Review: Aston Martin Returns to Glory With the DBX 707 SUV

As the SUV market gathers momentum, British sportscar stalwart Aston Martin is finally entering the fray

Aston Martin’s heyday was during the late 1950s and the 1960s with the famous DB4 or DB5 of James Bond fame. Back then, while their sportscars were powerful and finished with handcrafted luxury, they were heavy. No one really cared much about weight back then, but in the ensuing years, the sportscar market became obsessed with low weight and ever-increasing power levels. Luxury finishes took a backseat as it simply increased weight.

Then in the last decade or so, the SUV genre blossomed into an entire eco-system of their own. There are small ones, mid-sized ones and oversized ones. There are also luxury ones and sporty ones but the best thing is, no one really cared about the weight of the SUVs which readily exceed two tons.

This is a market Aston Martin could ill-afford to ignore, so they seized the opportunity with both hands. Back in 2020, they launched their 550 hp DBX SUV amidst the pandemic and just two years later, we are in Sardinia for the launch of the even more powerful Aston Martin DBX 707. Touted as the world’s most powerful luxury SUV, it is a golden opportunity for Aston Martin to rush to the head of the class.

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Aston Martin have long been building sportscars with levels of handcrafted luxury that could rival Bentley or Rolls Royce. However, the sportscar world has been unkind to Aston Martin as such levels of craftsmanship was not really appreciated as much as 0-100 km/h times and top-speeds. As weight seems immaterial in the SUV world, Aston Martin could now pack in as much of their luxury touches as they wanted.

Not surprisingly, the interior of the DBX 707 is upholstered in a way that the typical sportscars cannot match. The leather is sculpted to create some designs that are unique to Aston Martin and the artisanal quality is there for those who can appreciate the finer points in life.

But there is little time to savour the delights of the superbly appointed cabin because the open road beckons and I am about to pilot an Aston Martin with a beefed-up engine that delivers a staggering 707 hp, a significant power bump of 157 hp over the standard DBX. This is a serious machine that is capable of sprinting to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds, very close to supercar territory. Given enough road it will reach a top speed of 310 km/h.

Of course, there is a concern about endowing a SUV with this much power, but within the first few minutes of driving the DBX 707, my fears were allayed. The DBX 707 displays deft, sure-footedness, worthy of sportscars. The engineering team behind the DBX 707 has really put in the requisite effort and know-how to deliver a superb handling SUV.

In the mountains of Sardinia, the DBX 707 was in its element. Its steering displays uncommon clarity and communication to make light work of difficult roads. Weighing 2.2 tons the DBX 707 is surprisingly agile because during the development of the DBX, the engineers designed the DBX around sportscar principles, putting the heaviest components close to the middle of the chassis and mounted as low as possible.

They have also used aluminium in the body extensively to keep the weight as low as possible, just like their sportscars. The result is a well-sorted chassis riding on triple chamber air springs that can vary in height to suit rough terrain or be lowered on smooth roads to enhance stability.

Surprisingly, this sort of handling does not come at the expense of ride comfort at all. Even on the optional 23-inch wheels and wide tyres, the ride remains supple enough and manages to take the sting out of the worst of road imperfections. Body control is also very impressive for a SUV, maintaining composure as if it were a sportscar.

It is no secret that Aston Martin uses engines from Mercedes’ AMG division. This particular turbocharged V8 has power just shy of Mercedes Benz’s fastest car at the moment—the AMG GT Black Series with 730 hp—and unsurprisingly provides phenomenal performance.

To improve the gear change response, Aston Martin has upgraded the eight-speed gearbox to a wet multi-plate clutch set-up. This has allowed the DBX 707 to shift with more snap and yet be able to tow something like a boat trailer, unlike the double clutch variety which cannot do so. While it does not make much sense in our local market, it is important in countries where owners want to transport their boats in summer.

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I have come away deeply impressed with the Aston Martin DBX 707. It is definitely not the run-of-the-mill SUV. Even among the sporty SUVs, it more than holds its own, neatly occupying the position between the luxe Bentley Bentayga and the more overtly sporty Lamborghini Urus. It is quicker than either of them, is as well appointed as the Bentayga and is as sporty as the Urus, but is as comfy as the Bentayga. Right now, Aston Martin may not be winning at Formula One, but the DBX 707 has certainly won me over.

DETAILS

Price: TBA
Engine: 3,982cc, Twin-Turbo V8
Transmission: 9-Speed Automatic with Multi-plate wet clutch
Power: 707 PS at 6000rpm
Torque: 900 Nm at 4500 rpm
0-100 km/h: 3.3 seconds
Top Speed: 310 km/h
Fuel Consumption: 14.2 litres/100km(WLTP Combined)
Agent: Wearnes Automotive

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Credits

Images

Dominic Fraser and Max Earey

Topics

Aston Martin Aston Martin DBX 707 supercar SUV luxury SUV

Tatler Asia

Aston Martin Makes Its Return to Its Glory Days With the DBX 707