2021 Aston Martin DBX Road Test and Review

2021 Aston Martin DBX Front ・ Photo by Nicole Wakelin

The 2021 Aston Martin DBX is more than just a new model. It points the brand in a whole new direction. Aston Martin is known for building luxury performance cars. They aren’t always the most practical choices, but they are beautiful, elegantly designed, and powerful. The Aston Martin DBX takes the best bits of what makes Aston Martin so appealing and adds practicality in SUV form.

It takes a minute to process because SUVs are not sports cars. They’re what you buy when you need to haul people and cargo, not when you want a performance car. The Aston Martin DBX is here to change your mind about what it means to be an SUV. Take the versatility of an SUV, add a dose of luxury and a powerful engine, and you have the 2021 Aston Martin DBX. Let’s take a closer look at Aston Martin’s first SUV.

Luxury Pricing And Features

Typically, there’s a lineup of trims from which to choose from when you’re picking a car. Base trims have more modest interiors and features, along with more affordable prices. If you want leather seats or a better audio system or any number of added amenities, then you have to choose a higher trim level and pay a bit more. That’s for a typical car. The Aston Martin DBX is not a typical car.

This is a high-end luxury vehicle. There’s no such thing as a base model of the DBX because every single one comes with a beautifully appointed interior. Full grain leather, an Alcantara headliner, 12-way power seats, and 14-speaker audio are all standard. Options including specialty woods, chrome trims, and contrast stitching are available if you want to further enhance the already impressive interior. Priced from $176,900, luxury is standard.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Customize Your DBX Experience

The Aston Martin DBX comes with a list of standard features that makes the top trims of other cars pale in comparison. You’re guaranteed a certain level of luxury, but there’s always the opportunity to add something extra to make your DBX even more special. Options on the DBX take an already luxurious car and make it truly stunning.

Opt for a leather headliner with an Alcantara roof blind, contrast stitching, 16-way power seats, a choice of quilted or perforated seat detailing, and an embroidered or leather embossed Aston Martin wing or DBX logo for the seats. A wide range of interior veneers includes light ash or dark ziricote open pore wood, twill carbon fiber, bronze metal mesh, and solid walnut. Outside, choose from nine brake caliper colors and carbon fiber or glass black accents. You can make your DBX uniquely yours depending on the finishes you choose.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

A Powerful and Responsive Engine

This is an SUV, but it’s also a performance car. Power comes from a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine with 545 horsepower and 216 lb-ft of torque paired to a 9-speed automatic transmission. It instantly responds when you press the gas and makes short work of highway merges. It’s where the performance heart of the brand shows.

The DBX can go from 0 to 60 mph in a cool 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 181 mph. You won’t be hitting that on any road in the US so best go find your favorite track and book some time to put the DBX through its paces. Though it’s an automatic, there are paddle shifters should you choose to take over the job of shifting gears. It’s not necessary because the transmission is so well-timed, but it is fun to take control and let the revs climb.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

A Luxury Ride With Sports-Car Handling

Performance cars are not known for being smooth rides. Everything that makes a car great on a track tends to make it stiff and uncomfortable for passengers on roads, especially over longer trips. The Aston Martin DBX is a performance car, but it’s also a luxury car, so it finds a balance between performance and comfort. Handling is crisp and responsive, making winding highway onramps and twisting country roads nothing short of an absolute joy to drive. It stays planted to the road like a sporty sedan rather than the average SUV.

At the same time, the suspension system is compliant enough that the bumps and dips on those country roads won’t jostle passengers. Even rough pavement and potholes go unnoticed without any undue vibration or noise. The DBX has handling that makes driving an engaging experience with a ride that lets passengers stay comfortable and relaxed.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

An Interior Focused on Comfort and Beauty

A large part of what makes a luxury car luxurious is the interior. It must be comfortable, quiet, and richly appointed or it won’t feel right. The Aston Martin DBX delivers and then some, making an absolutely stunning first impression the moment you open the door. No hard plastic surfaces are to be found. Instead, there are rich leathers on the seats, doors, and dashboard. There’s also three-zone automatic climate control to keep everyone comfortable along with heated front and rear seats.

Front seats are 12-way power adjustable so regardless of your size, you can adjust the seats to hold you firmly in place on the corners. While the front seats are the most comfortable spot in the DBX, rear passengers aren’t forgotten. Rear seats are supportive and roomy making them ideal for even long road trips. The quality of materials and overall comfort of the DBX are superb.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Room for Cargo

The DBX is an SUV, so it must be able to handle cargo, not just passengers. Its tailgate opens to reveal 22.32 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats. That easily holds a family’s belongings for a getaway. It’s not a cavernous amount of space, but it does give the DBX added versatility that can’t be found in a sedan. In addition, the rear seats split fold 40/20/40 to accommodate longer items that might not otherwise fit.

One last bit of cargo versatility comes from the ability to tow. The DBX has a maximum tow rating of up to 5,940 pounds. If your priority is carrying lots of cargo, then the DBX might not be the best choice. There are other 5-passenger SUVs that have more interior room with lower load floors and less sloped rooflines for handling larger items, but few have the style of the DBX.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Good Standard Safety and All-Wheel Drive

The 2021 Aston Martin DBX makes safety a priority with a wide range of standard safety features. These include adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and blind-spot monitoring.

There’s also standard all-wheel drive for handling rough weather or unpaved roads. You can raise the air suspension for extra ground clearance, which makes this SUV more capable off-road. It also makes dealing with snow-covered roads easier. The Aston Martin DBX delivers a combination of safety features and capability to make driving safer no matter the road conditions.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

An Infotainment System That Falls Short

Nothing is perfect, and the infotainment system is the one area of the Aston Martin DBX that doesn’t quite live up to expectations. There’s a large 10.25 infotainment screen, but it isn’t a touchscreen. Instead, there’s a touchpad control on the center console that works along with a dial to scroll through available menus. It works well enough, but we are not a fan of touchpad controls in a car. They’re easy to use when the car is stationary, but the moment the car gets moving, it’s a challenge every time you go over a bump that makes your finger jump.

There are four USB ports, navigation, AM/FM, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an 800-watt 14-speaker premium audio system. Smartphone connectivity includes Apple CarPlay, but not Android Auto. The large screen and premium audio are great, but lack of a touchscreen and Android Auto are drawbacks.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin

Final Thoughts

The 2021 Aston Martin DBX is a true luxury performance SUV. It has bold exterior styling and a sumptuous interior that makes it look and feel special. And it is special. You won’t see these parked all over town, which gives them a distinct exclusivity that adds to their appeal. There are other luxury suvs out there, but few with the same lure of an Aston Martin.

In addition to its luxury trappings, the DBX delivers on the performance heritage of the brand. The engine is responsive and powerful and will have you seeking out twisting roads just for the joy of tossing the DBX through the corners. It’s a brilliant combination of luxury and performance in a thoroughly modern and versatile SUV. Those with the budget for a luxury car and the desire for a performance SUV would enjoy taking the DBX for a spin.

Photo by Nicole Wakelin