Aston goes to town on updated DBX707 cabin
Unlike its other cars, the DBX had one thing obviously wrong with it. That's the bit Aston has fixed
Like torrential rain in spring, we knew this was coming. Aston has already diligently updated the DB12 and the Vantage - it was only a matter of time before it got to the DBX, the model that ultimately pays the bills. It speaks to the SUV’s customer base that the 707 version - i.e. the 707hp range-topper that was introduced back in 2022 - has now become the single available trim grade of DBX. And it speaks to the 707’s class-leading quality that its maker has mostly left its mechanical hardware alone.
Its fixtures and fittings though are another matter. Much like its siblings, the DBX seemed weighed down by the relative shortcomings of its interior. It wasn’t unforgivably bad; it just wasn’t up to the high standard of its rivals - and, by extension, its asking price. Now, equipped with the firm’s already familiar in-house infotainment system (i.e. not one supplied by Mercedes) and a revised layout, Aston obviously feels like it has removed what appeared to be the obvious barrier for someone choosing a 707 over one of the other super-fast, six-figure options available.
Marco Mattiacci, Aston’s Global Chief Brand and Commercial Officer, said: “With its best-in-class performance and dynamics, world-class design and the highest levels of luxury, the DBX707 immediately established a new ultra-luxury SUV benchmark. Now upgraded with state-of-the-art technology and a completely new interior the DBX707 moves the game on once more, further elevating the standard by which all competitors are judged”.
That last point probably verges into Kool-aid optimism, although from a distance (much as it was in the DB12 and Vantage) the improvement seems clear cut enough. Simply by fitting the ‘Pure Black’ 10.25-inch touchscreen (thereby banishing the Merc controller to unwanted memory) would’ve been sufficient to drag the DBX into the 21st century, but Aston has gone considerably further than that with a new 12.3-inch display in the instrument cluster, a completely revised centre console, and ‘a striking horizontal design line bisecting the upper and lower sections of the new dashboard’.
Fans of the DBX will recall that the previous generation dashboard was already split in two, but its replacement gets a much bolder demarcation of the tiers - not least so it can incorporate an accessible phone charger into the gap. Ahead of that is the much cleverer and wonderfully tactile arrangement of physical switchgear that supplies a shortcut to most of the features that you’d actually use day-to-day. Much like elsewhere, the drive select buttons have been replaced by a toggle-style gear shifter.
Elsewhere there is a new steering wheel, slimmer air vents, improved door release handles and a wider choice of trim materials and veneers. Broadly speaking there are three different trim specifications (each with its own detailing) but the options for personalisation are endless and there are five new exterior paint colours: Epsilon Black, Helios Yellow, Sprint Green, Malachite Green, and Aura Green. You also get an 800w 14-speaker audio system as standard, with a 23-speaker 1,600w B&W alternative on the cost-option list.
There are blink-and-you’ll-miss-them changes to the outside (new designs for the wing mirrors and door handles among them) but plainly the cabin was the enduring focus of the overhaul. Aston suggests it has made detailed changes to the 707’s chassis software calibration - specifically to improve body control via new settings for adaptive dampers and air springs - but by their nature (and because the engineers had it mostly right the first time) we can expect the net effect of these modifications to be relatively minor.
The same cannot be said for the inside, where clearly (and predictably) it seems Aston has taken the kind of leap forward that has already helped redefine our opinion of the DB12. While that car needed help elsewhere to complete its transformation, the DBX707 was already a remarkably good SUV to drive and look at. Assuming that remains true - and the updated architecture and infotainment system repeat their charm offensive - the manufacturer will feel confident that its optimism for the model's continued success is not misplaced. Production of the new model is due to commence imminently with deliveries scheduled for not long afterwards. Expect to learn prices - and firsthand impressions - before then.
The strip of shiny black plastic across middle of dash looks unresolved and cheap.
Trim options – wood, carbonfibre or the ‘machined’ stuff – have a gloss-only finish that looks dated, whereas matt would look more contemporary and elegant.
Imho, VV8 and DB12’s cabins look cooler overall.
t.I think there’s a good looking interior there, but hard to make out from the pics. Aston PR should be RIP. Get someone decent to do it.
While I acknowledge the improvement with the infotainment, I think aesthetically it’s not really an improvement. The carbon center console has gone and from the configurator it looks like it can no longer be specified. The split in the dashboard is also a bit meh.
It’s kind of unresolved, like a mix of old and new, far from the lovely DB12 and new Vantage interiors.
It’s not going to make me change mine for sure. I can live with the old infotainment, I just use Apple CarPlay and voice control, it works pretty well actually.
t.I think there’s a good looking interior there, but hard to make out from the pics. Aston PR should be RIP. Get someone decent to do it.
Green over tan would be my choice too.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff