First Drive: The Aston Martin DBX S gives you more of a good thing

What is it?

Aston Martin isn’t a brand to rest on its laurels for too long. It broke new ground in 2019 when it revealed its landmark DBX performance SUV, but shortly after, it introduced a 707 version, which took this high-riding model’s performance and handling to a new level.

Now, there’s something else – the DBX S – which takes that standard 707 recipe but tweaks it with an aim to make this Aston Martin SUV even more engaging from behind the wheel. We’ve been trying it out to see what has changed.

What’s new?

The ‘S’ badge has quite a lot of history behind it, with Aston Martin applying this to a variety of its go-faster models. In the DBX S, it brings extra power and a greater quest for lightness, brought through elements such as a full carbon fibre roof and optional magnesium wheels which help to shave off up to 47kg when compared to the 707.

The DBX has also undergone some style changes in its transition to ‘S’ with features such as a larger grille aiming to give this car even more presence than before – though it wasn’t really lacking in this department to begin with, in truth.

What’s under the bonnet?

You’ll find the same thumping 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine underneath the bonnet of the DBX S as you’ll get in the 707, but power has been increased by 20bhp for a total of 717bhp. With a total torque figure of 900Nm, the DBX S will crack 0-60mph in 3.1 seconds and will carry onwards to a top speed of 193mph.

Aston Martin has also tweaked the DBX’s exhaust system for an even more characterful sound, while the steering has been made slightly quicker to ensure a direct turn-in. You’ll find huge carbon ceramic brakes at each corner, too, helping to bring this heavyweight to a stop.

What’s it like to drive?

It’ll come as no surprise that the DBX S is very, very fast. Like the 707, the DBX S is the kind of car that can make long distances turn very short, all accompanied by a raucous soundtrack. There’s plenty of agility to go with all of that performance, mind you. Aston’s engineers decided not to equip all-wheel steering to the DBX, and through longer, sweeping bends, it’s remarkably composed as a result.

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.

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.

What’s it like inside?

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.

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 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.