DBX anyone here have one

[Dixy]

Looking for a winter toy and went to have a look, surprisingly better than expected. Would anyone with first hand experience care to comment.

[M5MarkM]

Had a go in one 2 weeks ago. Like you, totally surprised. We all love our Astons but we all have to admit their tech is decades behind even a ford Fiesta. The DBX is actually modern, a sensible sized screen and all the tech that comes with a high end car such as steering assist, radar cruise control, intelligent satnav, music libary etc. I guess it shouldn't really be a surprise as its all Mercedes kit. But I must say its the first Aston I've been in that is as modern as the competition out there. I imagine many people won't like all this but, but for people who use it as a DD and do a lot of miles it's good to have a modern vehicle, will hopefully also mean AML can sell more cars ands turn things around, again.

[BiggaJ]

Not that it helps you make a decision but I did see one on the M6 yesterday morning, the first one I have seen on the road and in the flesh (as it were). I have to say, its a much bigger car than it looks in the photographs and a much better looking car than the press photographs show.

Edited by BiggaJ on Friday 28th May 13:30

Edited by BiggaJ on Friday 28th May 15:14

[Dewi 2]

If you consider road presence is important, then they are certainly colour sensitive.

A black one overtook me on a dual carriageway. It was being followed by a black generic large SUV (possibly a Hyundai).
Could hardly tell them apart from the rear, once they had both passed me.
Rather ironic, when one cost probably £30,000 and the other £180,000.

Have seen another in metallic red, looked really special.

[oilit]

I had a friend test drive one recently, he said it drove really well - but has opted for a Rapide instead - felt the interior was better quality.

Net net AM get a new customer to the marque = mission accomplished.

[dalecan]

My wife and I sat in one last week and both fell in love with it. It was beautifully appointed and really spacious.

[LTP]

Echoing dalecan, I sat in one and if I was in the market for a brand-new, full-sized SUV then, sitting statically at least, it would be a very strong contender. From what I've read I doubt the dynamics would disappoint.

I'm nearly 6' 4", could get very comfortable in the driving position and then I could easily sit in the back behind where I'd left the front seat. The car was well trimmed, well specc'd with lots of nice features. Does the "duck tail" look a little contrived? Maybe, but at least it's an attempt to continue themes from the rest of the range and avoid the conventional two-box silhouette.

The only slight irritation might be having to continually reach across to use the gear selector buttons, set where they are high up on the centre stack. You might get used to it, or it might get really old, really quickly. Ergonomically it's not good.

[Simon.b]

Regarding the gear selector buttons, assuming there the same as my Vantage, then you only need to access park and reverse. Switching in and out of drive and going into neutral can be done on the paddles. Easy once your used to it, hope this helps.

[LTP]

Simon.b said:

Regarding the gear selector buttons, assuming there the same as my Vantage, then you only need to access park and reverse. Switching in and out of drive and going into neutral can be done on the paddles. Easy once your used to it, hope this helps.

Not quite the same. My V8V has a "Sport" button far left where the DBX appears to have "P". The "R" is in the same place, to the immediate left of the "Start" button and that's the one that's the stretch, with "P" being worse and it looks like you actually need it - the VH Vantage puts itself in park at key-off but it looks like you actually need the "P" button with the true auto box, as the DB9, DB11 and new Vantage all have one.

Interestingly, from pictures on line Aston don't appear to swap the buttons over with the drive hand, so for LHD cars the "P" and "R" are closest to the driver and these are probably the only buttons you really need, assuming you can still select neutral by pulling both levers on the ZF 'box, like I do in my V8V..

[Shrimpvende]

I had one to test drive for a day and had mixed feedback. I currently own a 2020 Vantage and 2020 Range Rover Sport, was sick of the Range Rover going wrong so wanted to see what the DBX was all about.

The good points were it looks great, the interior is a real step up and the new screen a big improvement. It went well for such a big thing and the active anti roll bars really do work, it’s amazing what you can do with it compared to a RRS.

