Aston Martin DBX 2021 Review

Aston Martin is suitably late to the party in terms of adding an SUV to its stable. It’s fair to say that Porsche broke the mould when it introduced us to the Cayenne in 2003 – the polarising model that saw the German car-maker’s sales thrive. So much so they made another smaller one – the Porsche Macan

The Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus and Rolls-Royce Cullinan have followed, doing the legwork for Aston to land the 2021 Aston Martin DBX without conjecture as to its role or relevance.

The Aston Martin DBX is unique among its siblings – the Vantage, DB11 and DBS Superleggera – namely, offering four doors, five seats and plenty of room for luggage. It leads with a story of practicality first, supercar spirit second.

Priced from $357,000 plus on-road costs, the 2021 Aston Martin DBX is powered by an updated Mercedes-AMG-derived 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that develops a powerful 405kW and 700Nm.

It’s paired to a nine-speed automatic gearbox that sends power to all four wheels that benefit from an electric limited-slip rear differential.

It’s obviously not cheap, but it’s not the most expensive Aston Martin you can buy. The DBS Superleggera Volante takes that gong at $570K.

Bang for buck, its nearest rivals include the V8-powered Bentley Bentayga (from $340,400) and the Lamborghini Urus (from $390,000). So let’s just agree to disagree that the price is, shall we say, fair.

So, in addition to salacious street cred and oodles of space, what do you get?

The Aston Martin DBX’s equipment list is lengthy, but not exhaustive. Which is what I’d expect for this hefty level of coin.

The exterior features 22-inch alloys wrapped in Pirelli P Zero rubber, 410mm ventilated front disc brakes (with six-piston brake callipers) and 390mm rotors at the rear (with sliding-piston callipers), LED daytime running lights, LED front and rear lights, automatic high beam, twin exhaust pipes and, in the case of our test vehicle, a heavy dose of carbon-fibre (cost option).

A real spoiler and new air ducts around the front DRLs help to channel airflow around the body of the sizeable DBX.

Flush-fit door handles open the frameless doors as you slink inside, where red leather and Alcantara upholstery steal the show (initially, at least).

A 10.25-inch infotainment display is home to satellite navigation, AM/FM/DAB radio, Bluetooth audio and telephony, Apple CarPlay (no Android Auto) and a 360-degree camera. Disappointingly, it’s not a touch-screen – so you’ll have to master the control dial.

The 12.3-inch instrumentation display documents your in-car activity, fuel consumption (which is hefty) and safety notifications, and the visual display adapts depending on your chosen drive mode.

The 16-way electric-adjust heated and ventilated front seats are as plush and form-fitting as you have every right to expect. The dual-tone split-leather heated multifunction steering wheel adds drama and feels substantial in hand.

Safety and driver assist technology includes anti-lock brakes, electronic stability and traction control, emergency brake assist, rollover stability control, hill descent and hill start assist, forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane keep assist and lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, traffic sign recognition and blind spot warning.

A suite of front, side and curtain airbags protect all seating positions.

A conspicuously long options list could prove enticing, but it’ll cost you dearly. Options found on our test vehicle are calculated at $123,494!

Options quickly add up should you need red brake callipers ($2770), solid walnut inlays ($13,900), contemporary Alcantara headlining ($4160), premium audio ($4160), red seat belts ($1380), premium paint ($11,120), carbon-fibre pack upper ($19,470) and lower ($27,820), satin black diamond-turned 22-inch wheels ($6950)… need we go on?

Joy. That’s what has been created in the 2021 Aston Martin DBX. It’s the kind of joy that a multi-tasking parent feels when luxury, performance and practicality blend without compromise. Unashamedly first-world considerations.

Power from the twin-turbo V8 propels the five-metre-long, 2245kg DBX with great ease. Throttle response is immediate, abrupt even – you get a real jolt in the back of your seat when you plant your foot. Straight-line speed is immense and the DBX moves from 0-100km/h in 4.5sec. It has a top speed of 291km/h.

The DBX’s exhaust note is uniquely Aston Martin and fills the cabin with a moneyed note.

However, it’s the way the DBX behaves dynamically that surprises and impresses most. It feels much more like a sports car than an SUV, attacking tight curves with the vigour of a car of far smaller proportions.

All-wheel drive power, air suspension, adaptive dampers and anti-roll technology deliver a ride that’s supple and sits beautifully flat through the twists and turns, whether at enthusiastic speeds or when adopting a more subdued approach.

Matched to a nine-speed automatic transmission and with five drive modes (GT, Sport, Sport Plus, Terrain and Terrain Plus), the DBX adjusts throttle response and suspension settings accordingly. Those big brakes we mentioned earlier bring the DBX to a resounding halt.

A limited-slip differential and active centre transfer case means almost 100 per cent of torque can be sent to the rear, as well as left and right split depending on the driving conditions. Aston Martin strives to deliver supercar dynamics in an SUV silhouette, with little compromise.

Should you wish to take your Aston Martin DBX off-road, it’s both willing and able as our own John Mahoney discovered at the international launch of the DBX.

Although our test drive was deemed strictly tarmac only, off-road geometry provides an approach angle of 22.2 degrees, break-over 15.1 degrees and departure 24.3 degrees, with a ground clearance of 190mm and 500mm wading depth. Hill descent control is a button you don’t expect to see on an Aston Martin – and yet here it is.

The adaptive air suspension also means that ride height can be raised by 45mm or lowered by 50mm.

Equipped with cylinder deactivation technology, the thirsty V8 does its best to soften the blow to the environment and your hip pocket.

For our time in the DBX we saw a fuel consumption as low as 12.8L/100km and a short inner-city commute returned a blowout of epic proportions, recording around 31.0L/100km. Owners of a DBX will no doubt find the realistic and achievable balance in there somewhere.

The 2021 Aston Martin DBX has an unexpected repertoire of flexibility and practicality with that ballsy twin-turbo V8 at its core.

From rugged cellar door driveways to the blind spot turmoil of the judgemental school gate, the DBX is equipped for both.

Ferrying children is fraught with disaster on a good day. Add plush leather and Alcantara into the mix and all bets are off. But that’s exactly what the DBX is designed to do.

The second row is every bit as sumptuous as the front of cabin. The seats are soft and supportive and amenity is spot on – USB charge points, climate control and heated seats, an arm rest with cup holders, back-of-seat pockets – all the usuals.

The boot is a generous 632 litres and the second-row seating splits 40/20/40 for greater load flexibility. The DBX can also tow 2700kg (braked).

Admittedly, there are other vehicles on the market that are cheaper than the 2021 Aston Martin DBX and yet offer similar levels of style, dynamism and a not-too-dissimilar twin-turbo V8 engine.

But Aston Martin’s heritage, reputation and subsequently its approach to building its first super-luxury SUV ensures the evocative allure of decades past remains strong.

The 2021 Aston Martin DBX may lend itself to family-friendly motoring, but its supercar spirit has not been sacrificed. Apparently, you can have both.

How much does the 2021 Aston Martin DBX cost?
Price: $357,000 (plus on-road costs); $480,494 (plus ORCs, as tested)
Available: Now
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo petrol
Output: 405kW/700Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 14.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 269g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested

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