Aston Martin DB9
Ratings
4 stars
Summary
Recommended. Another achingly cool car from Aston, one that splits the difference between a supercar and a grand tourer. Start saving now.
Review
One of the most beautiful cars of recent years, the DB9 is another stunning reason to put Aston Martin at the top of your lottery wish list.
Engineered with the technical resources of Ford it's a far better-rounded product than the earlier DB7, featuring advanced aluminium bodywork to save weight and increase strength. The exterior styling has an almost feline grace in its long proportions, with Aston-ness reinforced by the marque's trademark radiator grille and powerful rear haunches. It's certainly a far cry from the brutal, square-looking Astons of old.
The well-finished cabin combines pleasingly modern design with traditional materials, including plenty of the sort of wood and leather you'd expect to find in an Aston. The driving position is good and features plenty of adjustment, with even taller pilots fitting with relative ease. Rear seats are purely nominal and are best reserved for luggage, but boot capacity is good for a car in this segment.
Performance comes from a mighty 5.9 litre V12 engine, which boasts 450 bhp and provides enough urge to take the DB9 from 0-62 mph in under five seconds and then onto a top speed of 186 mph. The vast urge is delivered via either a conventional manual gearbox or a brilliant six-speed automatic transmission, which combines smooth power delivery with a quick-acting manual over-ride system.
Dynamically, the DB9 combines excellent high-speed stability with keen cornering responses, although it's not in the same league of dynamic reward as the Ferrari F430. Ride quality can be relatively poor over rougher road surfaces and a surprisingly amount of road noise finds its way into the cabin on anything other than ultra-smooth tarmac.
The Volante cabriolet features a brilliant hood and looks, if anything, better than the coupe.
Ratings Breakdown
Styling
5 star
The best looking Aston Martin since the DB7 - more elegant than the Vanquish or Vantage.
Handling
4 star
Massive grip and safe on-the-limit manners, but lacks the dynamic intimacy of true supercar rivals.
Comfort
4 star
The well designed cabin is a brilliant place to spend time, but ride can get a bit choppy on rougher road surfaces.
Quality & Reliability
3 star
Well constructed and with a very high-quality cabin, but early buyers report lots of niggling faults.
Performance
5 star
Not quite as fast as some rivals - but 186 mph should be more than enough for most. Brilliant V12 soundtrack.
Roominess
3 star
Both occupants enjoy decent space for a car in this segment and the driving position features plenty of adjustment. Rear seats aren't up to anything more than squashy bags.
Running Costs
1 star
You'd need at least a lottery jackpot to consider it - enormous thirst, expensive servicing and steep depreciation
Value for money
3 star
This or a Ferrari F430? What a pleasant dilemma that would be. The Aston is certainly the better everyday proposition...
