There was once a time when the idea of an SUV sent chills down the spine of any petrolhead, or anyone remotely interested in driving cars with character, performance or genuine sex appeal. That time is most certainly over. Want proof? Let’s talk about the new Aston Martin DBX S. Now probably the finest example of what super-SUV ownership should look and feel like.
It’s the latest in a long line to get the “S” badge treatment, signifying a “special, high-performance” version of an existing model. The thing is, the existing model in question is the DBX707—already highly lauded, highly powerful and uncompromisingly loved by its owners. So just how has Aston Martin made it even more special?
For starters, it’s whacked another 20PS into the engine, taking its total power to 727PS or 717bhp. That’s 2bhp more than the Ferrari Purosangue and, while only two, officially makes it the most powerful combustion-only SUV on the planet. That’s alpha talk. It does this by taking turbo tech directly from the forthcoming Valhalla supercar, delivering more shove at the top of the rev range. Speaking of which, the DBX S also produces a thumping 900Nm of torque from its Mercedes-born 4.0-liter biturbo “hot V” V8. And it feels utterly monstrous.
It shifts itself from 0-62mph in only 3.3 seconds. That’s supercar territory like Lamboghinis, McLarens, Porsche 911s. Yet, remember, this is a two-ton SUV. We already know how deft at managing pitch and roll the DBX707 was, and this continues in the DBX S (more on this later), but Aston Martin has been busy innovating on new ways to remove weight, as well. For the first time ever on an SUV, you can now spec Magnesium wheels, 75 percent lighter than steel and half that of Titanium. You can also spec an entirely carbon fiber roof, saving 18kg from the highest point on the car and solidifying its center of mass.
That takes us to the handling, and it’s still just as devastatingly quick yet refined as before. Air springs and electronic dampers. Electronic roll control that keeps it to 1.5 degrees maximum, enough to feel a corner naturally but flatter than many two-seater sports cars today. In short: it barely flinches. It’s so good at what it does, you’d most likely find your own limit way before you find the car’s. Even then, this thing takes so much in its stride, it’s so planted, so bruisingly fast, you might not even notice. And on highways, around the city or at lower speeds—any time you want it to be “normal”—it blends in. It’s smooth, quiet and chilled. It’s luxuriously comfortable.
Inside the cockpit, it’s the same story. You get lightweight sporting Alcantara as standard, but you can choose semi-aniline leather if you want instead. There are “S” badges embossed and debossed with extreme pressure on the seats for sub-millimeter precision, and it appears on the treadplates and engine plaque, too. Every material, every angle is a work of beautiful craftsmanship. It literally makes you feel good inside. Bad day? Go sit in the DBX S for half an hour.
And there’s a 14 speaker Aston Martin audio system packed away inside, too, with the option to spec it up to a 23 speaker Bowers & Wilkins system acoustically designed to the interior shape and volume of the DBX S. That said, if you go hunting for the upper echelons of performance in the DBX S, using Sport or Sport+ modes, you’ll likely prefer to listen to the throaty engine note reverberating out its vertically stacked exhaust pipes at maximum attack. Also new to the S in either gloss or matte finishes.
This is another fine example of Aston Martin’s dedication to sheer, combustion-led beauty—thrills all day long, mesmerizing automotive design, total luxury at every touch. If driving an SUV can be like this every day, surely any petrolhead can convert. The SUV category is being redefined, and you’ve got front row seats to the new alpha in town.