However, overall I didn’t really like it. Perhaps for daft reasons, but firstly I found the seat uncomfortable. The base is very hard, and not really befitting of a big luxury SUV. The interior, although a big improvement, is still far behind the likes of the Bentayga which I’ve also spent time in. In terms of features/luxury, my dad has a FFRR Autobiography and that’s just a nicer place to be, with heated/cooled massaging seats and the amazing full Meridian surround system. Also, although quick, it’s not savagely fast like the higher powered Bentayga is. I can only imagine the Urus is a step up again but haven’t been in one to confirm.

Then there’s the cost, my Range Rover was about £80k and reliability aside is a nice luxury car that rides very well and has all the latest tech you’d want. To buy dad’s new with all the options would be about £120k, so still £50k less than a DBX (and still a big V8). If the residuals hold up nearly as well as the Urus then I can almost see the sense in it, but that’s a big gamble to take!

[Jon39]

Shrimpvende said:

I had one to test drive for a day and had mixed feedback. I currently own a 2020 Vantage and 2020 Range Rover Sport, was sick of the Range Rover going wrong, so wanted to see what the DBX was all about.

The good points were it looks great, the interior is a real step up and the new screen a big improvement. It went well for such a big thing and the active anti roll bars really do work, it’s amazing what you can do with it compared to a RRS.

If Q can provide a Victor to a customer, then the perfect seat for you must be a doddle for them.

I suppose another DBX selling point over a Range Rover, is uniqueness.
Whenever I drive near my home, Range Rovers seem to literally drive along in convoys, and most are the same colour too.
I don't like wearing the same uniform as others.
Well worth paying extra for, but might I respectfully suggest, perhaps not black.

[oilit]

I wonder if the seats are MB frames etc, and maybe that dictates the level of comfort (MB have always had hard seats IMO since the late ‘90s)

I still think the DBX looks a nice ‘elevated height’ vehicle - and much better externally than the Bentley.

I think the difference is you can probably get into a RR product with low monthly payments - (guessing).

Edited by oilit on Sunday 30th May 15:15

[roughrider]

DB11 seats.

[LooneyTunes]

Wow. Lots of Aston owners on here, some with multiple Astons or a long history with the marque, and since the OP on Thursday nobody has put their hand up to actually having bought a DBX?

[Strudul]

LTP said:

Not quite the same. My V8V has a "Sport" button far left where the DBX appears to have "P". The "R" is in the same place, to the immediate left of the "Start" button and that's the one that's the stretch, with "P" being worse and it looks like you actually need it - the VH Vantage puts itself in park at key-off but it looks like you actually need the "P" button with the true auto box, as the DB9, DB11 and new Vantage all have one.

Interestingly, from pictures on line Aston don't appear to swap the buttons over with the drive hand, so for LHD cars the "P" and "R" are closest to the driver and these are probably the only buttons you really need, assuming you can still select neutral by pulling both levers on the ZF 'box, like I do in my V8V..

They all go into P on key off. You have to do special stuff to keep it in N with the engine off.

Yeah, you can pull both levers for N and hold a lever to swap to D.

[AdamV12V]

LooneyTunes said:

Wow. Lots of Aston owners on here, some with multiple Astons or a long history with the marque, and since the OP on Thursday nobody has put their hand up to actually having bought a DBX?

To be fair, its quite a departure from the traditional Astons that many of us have bought. I wouldnt buy a 4x4 end of, but if I did it probably wouldnt be a DBX either. What would it be - Im not sure, maybe the new defender, but then Im no RR fan. My mrs had a RRS before the Rapide and and dealership were a joke, completely ruining any aspect of how good the car was / wasnt, but I do think the Defender has presence unlike anything else. Besides that, hmmm, probably a Macan I guess, maybe. Maybe not though.

[Astontony]

I have been in a drive day with A pearl white DBX through about 150kl of twisty roads and I have to say that the DBX handled amazingly, was able to keep up with Vantages and Vanquishes on the day and it did it effortlessly. I was very impressed and the lines and sixe are excellent. The interior finish first class and if I was in the market I would buy one without hesitation. It also sounded great.

