After making sports cars, GTs, and even a few luxury saloons for over a century, Aston Martin has finally taken the plunge and risked its age-old image in a bid to create an SUV that's as much an Aston as it is a practical SUV. Introduced in 2020, the Aston Martin DBX is a super luxurious and performance-packed SUV that comes with the same AMG 4.0-liter bi-turbo V-8 used in the Vantage. For 2022, it's even offered in a new high-performance variant called the DBX 707 which takes the power output up to 697 horsepower. With prices starting at $188,986, the Aston Martin DBX SUV competes with the likes of the Lamborghini Urus, Bentley Bentayga V8, and others. So, here are 10 things that make the 2022 Aston Martin DBX a true work of art.

Performance Powerhouse

Powering the standard Aston Martin DBX SUV is a Mercedes-AMG sourced 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 producing 542 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. This setup comes mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission that's also been sourced from Mercedes and helps channel the engine's power to all four wheels. In addition to a highly competent AWD system, the DBX also recevies a central e-differential that helps channel most of the engine's power to the rear wheels, which gives it a very playful and tail-happy ride, especially on the limit. 0-60 mph happens in as little as 4.5 seconds and the DBX can go on to achieve a top speed of 181 mph.

The DBX 707

If, for some reason, the 542-horsepower V-8 on the regular DBX lacks poke and does not set your pants on fire, then fear not, Aston Martin has introduced a more extreme version of its super SUV called the DBX 707 and 707 in the name denotes the engine's power output in "P.S". Powering this version is the same 4.0-liter twin-turbo AMG V-8, only here it makes 697 horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque and that's a significant power bump which makes this one of the fastest production SUVs currently on sale. As a result, the DBX 707 can do 0-60 mph in just 3.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 193 mph. To put those figures into perspective, the Lamborghini Urus, which is the DBX 707's closest competitor on paper, does 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds and has a top speed of 190 mph.

Bespoke Platform

Even though Aston Martin has the option of using a Daimler platform for its DBX SUV, the brand's decision to go through the pain and extra cost of developing a bespoke platform was a difficult one but the decision paid off. The Aston Martin DBX is built on a bespoke chassis that features bonded aluminum panels and extrusions to keep the weight down and a bespoke chassis also means they have had complete freedom in tuning the DBX's chassis to be more agile and tail-happy than its competitors which makes it a truly involving SUV to drive.

Sumptuous Interiors

In a lot of ways, the DBX is a typical Aston Martin and that includes the interior. The DBX's cabin is trimmed in sumptuous leather and soft-touch materials throughout and the overall layout is near identical to other models like the Vantage. The Mercedes borrowed lineup of tech continues with the DBX, in this case, it’s the infotainment which is an older version of Mercedes's MBUX that gets the job done and comes with everything you could ever ask for including a 10.2-inch hi-res display for the infotainment, a 14-speaker sound system and more but the UI does feel a little last-gen compared to other VW group competitors like the Bentley Bentayga and even the cheaper Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT. The 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is not the last generation stuff and offers crisp readouts and plenty of useful bits of information and plenty of configurability.

Practicality in Spades

The biggest selling point of an SUV is the practicality it brings to the table and it's safe to say that the Aston Martin DBX is the most practical Aston to date and that's considering the elegant four-door Rapide. With 109 cubic feet of passenger room on offer, the DBX has enough space to seat four occupants in utmost comfort and luxury and even though five passengers can be accommodated given the space, the rear seat is sculpted to cater to two occupants. But the seats are supremely comfortable and offer plenty of useful features like three-zone climate control, and ventilated front seats. The boot, too, is enough to carry out family duties and offers 22 cubic feet of storage space which can be bumped up to 54 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.

One of the Fastest SUVs

The all-new Aston Martin DBX 707 is not only the fastest SUV in the brand's portfolio, it is, in fact, among the fastest in the world. Powered by a tuned-up version of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 AMG engine, the DBX 707 makes 697 horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque, or 707 PS which is how it gets its name. With its capable AWD system that's assisted by a centrally paced e-differential, the Aston Martin DBX 707 is capable of hitting 60 mph from a standstill in just 3.1 seconds which is not only 1.4 seconds quicker than the standard DBX, it's also identical to the Lamborghini Urus which for the longest time was the undisputed king of performance SUVs and the DBX 707 also boasts of a higher top speed of 193mph as opposed to the Urus's 190mph.

