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Don’t be fooled by its SUV appearance; the 2023 Aston Martin DBX retains the British brand’s racy DNA. It’s larger than a DB11 and less agile than a Vantage, but unlike its low-slung siblings, this high-riding ute has a usable back seat, more cargo space, and can tow and go off-road. The standard DBX has a lovely twin-turbo V-8 engine, but it’s not as quick as some less highly priced competitors. The new 697-hp DBX 707, which has a hotter engine and other optimizations, is the solution. Every example also includes a luxurious interior that can be extensively customized. However, we wish it had a firmer brake pedal and a full suite of active safety features. Still, the 2023 DBX is as stylish and entertaining as Aston’s grand touring cars; it’s just disguised as an SUV.
With the introduction of the DBX 707 in 2023, Aston Martin finally adds a faster, more powerful model. It has a redesigned version of the previously standard twin-turbo V-8 engine, which produces 697 horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque. The standard nine-speed automatic transmission with a conventional torque converter is also replaced by a nine-speed unit with a wet-clutch pack. These power figures represent increases of 155 and 147 percent over the standard engine, respectively. The DBX 707 is claimed to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and from 0 to 100 mph in 7.4 seconds. A set of standard carbon-ceramic brakes assist in stopping this fast SUV. Along with distinctive exterior elements, the DBX 707’s interior features an updated center console with a rotary gear selector. Shortcut buttons have also been added to the center stack to make adjusting drive-mode settings easier.
Aston Martin offers a plethora of customization options for the DBX, particularly through its Q customization service. We like the Accelerate interior theme, with its mix of leather and faux suede and the Sports Plus seats, from the company’s online configurator. Outside, we’d go with the lovely Minotaur Green paint and the 22-inch black-and-bronze Ribbon wheels. We’d also get the tow package, the power tailgate, and the Sports Exhaust system, which allows us to enjoy the engine’s music even more.
Performance, Engine, and Transmission
The standard DBX is powered by a Mercedes-AMG twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 engine. The engine produces 542 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque and is paired with a Mercedes-Benz nine-speed automatic transmission. The AMG powertrain in the DBX 707 has been revised and now produces 697 horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque. Its nine-speed automatic transmission employs a wet-clutch pack rather than the torque converter found in the standard transmission. While the DBX is primarily rear-wheel drive, a center transfer case transfers torque to the front axle when rear slippage is detected. It can tow up to 5940 pounds and has a limited-slip rear differential. The Aston Martin comes standard with adaptive dampers and height-adjustable air springs, which are great for off-roading. The DBX we tested hit 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, which is respectable for a hot SUV, but the Lamborghini Urus and other competitors are noticeably faster. The DBX 707 was significantly faster, reaching 60 mph in 3.1 seconds. The version we drove on the best roads in England highlighted the engine’s lusty soundtrack and the transmission’s unobtrusive operation. Its chassis demonstrated a wide range of demeanors, from refined and relaxed to responsive and playful, thanks to a diverse set of drive modes. Despite the ute’s short 157-foot stop from 70 mph, the brake pedal was unresponsive.
Speed
The Aston Martin DBX’s base engine is a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 with 542 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. A standard all-wheel-drive system is powered by a nine-speed automatic transmission. 0-60 mph took 4.0 seconds in our testing. The fuel economy rating is 14/20 mpg city/highway. The top speed is a respectable 181 mph.
Real-World MPG and Fuel Economy
The EPA estimates that the regular DBX will get 14 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway. We haven’t had a chance to test the standard model’s real-world fuel economy on our 75-mph highway route yet, but when we do, we’ll update this story with the results. Visit the EPA’s website for more information on the DBX’s fuel economy.
Cargo, Interior, and Comfort
The Aston Martin DBX shares a lot of its switchgear with the rest of the Aston Martin lineup. The interior is beautifully stitched leather with soft-touch surfaces and a microsuede headliner. The ute includes a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, configurable ambient lighting, three-zone climate control, and heated front and rear seats as standard equipment. Optional features include ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a variety of even more luxurious cabin materials. Adults will have plenty of knee and headroom in the rear seats. There’s also plenty of cargo space, with 22 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 54 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.
Adults should be completely comfortable in the back seat of the 2023 Aston Martin DBX. With 41.7 inches in front and 40.9 inches in back, there’s plenty of legroom and headroom. The trunk space is more than adequate, measuring 22.3 cubic feet behind the back row and 54.0 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded down.
