This is what the Aston Martin DBX should have been the whole time. Changes to the chassis, handling, equipment, design and technology have finally positioned the two-row spot utility vehicle (SUV) where it belongs.
Driving the model when it debuted, I was disappointed on a number of levels. Was fabulously intriguing on the exterior but the interior wasn't as fine. The SUV's infotainment system was a relic borrowed from Mercedes-Benz and handling was subpar. Driving around the famous La Honda area of California, my arms were exhausted by the time I arrived at the ocean.
Fast forward a few years and the DBX707 was a small leap forward. With more power and improved handling, the mess was tidied up a bit. On the highway and rural roads around Sardinia where I test drove it, the SUV was fine. And, it remained as externally stylish as ever.
At the time I thought that this was a good first-go at the SUV, placing it near where it should have started to begin with.
Now, DBX707 has received a redo. This one cuts deep and improves the vehicle in nearly every way. It, like the next-generation of the DB, moves the Aston Martin story forward and into greater relevancy.
Seeing the bright color palette of the cars parked alongside streets lined with the coal-blackened buildings of Edinburgh, Scotland, one couldn't help but smile. There's something about an audacious paint job that screams "wealthy supercar owner".
Aston's Q bespoke commissioning department had specified these, with some wearing far-from-traditional interiors. The orange-on-orange was aesthetically like riding in a giant Sunkist can. But, did it spark joy? You bet your bippy it did.
Driving them sparked joy as well. Out of the city we were in right-hand drive testers. The streets of Edinburgh are not known to be particularly vehicle friendly with potholes there as if to remind you that you, horseless carriage, are a guest in city that has officially been chartered for nearly 500 years.
The Aston soaked up the imperfections, and the cabin was a serene and quiet place despite the hustle and bustle outside. These were the first real inklings that perhaps Aston's engineering team had stumbled upon something.
Winding out of Edinburgh via highway, across the Queensferry Crossing bridge and continuing north toward Knockhill Racing Circuit, the SUV began to show its true self. Sure, it was quick and smooth to accelerate, but it was also far more nimble and responsive than in the past.
Blocking out engine, transmission and road noise has its advantages - conversation abounds and a lush countryside drive is even more serene.
Sitting in style, the driver and passengers are surrounded by supple and precisely placed leather surfaces forming a wave-like dashboard design that is uninterrupted by an overly complex mix of materials like what some automakers are installing.
The minimization is no less intriguing thanks to wave-like martial ebbs and flows across the dash, wrapping around the 12.3-inch infotainment screen and vents as if it is pulling them in for a warm winter hug.
Some hard surfaces, necessary for function and adding to the style of the car, play into the mix contrasting hard and soft for the fingers and eyes.
There are physical controls, buttons and knobs like in the glorious days of yore, but not so many function is confused or they require your eyes to leave the road for any length of time to find.
Arriving at Gleneagles Resort for a coffee break there was the overwhelming feeling of, "already?" The two hours on the road had flown by, partially because of the in-car company but also because of the relaxation the serenity of the space afforded.
Whether going from low to mid-speed on a city street or high to to higher speed on a highway, the car's twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine and seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission never hesitated to provide exactly what was asked for.
Though the route through Scotland did not afford the opportunity to test on long, sweeping curves at higher rates of speed, the DBX seemed primed for the opportunity.
A different sort of opportunity presented itself about 15 minutes from Gleneages, on a hillside where we took the DBX on an off-road course that a Subaru Outback could do without issue given a proper driver and tires.
It performed as expected, and proved plenty capable of getting its occupants from their house in the city to the country pile.
Where the DBX falters isn't in its interior design or materials or power. Ultimately, the thing most wrong with it is the relationship between Aston Martin and Apple. Like in any marriage, one party is completely innocent in the matter. Here, that's Aston Martin.
Using in-car navigation that is linked to an iPhone does not allow drivers to utilize the brilliant on-screen navigation display inside the driver's information screen. Instead, they must rely on the infotainment screen and voice commands.
In areas of the world where there is more space between turn possibilities, this isn't a major deal, just disappointing. When you're navigating outside your usual route in the UK or Europe or any number of cities in Asia, you're going to need to stare down that central screen for longer than is optimal.
Another miss for the automaker is the lack of head-up display (HUD). Having speed, cruise control, blind spot monitoring and navigation information in a HUD takes away most of the burden of using the infotainment screen and keeps eyes on the road.
Even as the day wore on, with hours of travel left on the odometer, the seats in the Aston never allowed the bum to go numb, nor provide any back discomfort. The rear seats are nearly as comfortable, but do not have the same level of bolstering, something aggressive drivers will want to remember when carrying second-row passengers.
The real truth here is that Aston's team hasn't stumbled upon anything. The DBX707 redo is a consequentially planned execution to refine the company's best-selling product and continue to bring legitimacy and credibility to a hundred-year-old brand in transition.
The SUV, which costs upwards of $250,000, competes directly with models from Ferrari and Range Rover. All three are different beasts for different appetites. This one, the DBX707, has a combination of elegance, sportiness and style that the others lack.
This is what the DBX should have been the whole time.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull leads the Autos team at Newsweek. She has written extensively about the auto industry for U.S. News & ... Read more
