Should You Buy a 2021 Aston Martin DBX?

There’s something a bit odd about writing a Should You Buy feature for a vehicle like the new 2021 Aston Martin DBX.

After all, if you’re considering a model like the DBX, we would venture a guess that the decision isn’t strictly needs-based. You saw it, you liked it, and you want it. As we mentioned in our 2021 Aston Martin DBX review, you won’t be disappointed.

That said, there are some people who want a sport utility vehicle, can afford to get the best one, and may feel overwhelmed by the sudden number of options on the market. The DBX is one of the latest in a long line of upscale sport utility vehicles like the Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus, recent Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Range Rover and a half-a-dozen others.

The 2021 Aston Martin DBX rides on its own platform designed by Aston Martin and an advanced chassis comprised of a triple-chamber adaptive air suspension and active anti-roll bars. It is powered by a twin-turbo V8 sourced from Mercedes-AMG that delivers 542 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque paired with a 9-speed gearbox and a slightly modified version of Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel drive system.

Why You Should Buy a 2021 Aston Martin DBX

• •  The design. Aston Martin has developed some of the most beautiful cars in automotive history, and successfully translated its unique styling language to a utility format. The DBX is bigger than it appears, measuring the same as a Range Rover in length. But it doesn’t feel big, and the proportions are perfect.

• • The interior. The intricate patterns of the seats, the premium leather, the precise stitching… They all come together to create a welcoming and calming environment. The 12.1-inch centre display and the 10-inch centre console give a modern touch to the overall design and the seats will both hold you in place in sharp turns and keep you comfy on long drives.

• • The performance. We will touch on this in more detail in a second, but the performance of the DBX on its own is quite impressive. It reaches 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds with progressive performance that is easy to manage and just about zero lag from the engine when you floor it. Smooth would be the right way to describe how the DBX performs.

• • The sound. My goodness does the DBX sound good. The exhaust roars to life, screams at speed, and pops when you downshift. It can also be tuned down using the various drive modes if you don’t want the excitement.

• • The handling. The Aston Martin DBX never feels big or bulky going around corners. It is remarkably stable and poised, and capable of achieving the same level of body roll as the DB11 when the active anti-roll bars are tuned to the sportiest setting.

• • The balance. The DBX is perfectly balanced between performance and comfort. It is more than happy to spend long hours on the highway and wraps its passengers in impressive silence and refinement. As far as SUVs for daily driving, the DBX is one of the best.

• • The value. We know, value isn’t necessarily applicable when talking about six-figure SUVs, but still. The DBX comes in at a lower price point as the Lamborghini Urus or Bentley Bentayga, but with the same exclusivity and wow-factor.

Why You Shouldn’t Buy a 2021 Aston Martin DBX

• • We touched on performance earlier as one of the DBX’ selling points. That said, the Aston Martin can’t match up with the Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne Turbo, BMW X5 M or Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 in terms of pure straight-line accelerations.

• • There’s some tech missing from the DBX, namely Android Auto. This probably isn’t an issue for the model’s target demographics and it’s not like its competitors do much better, but it’s worth noting.

Final Word

We can summarize the Aston Martin DBX by saying that it is one of the more balanced options in the upscale SUV segment. It is more comfortable, user-friendly, versatile, and refined than a Lamborghini Urus, X5 M or AMG GLE 63. It is more exclusive and gets noticed more than anything from BMW, Mercedes-AMG or Porsche, and although it doesn’t have the comfort of a Bentayga, it’s not far off while also offering better handling and performance.