Aston Martin DBX

Porsche long ago proved that performance and SUVs need not be mutually exclusive. Now it's Aston Martin's turn to show how it can be done. The 2021 Aston Martin DBX is the automaker's first-ever SUV, and one of just a few exotic-branded SUVs on the market. As a midsize five-seat SUV priced above $175,000, it's a rival to the likes of the Lamborghini Urus and Bentley Bentayga.

As you'd expect from Aston, performance is a key attribute. Power comes from an updated version of the Mercedes-sourced turbocharged V8 that's in the Vantage and DB11 sports cars. The engine produces 542 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. Mat the gas pedal and the resulting acceleration is explosive. The DBX loves to pull away quickly from a stop; you'll have to be judicious with the accelerator if you want to build speed without pinning your passengers to their seatbacks.

All the right materials are present inside the DBX, with wood, metal, leather and available faux suede trim throughout the cabin. As is typical of ultra-luxury cars, the DBX is pretty much loaded with features out of the gate. A configurable 12.3-inch digital instrument panel sits behind the steering wheel, though the true focal point is the 10-inch display screen in the center stack. As with the engine, the infotainment system is sourced from Mercedes. Unfortunately, it's an older design and is not as easy to use as Mercedes' more modern MBUX system.

On the whole, however, Aston Martin has done right with its first SUV. With effortlessly quick acceleration, stupefying handling and a top-notch interior, the DBX earns its place among the most impressive exotic SUVs on the market.

The Aston Martin DBX doesn't have any trim levels; instead it offers a multitude of stand-alone options as well as traditional and lifestyle-based option packages. If the seemingly endless list of options and interior combinations is overwhelming, Aston Martin offers ready-made, curated builds, even down to the paint color. All DBXs have a turbocharged 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 engine (542 horsepower, 516 lb-ft) and a nine-speed automatic transmission to route power to all four wheels.

DBX Even without options, the Aston is luxuriously equipped with:

• 22-inch wheels
• Adjustable air suspension with adaptive dampers
• Electronic limited-slip differential for the rear axle
• LED headlights
• Full leather upholstery
• Heated, 12-way power-adjustable front seats with memory
• Power-operated tailgate
• 10-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation
• Apple CarPlay compatibility
• Keyless entry with push-button start
• Heated rear seats
• Panoramic sunroof

The DBX also comes with:

• Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Aston Martin and the car in front)
• Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the DBX and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
• Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
• Lane keeping assist (steers the DBX back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
• Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)

Highlights of some of the DBX's many available option packages include:

• Convenience package
• Hands-free power tailgate
• Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)
• Touchpad with control for garage door opener
• Indulgence package
• 16-way power-adjustable front seats with memory settings
• Heated and ventilated front and rear seats
• Tinted rear side windows with added sound insulation
• DB Elegance package
• Quilted and perforated leather seating surfaces
• Upgraded leatherwork with embroidery
• Events package
• Rear-facing, trunk-mounted seats
• Food and dining storage, including a chilled compartment
• Picnic blanket
• Umbrella strap
• Snow package
• Roof-mounted ski rack
• Warmer for ski boots
• Bags for ski storage
• Snow chains
• Mud flaps
• Unique doorsill plates