[LooneyTunes]

AdamV12V said:

LooneyTunes said:

Wow. Lots of Aston owners on here, some with multiple Astons or a long history with the marque, and since the OP on Thursday nobody has put their hand up to actually having bought a DBX?

To be fair, its quite a departure from the traditional Astons that many of us have bought. I wouldnt buy a 4x4 end of, but if I did it probably wouldnt be a DBX either. What would it be - Im not sure, maybe the new defender, but then Im no RR fan. My mrs had a RRS before the Rapide and and dealership were a joke, completely ruining any aspect of how good the car was / wasnt, but I do think the Defender has presence unlike anything else. Besides that, hmmm, probably a Macan I guess, maybe. Maybe not though.

It might well be a different style of vehicle, but I’d argue that the target demographic probably isn’t that different. I know quite a few people with higher end 4x4s (Range Rover, Porsche, Bentley, Lamborghini, MB) as dailies/school bus plus something from AM/Ferrari/McL.

Forgive me if I’ve said this already, but I really do think AM got it quite wrong when it comes to marketing to current owners. I’ve seen virtually nothing. Maybe the odd generic email but nothing has dropped through the door. Compare and contrast to another marque who dropped by my office on several occasions to see if I might have a few minutes to go and look over or even go for a drive in their car and one marque seems interested in introducing something new, the other not so much.

I’m not sufficiently tempted by DBX to book a test drive and be actively sold to but if, for example, AM had left one for us when they’d come to collect my cars for servicing then we would have had a go... in fact MrsLT would have wanted to have a go in a no pressure situation and, if it’s as good as they say, it would have then been in contention when she changed her car. Instead she didn’t even look at one.

The market for these isn’t enormous but if AM HQ puts so little effort into getting them in front of people who run multiple of their cars, and live somewhere where a 4x4 is almost de rigeur, it really does make you question what their marketing dept has been doing. It’s not happening at a dealer group level either (where my local one should have worked out that a DBX would be perfect for MrsLT) but arguably shouldn’t need to.

I’d have loved to have bought one of these for MrsLT when she changed her car but she knows her own mind, often does her own thing, and can choose/buy her own car. Rather like “Charlotte”. DBX is clearly important to AM, and the media reports seem generally positive, so I find the lack of marketing/current owner engagement quite bizarre... unless they are focusing almost exclusively on urban or overseas markets?

[CB07]

LTP said:

Not quite the same. My V8V has a "Sport" button far left where the DBX appears to have "P". The "R" is in the same place, to the immediate left of the "Start" button and that's the one that's the stretch, with "P" being worse and it looks like you actually need it - the VH Vantage puts itself in park at key-off but it looks like you actually need the "P" button with the true auto box, as the DB9, DB11 and new Vantage all have one.

Interestingly, from pictures on line Aston don't appear to swap the buttons over with the drive hand, so for LHD cars the "P" and "R" are closest to the driver and these are probably the only buttons you really need, assuming you can still select neutral by pulling both levers on the ZF 'box, like I do in my V8V..

I’m nearly 6ft3 (6ft 2) so nearly the same height as you if you are nearly 6ft4 (6ft3?). Don’t find myself stretching around any of the current crop of Astons or the old ones. Nevertheless it’s surely an issue a handful of times in a journey? I am picturing you sitting statically in a DBX and statically trying out the controls. Do you have short arms perchance?

[waremark]

Simon.b said:

Regarding the gear selector buttons, assuming there the same as my Vantage, then you only need to access park and reverse. Switching in and out of drive and going into neutral can be done on the paddles. Easy once your used to it, hope this helps.

Not in the demo I tried - unlike my DB11 or your Vantage, pulling on a paddle did not put it into gear. And the buttons were a stretch, whereas I find the reverse button quite easy to reach in my car. And it puts itself into park when I switch off, so reverse is the only button I use.