layout from the 1960s, it's a mess, a beautiful mess. The same goes for current models such as DB11, DBS and Vantage.

Seriously, if there was one area where Marek might have chosen not to make the DBX look unmistakably Aston Martin, I wish it was the interior.

Everything in between has all the family hallmarks. (Image: Richard Berry)

However, I think the DBX has the best interior design of any current Aston, with a large multimedia screen built into the center console and a more modern design.

But no matter how it looks, the feel of the materials is outstanding. Almost every surface has a thick leather covering, with the exception of hard, cold metal surfaces such as paddles and door handles.

It's a chic, athletic place, like a Batman suit, only it smells a lot nicer.

No matter how it looks, the feel of the materials is outstanding. (Image: Richard Berry)

The DBX is a large SUV with a length of 5039mm, a width of 2220mm with mirrors deployed and a height of 1680mm. Yes, this thing takes up all the space in the parking lot.

DBX is available in 53 colors. Yes, fifty-three. There's Onyx Black, which my test car wore, as well as Royal Indigo, Supernova Red, and Kermit Green.

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10


There is only one type of Aston Martin DBX and it has a list price of $357,000, so it is in the price range above the Porsche Cayenne which tops out at $336,100 but below the Lamborghini Urus which starts at $390,000.

The Bentley Bentayga V8 is its closest price competitor, starting at less than $10 more than the DBX.

And while we admire the emergence of these super SUVs, don't discount the original luxury SUV brand. The Range Rover SV Autobiography Dynamic is $351,086 and it's excellent.

It has 22-inch forged alloy wheels as standard. (Image: Richard Berry)

Let's take a look at the features of the Aston Martin DBX.

Standard equipment includes leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, three-zone climate control, a 10.25-inch multimedia display with sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and digital radio, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a panoramic glass sunroof, and a power tailgate. proximity key with start button, LED headlights and taillights, and 22-inch forged alloy wheels.

For this high-end market segment, the price is good, but there are a couple of drawbacks, such as the lack of a head-up display and the lack of Android Auto support.

But if you wanted a shopping cart filled with valuables, you would go to the supermarket, right? May be. What you really want to know is what it means to drive a car, right? Let's start with horsepower.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 9/10


When it came to installing the engine in the DBX, Aston Martin opted for the same 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine as in the Vantage, only they made it more powerful - 25 kW more at 405 kW (542 hp). Also 15 Nm more torque - 700 Nm.

Shifting through the nine-speed automatic transmission, the DBX 0-100 mph time is 4.5 seconds, almost a second slower than the Vantage's 3.6 seconds.

However, the DBX weighs over 2.2 tons, has a maximum ground clearance of 190mm, can cross rivers up to 500mm deep, and has a towing braking capacity of 2700kg. Oh yes, and all-wheel drive.

This engine is one of the best V8s in the world. It's light, compact, efficient and can produce a huge grunt. It is also produced by Mercedes-Benz. Yes, this is the same (M177) 4.0-liter V8 found in the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S and a host of other AMG-badged beasts.

When it came to the DBX engine, Aston Martin opted for the same 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 as the Vantage, only they made it more powerful. (Image: Richard Berry)

Here's just one thing: the V8 doesn't sound as good in the DBX as it does in the Mercedes-AMG. The Aston version has a less guttural and raucous exhaust sound.

Sure, it still sounds amazing, and when pressed hard, it yells like a Boudica rushing into battle, but how often will you ride like that?

Most of the time we drive in traffic jams in the suburbs and the city at a speed of 40 km/h. But even with the “loud” exhaust mode turned on, the note is still not as deep and daring as the AMG, which even sounds amazing on the spot.

You probably already know why Aston Martin uses Mercedes-Benz engines. But just in case, that's because the brand with the star has been a co-owner since 2013. Aston saves money and gets some of the best engines in the world in return.

What is it like to drive? 7/10


The DBX is a giant with around 550 horsepower that can hit almost 300 km/h. But trying it out on the roads of Sydney is like having a champion racehorse in your backyard and your neighbor asking what it's like to ride it.

There was no race track available at the time, and I signed a form stating that I would not drive more than 400 km while she was with me, which meant careful selection of the test track.

Luckily, that was before Sydney plunged into the current COVID lockdown, which is making those 400km now seem huge.

The DBX is an SUV that anyone can drive every day. (Image: Richard Berry)

First, the DBX is an SUV that anyone can drive every day. Visibility is great and the ride is pleasant considering it rolls on 22-inch wheels and wears rubber as wide as some doorways and as thin as my socks (285/40 in the front and 325/35 in the back of the Pirelli Scorpion Zero ). Power delivery is smooth and predictable.

I drove it every day, shopping, taking it to school, going to the garden center to fill it with plants and (ahem) compost, and it worked just like a big SUV.