Mercedes-AMG Sprinkles

It’s a well-known fact at this stage that modern Aston Martin products rely heavily on Mercedes-sourced hardware which includes everything from the engine to the infotainment. But, what some of you might not know is that Daimler, which owns Mercedes is also a shareholder in Aston Martin, thus giving them access to the large reserve of Mercedes and AMG parts that can be adapted to suit any Aston Martin application. This is why the Aston Martin DBX range gets a whole host of Mercedes AMG parts, starting with the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine which is tuned specifically for the DBX in addition to the nine-speed transmission. The infotainment is a reskinned version of Mercedes's MBUX system and even the hardware for the main screen and the gauge cluster come from Mercedes.

Tailored Experience

A big part of the Aston Martin ownership experience is the personalization and tailored experience that the brand delivers. The recently unveiled Aston Martin DBX by Q is a platform to showcase the customization options and possibilities of the DBX SUV. The second part of the whole "Q" experience is how they tailor the entire experience to take one on one input from the owners and suggest them options suited to their taste and style. Everything from the paint to the wheels and interior fabric type, texture, color, and even stitching can be customized to the owner's will under the program.

Advanced safety suit

This big SUV from Aston is as modern as they come which is why the 2022 DBX comes with a whole host of safety features that make it one of the safest and quickest SUVs. The Aluminum monocoque is designed with crash safety and protection in mind and standard safety features like front and rear parking sensors, 360-degree cameras, and automatic high beam headlamps all make it a very competent platform. But the glaring lack of certain features like lane keep assistance in a vehicle claiming to be a luxury SUV with a six-figure price tag is not exactly acceptable in this day and age.

Driving Enjoyment

The Aston Martin DBX is based on an all-new platform that's bespoke to the DBX, which is why Aston has succeeded in adding a hint of RWD DNA from its GT cars which makes the 2022 DBX one of the most involving SUVs to drive. The AMG sourced 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 is a masterpiece and it comes mated to a nine-speed automatic with a wet-clutch pack unlike a conventional torque converter for crisper shifts. The AWD system relies on a central clutch pack to send the engine's torque to the front wheels when it detects slip but in most situations, it behaves primarily like a rear-wheel-drive and in conjunction with the Adaptive dampers and rear air springs, it manages to hunker down like a proper GT car.

2022 Aston Martin DBX 707 Specifications:

FAQ

Q: How much will the Aston Martin DBX cost?

The entry-level 2022 Aston Martin DBX carries a starting price of $188,986 while the high-performance version called the DBX 707 is priced at $235,086, before options.

Q: How much does an Aston Martin DBX 707 cost?

The 2022 Aston Martin DBX 707 is a more powerful version of the regular DBX SUV and it carries a starting price of $235,086.

Q: How many DBX has Aston Martin sold?

Aston Martin sells more than 3000 DBX SUVs a year which makes it the best-selling model in the British automaker's portfolio.

Q: What is the Aston Martin DBX based on?

The 2022 Aston Martin DBX is based on a bespoke chassis, designed specifically for the DBX SUV which is constructed with bonded aluminum panels and extrusions.

Q: How fast is Aston Martin DBX?

The standard Aston Martin DBX does 0-60 mph in 4.5-seconds and has a top speed of 181 mph while the more powerful DBX 707 does 0-60 mph in just 3.1 seconds and has an even more impressive top speed of 193 mph.

Q: Are Aston Martins reliable?

The new 2022 Aston Martin DBX range of SUVs uses Mercedes AMG sourced 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 and conjunction with a 9-speed automatic gearbox which is also supplied by Mercedes. These gearboxes have proved their reliability in numerous Mercedes and other Aston Martin products including the DB11 and Vantage.