DBX sheds some disguise
Discussion
LooneyTunes said:
When you take into account the daily driver role that many 4x4s are required to fulfil, I think the likes of the Cayenne and S/C FFRR remain notable competitors here. Both circa £120k. I know a lot of people who run them but could easily spend on DBX/Bentayga/etc and probably represent the market that Aston will be trying to persuade to trade up. Less convinced they'll steal customers from Bentayga/Urus as the positioning of the Aston/Bentley/Lambo offerings seems very different.
I want Aston to have a success on their hands but the car is going to need to be good to persuade people to spend 1/3 more, especially if they already have weekend toys and/or if insurers insist on DBX being garaged (PITA for a daily!).
Perhaps I'm wrong to dismiss the Range Rover and Cayenne, but I was under the impression that if there was a tier system in the SUV market, the Cayenne and Range Rover ruled the roost in the ~£100k, mass produced field, which sat beneath the Benteyga level, which itself is beneath the Cullinan. I want Aston to have a success on their hands but the car is going to need to be good to persuade people to spend 1/3 more, especially if they already have weekend toys and/or if insurers insist on DBX being garaged (PITA for a daily!).
The elephant in the room is that the DBX, based on the initial driving impressions, is in a different league to its rivals in driving dynamics (something that's refreshing to hear, as for many years, Astons have been a step or two behind the competition in driving dynamics). It might not be the quickest in a drag race, but it has the most balanced handling and feels more like a sports car than rival SUV's. If you're a driving enthusiast, and have a desire, or a requirement for an SUV, it seems to tick the right boxes. The question is - do buyers care? Some just want a luxury bus of a thing that fulfills the one car garage ethos, or a brisk daily to partner their weekend supercar.
The Benteyga's getting quite dated now, and the interior on the Speed (the latest, shiniest, shoutiest version) is little different to when it first launched, so the DBX might be a breath of fresh air for prospective customers.
Of course the obvious option for someone wanting a rapid SUV, is the RSQ8, which is similar to an Urus, but without the price tag. Much like the last gen RS6, it's fast and practical, but is more a hammer than a scalpel. It's at the more shouty end of the spectrum, and in some ways highlights how the DBX manages to blend ample performance, with a high degree of luxury (which traditionally, has always been Aston Martin's USP - fast, elegant, but never shouty). In a similar way, the Urus is somewhat of a sledge hammer - it's not really my cup of tea, but it's distinctively Lamborghini, and how you'd expect a Lambo SUV to look.
My gut feeling on the DBX is that even if it's deemed to be priced too high (which appears to be the overriding impression, but IMO it's about right for what it offers in base spec), the car does enough jobs, to a high enough standard that it should do well, and overall, is likely to be the best car offered by the marque for the next year or so. It's made good on the interior design worries, the infotainment is current, and it sounds like huge fun to drive, while scaring your Cocker Spaniels[1].
[1] Other breeds are available.
Even when I was looking in 2015 it was easy to spec a Range Rover to £120k.
And I believe they now have levels above Autobiography so £130k would be easy to exceed without getting too carried away.
AM are probably hoping that buyers at this level could be persuaded to make the jump to them.
And I believe they now have levels above Autobiography so £130k would be easy to exceed without getting too carried away.
AM are probably hoping that buyers at this level could be persuaded to make the jump to them.
Went to a launch event last night, though i wont be getting one - daily driver has to have seven seats and i'm not quite ready to offload one of the children on that basis, I must say it was quite an impressive bit of kit. What i was surprised by is that the "finished version" in the showroom, was a nearly completed engineering version and that they haven't yet completed the package to which there was a bit of blank when it came to when they might start rolling of the production line (which i gather is a work in progress). I think they are onto something however, just hope they can sort out the production side of things.
NFC 85 Vette said:
Perhaps I'm wrong to dismiss the Range Rover and Cayenne, but I was under the impression that if there was a tier system in the SUV market, the Cayenne and Range Rover ruled the roost in the ~£100k, mass produced field, which sat beneath the Benteyga level, which itself is beneath the Cullinan.
...