The source of frustration was the location of the gear buttons high on the dashboard. Take a look at the images. Even with my long chimpanzee arms, I had to stretch to switch from Drive to Reverse. And with a not-so-small turning radius of 12.4m, the three-point turns were a bit of a hand exercise.

Don't like minimalist design? Then you'll love the DBX's cabin and its dashboard cluttered with dials, buttons and switches. (Image: Richard Berry)

But more disappointing was the connection between the driver and the car, which seemed not quite right. Good communication between driver and car is essential for any great car.

Yes, there was not a single race track where I could quickly become familiar with DBX. But a good road, which test cars often drive on, also reveals a lot.

And the DBX didn't feel quite as good as the Lamborghini Urus, which is not only more comfortable, but also feels more dynamic and offers superior communication between driver and machine.

The DBX is fast, it's powerful, the powerful brakes pull it up quickly (almost abruptly if needed), and the handling is incredibly good.

However, I think the DBX has the best interior design of any current Aston. (Image: Richard Berry)

I just didn't feel like a part of it at all. You know, the driver and the car become one. I felt like the third wheel on a date.

That sense of connection has been mastered by Porsche with its SUVs, but I feel like the DBX needs some more work. He felt unfinished.

I was told early on that the DBX I tested was a pre-production car, but I'm sure that doesn't make up for the shortcomings of driving it.

This is disappointing. I was hoping for the best, but I think further development will see this happen later.




How much fuel does it consume? 7/10


In my DBX fuel test, I ran open roads and city streets and measured 20.4L/100km at the pump.

On the same test cycle I drove, the Urus used 15.7 l/100 km and the Bentley Bentayga 21.1 l/100 km.

No wonder these super SUVs are gluttonous, but if you spend all your time on city roads, you can expect consumption to be even higher.

What's surprising is that Aston Martin thinks anyone can actually get 12.2L/100km, but then all automakers tend to claim overly ambitious fuel economy figures.

Just think, your next car after that will probably be electric, so enjoy gas while you have it.

How practical is the interior space? 8/10


Before the DBX came along, the most practical Aston Martin was the five-door, four-seat Rapide, with a huge rear hatch and a trunk big enough to fit a whole five-piece set of luggage - I've seen it first hand. .

Now there's a DBX that seats five (well, four is comfortable because no one wants to be in the middle) and has a 491-liter boot under a leather cover.

It's a spacious second row, and at 191cm (6'3") there's more than enough room to sit behind me. (Image: Richard Berry)

As you can see, it fits our trio. Cars Guide a set of luggage and I also used it to collect some compost - this was most likely the first time anyone has done this with a DBX in Australia, and likely the last.

The trunk is impressive. The floating center console is suspended like a hammock, and below it is a huge bunk for a phone, wallet and small bags. There is also a large drawer in the separate armrest.

Door pockets are small, but there are two cupholders in the front and two more in the second-row fold-out armrest.

Speaking of rows, there is no third row. The DBX is only available as a two-row, five-seat version.

It's a spacious second row, with more than enough room for me at 191 cm (6'3") to sit behind my driving position, and headroom is excellent too.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

3 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10


The DBX hasn't received an ANCAP crash safety rating and it's unlikely it ever will, which is often the case with low-volume, high-end models.

However, the DBX comes standard with seven airbags, AEB, lane keeping assist with lane change warning, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot warning, traffic sign recognition, automatic parking, and adaptive cruise control.

For child seats, there are three top cable attachment points and two ISOFIX anchorages across the second row.

It was easy and quick for me to attach my son's car seat to the DBX.

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10


The DBX is covered by Aston Martin's three-year unlimited mileage warranty. Roadside assistance is also included.

Service intervals every 12 months or 16,000 km.

Aston Martin does not have a capped DBX service price and owners cannot purchase an SUV service plan.

We asked Aston Martin to estimate how much owners can expect to pay for maintenance over the warranty period, but the rep told us, "We can't provide an estimate for maintenance over three years."

Since Aston Martin is unable or unwilling to give us any service cost recommendations, there may be recent owners of Aston models who can. Let us know in the comments below.

Verdict

Like all Aston Martins, the DBX is a truly beautiful car with that upscale, exotic yet understated appearance the brand is known for. As with all Astons, the overstuffed interior design may turn off some minimalists, and those high-mounted gearshift buttons create a functionality problem.

As an SUV, the DBX is roomy and practical. You can use it every day as a family car. I did just that and it was easy for me to adapt.

Driving experience was disappointing. I didn't feel as strongly connected to the DBX while driving as I did with other super SUVs like the Lamborghini Urus and the more affordable models offered by Porsche and Mercedes-AMG.

But on the other hand, you see these other cars everywhere, unlike the DBX, which is a rare and beautiful creation despite its flaws.

Add a comment