Aston Martin DBX review

As you might expect, there’s a herd’s-worth of cow in most DBXs, and it’s all very buttery and fragrant, with an initial palette of 35 colour and material choices along with two brightware finishes to slather everywhere. If that’s not enough, then you can always go full bespoke and order through AM’s ‘Q’ Department to get that peppermint green-over-tan that you’ve always wanted (though you’d probably end up with the taste police chasing you with a pool ball in a sock).

Still, the front seats are particularly pretty, and the rest of the interior is well-suited to four people, with an occasional seat for five. General leg and headroom is very good – that’s down to the generous wheelbase and bespoke aluminium chassis – and although the doors are physically short, they open wide, which means the DBX is surprisingly accommodating and useful in tight parking spots, despite its overall width.

Talk to me about the load bay.

There’s a 623-litre boot (big enough for most uses), and proper full-split configurations for the rear seats, as well as another 62-litre cubby under the boot floor, meaning you can do a passable impersonation of a luxurious removals van if you have to. Plus Aston has done away with a daft oversight. Presumably to save money, early DBXs were only available with a removable towbar – i.e. you had to lie on your back under the car to fit it. Not very luxury SUV. You can now have a fully electric one.   

Ok enough nonsense, how’re things for the driver?

Shall we just say ‘mixed’ and leave it there?

No.

OK, here goes. Up front you get a 12.3-inch screen for the instrument cluster, allied to a 10.25-inch multimedia screen in the centre console with techy bits derived from – you guessed it – Mercedes. It’s all very nice, but the centre rectangular screen sits behind a more organic shape, and looks a little misplaced.

And it’s not a touchscreen. When the DBX first launched that was kind of OK, but now it seems to be about the only car in the world that doesn’t have one. Well, this and the even more flawed Ferrari Purosangue. Using a clickwheel is clunky, but you will get by. It’ll just take a while.

One thing that’s actually very useful is the storage area under the central tunnel – a bit of a boon when you want to chuck a small bag somewhere. But generally it’s a car with decent vision, plenty of toys (even the ‘base’ stereo is an 800-watt, 14-speaker system) and a luxo-barge feel.

But yeah, the lack of touchscreen now feels particularly backward and while the cabin ergonomics are decent, there’s not the same range of adjustment and equipment available as in rivals. Still, great driving position, fine sculpted seats, warm, welcoming cabin ambience and a relaxed driver focus all add up to an individual SUV that’s unlike any other, and still a genuine Aston.