2022 Aston Martin DBX SUV

　　

2022 Aston Martin DBX Review

byNick YekikianNews Editor

　　Nick Yekikian has worked in the automotive industry since 2019. He has written close to a thousand car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 200 vehicles over the course of his career. Nick is the News Editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Automobile Magazine and Super Street. When Nick isn't zipping around town in his latest used-car find, he's probably making digital art in Photoshop or playing disc golf with friends.

　　, rating written byNick YekikianDirector, Vehicle Testing

　　Jonathan Elfalan has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. As a director of vehicle testing at zzdcar, Jonathan has tested and reviewed thousands of cars and written thousands of car-related articles over the course of his career. Jonathan got his start testing cars for Road & Track magazine as a newly minted mechanical engineer grad from University of California, Irvine, and has also contributed to Motor Trend and the Associated Press. He likes to say he learned to drive a manual transmission in a rear-wheel-drive mid-engine vehicle but often omits it was his family's 1991 Toyota Previa minivan.

　　The DBX isn't just the British marque's first SUV — it's the most versatile Aston Martin ever made. With plenty of turbocharged power on tap, seating for five, and good looks, the DBX recipe makes for a great ultra-luxury SUV — as long as you can stomach the $192,000 starting price. At that price point, the DBX competes in rarefied air. The Bentley Bentayga, Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Mercedes-Maybach GLS are all serious contenders in this segment, but the DBX is the best choice if you're interested in something that drives more like a sports car and less like a land yacht.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Aston Martin DBX 4dr SUV AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$283/mo  for DBX Base

　　DBX Base

　　4dr SUV AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A) (Most Popular) - $176,900 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　The DBX's impressive performance starts with its powerful turbocharged 4.0-liter V8. Ever since the British brand partnered with Mercedes AMG, its powertrains have been a highlight. Gobs of available low-end torque get you off the line quickly, and this SUV's quick reflexes might surprise you. It's a responsive driver's car, but that doesn't mean the rest of the car has been compromised to attain that high level of performance. Instead, it's as usable as any other five-seat crossover SUV and as posh as you'd expect an Aston Martin to be.

　　Inside there are swaths of leather coating nearly every surface, with wood, metal and faux suede trim used neatly throughout the cabin. The design is familiar to anyone who's seen the interior of other Astons like the DB11 and the Vantage. Like most cars in this uber-luxurious class of SUVs, the DBX is basically fully loaded from the start. A configurable 12.3-inch digital instrument panel sits behind the steering wheel, and there is a 10-inch Mercedes-sourced screen that handles infotainment duties and many of the car's settings. For 2022, the DBX's interior gets spruced up slightly, offering a Sport Plus bucket seat and a new wireless charging mat as options. There are also four new interior "themes" for 2022: Accelerate, Create, Impulse and Inspire.

　　On the whole, the DBX is a winner. With enjoyable handling, a sumptuous interior and a fantastic V8, Aston Martin did a darn good job with its first SUV.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the DBX drive? Aston Martins have never been about world-dominating speed and grip, and the DBX isn't looking to change that. Instead you'll find an appreciable balance of everything that makes for a suitable grand-touring vehicle.

　　With its turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 thrumming under the hood, our DBX test vehicle sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and cleared the quarter mile in 12.5 seconds at 112 mph. That's ample speed for a performance SUV. The DBX also has a quick-shifting gearbox, communicative steering, and strong and smooth braking. Our only real complaints pertain to a slightly unrefined engine stop-start system and mildly overbearing stability control.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the DBX? The DBX is comfortable but falls short in a few areas. The front seats in particular feel a little flat and unyielding. They have excellent lateral support to hold you in place while cornering, but they lack any extending support for the lower cushion. The standard adaptive air suspension delivers a commendable ride over nearly any surface, especially considering the large 22-inch wheels that the DBX rolls on. Road noise is also pretty minimal, though wind noise is somewhat more prevalent.

　　The DBX has tri-zone climate (some competitors offer four-zone systems) and the system is able to warm or cool the cabin quickly. The heated and ventilated seats also work quickly. But we don't like the way the climate controls are laid out. Some functions are toggles or capacitive buttons, while other functions are accessed through the digital display.

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