Connectivity and infotainment
The large 10.2-inch infotainment screen, which is based on an outdated Mercedes interface, is unresponsive to touch inputs. Instead, the unit is controlled by the steering-wheel buttons and a rotary knob on the center console; an integrated touchpad is optional. Popular features include Apple CarPlay integration, built-in navigation, a 14-speaker stereo, and multiple USB and 12-volt charging outlets.
The 2023 Aston Martin DBX is loaded with high-tech features. Every model comes standard with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.2-inch digital infotainment display. Unlike other Aston Martin models, the DBX has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 14 speakers are included in standard audio.
Price
Price range: $185,900 – $207,680
Also Read: 2019 Aston Martin Vantage Engine Specs & Review
2023 Aston Martin DBX707
More powerful, more exclusive, more than everything. That’s what the world’s richest people want from their SUVs these days. Once boasting long wheelbase, chauffeur-driven sedans, wealth is now on display to the masses in the form of farm-capable family pickup trucks and ubers with impressive price tags. And while the Germans have been working on AMGs, Ms and Turbos for decades, Aston Martin is only now joining the club — and in a solid way. Say hello to the 2023 Aston Martin DBX707, – take a deep breath – a more powerful, exclusive, sinister, more capable and yes, more expensive version of the DBX SUV.
After arriving late into the game with its first-ever SUV, Aston probably now knows just how profitable this segment of the industry is. But you would be wrong if you thought this was all a quick cash joke. No, there’s a real sense of pride behind the brand’s only SUV, which, as The Drive editor-in-chief Kyle Chirumcha put it after driving one through the deserts of Arabia: “It’s an Aston Martin.”
Now it’s the 2023 Aston Martin DBX707’s job to build on that and make the DBX brand an even bigger success for the tight-knit automaker until recently. And if horsepower is any indication of how eager she is to play the sleek, high-dollar SUV game, it’s safe to say Aston hasn’t rolled up its sleeves — it’s completely removed the jersey.
Also Read: 2021 Aston Martin DBX Review – Design, Engine, Release date and Price
2023 Aston Martin DBX707 engine
It is powered by the same AMG-derived 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 found on the regular DBX and other models in the Aston range. It makes a whopping 697 horsepower and towers 155 horsepower over the smaller model, although the new SUV is more than just extra power. The 2023 Aston Martin DBX707 is the result of a so-called “transformation engineering agreement” with Mercedes-Benz, where the Germans bring in equipment and some know-how, but the Brits at Gaydon design the powertrain using external components, as well as all calibration that ranges from firing command to turbo management and software tuning.
Another major update is the new “wet-clutch” nine-speed automatic transmission, which replaces the base car’s traditional dry-clutch setup. In short, a wet clutch is much more efficient and more powerful than a dry clutch because the plates always remain under the oil. (If you’d like to learn more, I encourage you to delve into this exciting topic in your own time.) The new setup is designed to better handle the higher power and torque sent from the engine, while providing faster gear changes and more linear acceleration. This translates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds compared to 4.3 in the regular car, but also for a more engaging driving experience.
2023 Aston Martin DBX707 Exterior
Although the 2023 Aston Martin DBX707 is not a completely new design, it is fundamentally different from the standard model in design, although most of the changes are somewhat discreet. For example, the grille must grow to supply a more powerful engine with more air. Other air intakes around the front have also been modified to allow more airflow for aerodynamic purposes or to cool components such as the standard new carbon-ceramic brakes. The front splitter is also more visible, for a wider and more dangerous stance. Overall, the airflow has been increased by up to 80 percent.
Now, for the non-confidential details. First, the beautiful duck-tailed deck lid remains, but now a new lip wing on the roof spoiler is joining it. This spoiler reduces lift and increases stability at high speeds, along with the least-thin design element on an SUV: the rear diffuser. This massive unit looks like it came straight out of a Valkyrie supercar (wait, it is!), and it’s just a nice piece of the chassis body that gives the 2023 Aston Martin DBX707 a very cool elbow-like look.
2023 Aston Martin DBX707 interior
Like the devil himself, the reason for the test car’s exorbitant price lies in the details. The two-tone interior costs $7,600, satin black 23-inch wheels $5,100, carbon fiber interior trim is $4,500, lime green stitching is $2,100, and a steep black exterior costs $1,600. These pale in comparison to the Q Satin Lunar White and Carbon Fiber exterior package, which will set you back $8,900 and $9,200, respectively. This takes you from the base MSRP of $239,086 to the post options price of $291,586 in the blink of an eye.
Aston Martin is directly targeting the Lamborghini Urus, Bentley Bentayga Speed and Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT. These are some serious competitors – and the kind that target people more than vanity.
