Find some sharper, shorter corners and the DBX S feels more like a hot-hatch on stilts; you can really find a groove with this car and use all of its tools at your disposal.A small application of throttle allows you to tighten your line, while those big ceramic brakes do a great job of slowing things down when you need to.They were squeaking a fair bit by the end of our test run, mind you. Fuel efficiency, as you might expect, isn’t the best – even during longer cruises, we failed to beat 20mpg.
systems. It’s a streamlined process and one which works really well – we hope to see it in other cars soon.
Verdict
The DBX707 was already a masterclass in how to make a big SUV handle properly and the S just takes things a step further. It’s a slightly sharper, slightly more focused and slightly more powerful proposition overall, which makes it into one of the best performance SUVs around today. The only question left is why you’d opt for the 707 when the new S exists? It’s the one we’d be grabbing the keys to right away.
How does it look?
The DBX S has had a few design tweaks over the 707 to help spruce things up a bit.There’s a bigger, more air- sucking grille than before, while around at the rear, that diffuser is bigger and more eye-catching than before.As with all Aston Martin vehicles, there’s an extensive range of customisation options at your disposal, with a near-endless range of exterior colours to choose from. There’s carbon fibre aplenty on the outside of the S, too, and you’ve got small model-specific badges close to the front wheels to help highlight this car as something a little different.
Model as tested:Aston Martin DBX S
Price: £210,000
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8
Power: 717bhp
Torque: 900Nm
What’s it like inside?
Max speed: 193mph
As with previous iterations of the DBX, there’s a great blend of the modern and traditional in the S.The solid controls and rocker switches for elements such as the volume aren’t just more intuitive than a touchscreen-only version – they add an extra level of theatre which you look for in cars like the DBX. It’s a cocoon-like cabin, too, so you get more of a sports car-like impression behind the wheel than you do in your typical SUV. It’s definitely more of an occasional five-seater, mind you; the outer rear seats have a decent amount of space, but it’s pretty snug for whoever is sitting in the middle. Rear-seat headroom isn’t too bad, given the car’s raked roofline and with its 638-litre boot, the DBX S has those practicality requirements licked as well.
0-60mph: 3.1 seconds
MPG: 15mpg (est)
Emissions: TBC
What’s the spec like?
The DBX S is a premium vehicle and, as a result, carries a premium price. Prices start at £210,000 and, with a smattering of options, it wouldn’t be hard to crank this up close to the £250,000 mark.That said, there’s a good level of standard features, with one of the most important being Apple CarPlay Ultra.The DBX is the first car in the world to get this tech, which relays all of your main information, such as apps and Apple iPhone functions, on the main binnacle ahead of the driver. It works really well in reality, too, and since the car’s native elements, such as heating and settings, are integrated into CarPlay, there’s no need to switch between the two
112 | mccartthyhollden..co..uk
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online