AUTO

A Storied British Marque Goes Into Uncharted Territory

By Richard Posluszny

When you’ve been covering the automotive industry for over a decade and everyone within your orbit knows you as “the car guy,” you tend to get asked a certain question set repeatedly.

“Which car has been your favorite?”

“What should I buy,” then the person goes and purchases what they originally wanted anyhow. And then, “Which company builds the best cars?”

There’s more but I won’t bother to create an extensive list. Then, I’d just bury the lead. What this all boils down to is simple: These questions don’t come with simple answers.

What I can tell you, however, is that I do have a favorite manufacturer. That would be Aston Martin. The storied, British marque has a tumultuous history but the vehicle’s it’s been churning out in recent years have been stunning. Both, visually and from a driving perspective. On my list of cars to own — before I die — is the V12 Vantage S. But, we’re going to talk about something quite different today. That would be the all-new Aston Martin DBX. It doesn’t have the company’s lovely 6.0-liter V12 engine nor is it a grand touring coupe. What it is though is something all-new for Aston. It’s a sport-utility vehicle.

Following on the heels of successes like the Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne and Rolls-Royce Cullinan, it makes perfect sense for Aston to follow suit. Frankly, it’s where the money is and Aston has always had a bit of a struggle financing its operations. The thinking is if this succeeds like the aforementioned, it should make life a bit easier as it operates a product portfolio consisting of sports cars. So, how does it do? Let’s see. Upon taking delivery of the DBX, I was struck by its appearance. Frankly, this Aston is unlike the others in that it doesn’t photograph particularly well in this new-to-Aston form factor. But when you see it in person, there is something there. Its dominant front grille, the squat stance and the minimalist, yet purposeful, dual exhaust sets the tone. While the “duck bill” on the vehicle’s rear hatch seems oddly executed in studio pictures, in real life it distinguishes this SUV from the pack in a unique way that serves as a call back to the Vantage sports car. I like it. Then there’s the little details that stand out. The door handles are flush with the body, so, you push them in on the front side and the handle presents itself. And then when you open the doors, they angle upwards, which is something the brand has made a staple among its fleet. These “swan doors,” as they’re called, remind you each time you enter that you’re about to experience something different. Lastly, the doors have frameless windows, which is something you typically see in sporty coupes. It’s a far more stylish approach than your typical, clunky SUV. Getting better acquainted inside, it’s a lovely cabin. Everything appears to be upholstered in plush, full grain leather and where it’s not, you can expect real metal trim, wood veneers or suede. But where Aston speaks to me is with the little details the designers clearly put there for the geeks. That would include things like the leather speaker covers and the leather-wrapped storage pockets behind the front seats that are executed unlike any other vehicle I’ve seen. My personal favorite touch is the stitching on the seats. Rather than replicate what many other manufacturers are doing with a diamond-quilted pattern, Aston took a unique turn with swooping lines that gather at the bottom. What surprised me about the cockpit is just how much space and usable storage there is. As a

mid-size SUV, it doesn’t have a massive footprint but inside Aston really opened it up to maximize roominess. Whether in the front or back, you will travel in comfort. Helping it feel even more airy is the panoramic, glass roof that’s revealed at the touch of a button. Sliding behind the threespoke steering wheel, you’re confronted with a 12-inch TFT display that serves as your instrument panel. It’s a nice touch but poorly executed as there’s not much to customize to the driver’s liking. In the center stack there’s a 10-inch TFT display for your infotainment needs. Powered by a version of Mercedes-Benz’s COMAND system, it gets the job done but is often frustrating to use for even the simplest of tasks. If you get too hung up on the technology, you’re probably missing the point of any Aston Martin though. So, let’s get into what matters: The drive. Firing up the Mercedes-sourced, 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8 powerplant, you’re confronted with a helluva growl. Producing just over 540 horsepower and just over 515 lb.-ft. of torque, the DBX can sprint to 60 mph in just over four seconds. Oddly though, it doesn’t feel particularly dramatic thanks to all-wheel drive and the vehicle’s demeanor. Sure, the revs climb and the V8 belts out its soundtrack, but the wide tires keep the DBX planted. Additionally, the nine-speed automatic transmission keeps gear changes smooth. Even when dialed up to Sport Plus, everything seems to operate swimmingly. Diving into corners, it is quite shocking how far you can push the DBX’s abilities. Even though it weighs in at nearly 5,000 pounds, it doesn’t feel particularly hefty. Thanks to a slew of technology from its adaptive air suspension to the electric anti-roll system, among other things, this SUV eggs you on to dip into the throttle just a bit more. Thankfully, the British brand didn’t muddy up the steering. Although numb, which is to be expected, it tracks linearly and is weighted just right — not too heavy, not too light.

Frankly, after a long day at the office, it’s a hoot if you happen to take “the long way home.” There’s just a couple areas where this vehicle stumbles. First is ride comfort. While the suspension does a great job of providing a satisfactory ride on smooth surfaces, the dampers don’t isolate bumps and potholes well enough even when in the sedate Grand Touring (GT) mode. This wasn’t helped by my test vehicle’s 22-inch wheels. Second is its price. The DBX starts at about $177,000, which isn’t chump change. When optioned with some of the things that help make this vehicle stand out, you may have a two in front of that number. You see, the problem for me is that the DBX leverages a Mercedes engine as well as some of its last-generation electronics (e.g., the infotainment system). If its ride was more isolated over road imperfections it would be a no brainer. But it’s not. So, that leaves me wondering if a Mercedes-AMG GLE63 would be a better fit with much better cabin technology and similar performance. Even better, it costs about $60,000 less. While the three-pointed star won’t even come close to matching the Aston’s styling and interior design, it is a strong product everywhere else. That’s the decision you’ll have to make with the DBX: Is the exterior design and sumptuous interior really worth the extra jingle? If you have the means and you’re a design geek like me, the answer may very well be “Yes.”