DESIGN How do you create a vehicle that looks like an Aston Martin while being both bigger inside and taller off the ground? The design team, led by Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman, seem to have hit the bullseye. Compared with some luxury SUVs the DBX looks elegant, balanced and sporty, thanks in part to its new dedicated SUV platform and long wheelbase. Design cues like the familiar Aston Martin grille are present, the rear end has echoes of the flick tail treatment from the Vantage, while the fastback styling positions the visual mass of the car over the rear wheels without compromising ingress and egress.​

The sculpted door and side panels create a slimmer, more muscular profile and the frameless doors with flush glazing give the sense of an uninterrupted sweep of glass down the side of the car. Inside, the new DBX has been designed for intuitive control and instant familiarity, with the ability to accommodate the world’s 99th percentile male (big) and 5th percentile female (very petite). On another practical note, the luggage space is 632 litres and the rear seats split 40:20:40 for versatility.​
TECHNOLOGY The ergonomic positioning of the car’s key control systems, Aston Martin claims, have been guided by the input of the brand’s female advisory board. In front of the driver there’s a configurable 12.3” TFT screen to provide information, while the infotainment and navigation is controlled via a 10.25” TFT touchscreen. 64 shades of ambient lighting are available to match your mood and that of your passengers, Apple CarPlay comes as standard and there’s a 360-degree camera system to help you negotiate tricky terrain, whether it’s in Knightsbridge or Kielder forest.​The Aston Martin Premium Audio System boasts 14 speakers and an 800-Watt amp, and adaptive cruise control comes as standard along with front and rear parking sensors. ​
SAFETY The specification of the DBX contains a blizzard of acronyms, including FCW, AEB, LDW, LKA, LCW, RCT and TSR. In case you need a translation, these are Forward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Change Warning, Rear Cross Traffic warning and Traffic Sign Recognition. Other safety features include Blind Spot Warning (BSW) and Door Opening Warning (DOW), while family owners will be pleased to note that there are Isofix child seat attachments in both rear outer seats. ​
PERFORMANCE As with the DB11 and Vantage, the new DBX is powered by a turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 that produces 550 metric horsepower and 770Nm of torque, tuned for the specific needs of an all-rounder that can take both racetracks and off-road tracks in its stride. Cylinder deactivation helps stretch the mpg when you’re cruising along, but full-throttle acceleration from rest to 62mph takes just 4.5 seconds. A nine-speed automatic gearbox sends the power to all four wheels, with an active central differential and an electronic rear limited slip differential (eDiff) sending the torque both fore and aft and side to side depending on road conditions and/or driving style. ​​