2020 Aston Martin DBX: prices, power, performance, tech and release date (updated)
Does Aston's newest car meet your DBX-pectations?
AFTER MONTHS of teasers the Aston Martin DBX has been unveiled in full, officially marking the arrival of the British marque’s first SUV in its 106-year history.
What is the 2020 Aston Martin DBX?
Aston Martin is entering uncharted waters with its latest automotive offering: the all-new DBX is the firm’s first attempt at a luxury SUV.
While it will likely find itself parked on Bond Street more than driven as if in a James Bond movie, its makers say the car is still a proper Aston at heart. The company claims the DBX has cornering and braking performance on a par with its sports car and grand tourer models (although this remains to be seen), and under the bonnet lies the most powerful V8 engine available in any car Aston Martin currently makes.
All of this and more means Aston Martin expects the DBX to not only be “the most exciting SUV on the market” when it arrives next year, but also the company’s “most versatile product” to date. No doubt its biggest seller, too.
What engines will the 2020 Aston Martin DBX have?
From launch, Aston Martin DBX buyers will only get one engine: a 4-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 derived from the same motor found in the Vantage sports car.
While it shares an engine with other Astons, the DBX has the slight edge when it comes to power output. According to the car maker, the DBX’s engine produces 542bhp, a 39bhp increase over the Vantage, and the SUV’s 516 lb ft of torque is 11 lb ft punchier than that of the sports car.
The rest of the DBX’s powertrain is markedly different to what’s been featured in other Aston Martins. In a first for an Aston Martin road car, the DBX is exclusively available in all-wheel drive, and the sole transmission is an all-new, nine-speed automatic gearbox.
While having a big engine means the DBX can tow heavy loads (the car has a quoted maximum capacity of 2.7 tonnes), it also means the SUV drinks a lot of fuel. Aston Martin says its targeting fuel economy of around 19.7mpg on the combined cycle; suggesting the DBX can be driven up to 368 miles before the 85 litre fuel tank is run dry.
How fast is the 2020 Aston Martin DBX?
Despite being one of the heaviest cars Aston Martin makes (the SUV tips the scales at 2,245kg, apparently), the new DBX is by no means a slouch. According to Aston, the five-seater car can reach 62mph from a standing start in 4.5 seconds, and the top speed is a claimed 181mph.
The car maker isn’t quoting a lap time for the DBX around the Nürburgring Nordschleife, on which it honed the car, though pre-production test cars were able to “regularly” lap the track in less than eight minutes, says Aston. For reference, the fastest SUV around the 16.12-mile long course at the time of writing is the Audi RS Q8, which set a time of 7 minutes 42.253 seconds in 2019.
What tech will the 2020 Aston Martin DBX have?
Pitched as the most versatile Aston you can buy, and suitable as a daily driver, the DBX comes with a suite of creature comforts as standard: three-zone climate control; adaptive cruise control; blind spot monitoring; 360-degree parking cameras; heated front and rear seats; a 14-speaker premium sound system; and a 10.25in centre console touchscreen co-developed with Mercedes-Benz’s parent company Daimler (which also owns a 5% stake in Aston Martin).
Befitting its performance credentials, the DBX also comes with adaptive dampers, adjustable air suspension and an electric anti-roll system to reduce body lean when cornering. Aston Martin also says the DBX has braking performance on par with the DBS Superleggera grand tourer – even though the SUV is 552kg heavier, and isn’t available with carbon ceramic disc brakes like the DBS (the DBX is only available with steel disc brakes).
Optional equipment includes a heated steering wheel, ventilated front and rear seats and a self-park assist system that allows the DBX to manoeuvre itself into a parking space.
Customers can also specify an array of accessories (including a “Touring Pack” luggage set and Aston Martin-branded child and baby seats), and tailor their DBX further to their liking using the car maker’s “Q by Aston Martin” personalisation service.
How spacious is the 2020 Aston Martin DBX?
We’ll need to get in the car ourselves but the early signs suggest buyers won’t be wanting for space: being a five-door, five-seater luxury SUV, it’s unsurprisingly large, and Aston Martin claims the DBX offers class-leading front and rear leg room. Judging by what we’ve seen so far, it looks like there will be a decent amount of head room all around as well.
Aston Martin also says the DBX has impressive cargo carrying credentials. At 632 litres in size, the Aston’s boot is bigger than the load areas in rivals such as the Bentley Bentayga V8 (484 litres) and Lamborghini Urus (616 litres), and there’s an additional 62 litres of underfloor storage.
The DBX’s cargo-carrying capacity can be expanded even further by folding forward the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats (though Aston Martin has yet to say how big the boot is in this setup), and a 1.5-litre bottle of water can apparently fit in the DBX’s centre console cubby, too.
When will the 2020 Aston Martin DBX go on sale?
Aston Martin is now accepting orders for the DBX. The car maker has already confirmed the SUV will enter production at its new factory in St Athan, Wales, during the first half of next year, and the first customer cars are expected to be handed over to their owners not long after.
How much will the 2020 Aston Martin DBX cost?
Prices for the new Aston Martin DBX will start at £158,000 – putting it on par with other luxury SUVs, including the £165,000 Lamborghini Urus and the £146,450 Mercedes-AMG G63. Aston Martin also says the base price in the UK will include three year’s servicing.
What are the 2020 Aston Martin DBX’s rivals?
When it arrives on UK roads, the Aston Martin DBX will have many high-performance SUVs with which to compete, including the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, BMW X5 M50i, Range Rover Sport SVR and Bentley Bentayga V8. The DBX could also face competition from Ferrari’s forthcoming SUV model, depending on its pricing.
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