Some just want a luxury bus of a thing that fulfills the one car garage ethos, or a brisk daily to partner their weekend supercar.
Those cars do dominate the ~£100k bracket, but suspect that's in no small measure down to a lot of RR owners not associating with the Bentayga image. I love my Astons but 5s to 60 and >500bhp ticks the box when it comes to brisk daily/bus duties. Most of my friends with any interest in cars seem to run FFRR/Cayenne/GLS alongside the toys and I've not heard anyone suggest they'll change. I don't think the rest care enough to spend £160k....
Some just want a luxury bus of a thing that fulfills the one car garage ethos, or a brisk daily to partner their weekend supercar.
Maybe its different in towns where the expensive one car garage is more normal and choice has been limited?
RobDown said:
Tbh it’s looks pretty well equipped as standard. So when I looked at configuring one I almost felt like it was better to leave it almost option-free (and relatively cheap)
Exactly my 1st phase approach Rob, standard is well equipped, just the tow bar option I need. But then the 2nd 'must have' phase creeps in, what about the exterior colour preference, I really do like one of the Q palette colours, which then leads on to complementary upper and lower pack options, with which the wheels must combine in creating that unique look,,,,, arrrgh. MO55 said:
Exactly my 1st phase approach Rob, standard is well equipped, just the tow bar option I need. But then the 2nd 'must have' phase creeps in, what about the exterior colour preference, I really do like one of the Q palette colours, which then leads on to complementary upper and lower pack options, with which the wheels must combine in creating that unique look,,,,, arrrgh.
If the cost then rises to £250,000, Bob, just think of it as charitable giving.
Helping a maiden (indebted firm) in distress.
Yes, those Q palette colours are really special.
Hope that is of help.
Jon39 said:
If the cost then rises to £250,000, Bob, just think of it as charitable giving.
Helping a maiden (indebted firm) in distress.
Yes, those Q palette colours are really special.
Hope that is of help.
I saw one undisguised but on test at channel tunnel 30 December.
It was in metallic light blue. Its a lot of money but looked excellent with a particularly nice interior, nice guy driving too. Unfortunately I was late for my crossing so only a 5 minute tour.
You will not be disappointed if in market for sportySUV
It was in metallic light blue. Its a lot of money but looked excellent with a particularly nice interior, nice guy driving too. Unfortunately I was late for my crossing so only a 5 minute tour.
You will not be disappointed if in market for sportySUV
I saw one undisguised but on test at channel tunnel 30 December.
It was in metallic light blue. Its a lot of money but looked excellent with a particularly nice interior, nice guy driving too. Unfortunately I was late for my crossing so only a 5 minute tour.
You will not be disappointed if in market for sportySUV
It was in metallic light blue. Its a lot of money but looked excellent with a particularly nice interior, nice guy driving too. Unfortunately I was late for my crossing so only a 5 minute tour.
You will not be disappointed if in market for sportySUV
Yesterday was a highlight day in my Aston Martin Geekland diary,,,, a passenger ride in the DBX at their Silverston test centre and off road facility. Brief summary;
On track a truly astonishing range of performance, especially so in Sports and Sports plus modes (terrific exhaust sounds are a real bonus). Way more power than one could ever need on public roads but so important its there. The acceleration especially impressive when in what felt like 4-5 seconds we went from 50 to 95-ish mph and that was with 4 POB. AP wanted an SUV with proper sports car performance, well he's certainly got what he wants there.
Off road was equally impressive. For me the most convincing manoeuvre was when we stopped half way up a very wet and muddy steep incline (I was expecting to simply slide all the way back down to the bottom) yet without hardly a wheel spin we simply continued the climb up to the top with unbelievable nonchalance. Thru the woods and along the deep and muddy track, we seemed to almost sail across the deepest water hollows, never a moment where the vehicle appeared to be struggling or show a sign of being out of control.
Out on the public roads we were taken along motorways and B class roads. Here I experienced the one issue that concerned me (Julia too) and that is the harshness of the ride. Even in GT mode (softest) where we were at slower speeds (around the track perimeter and town roads) any slight pot hole was felt, certainly more so than in either my DB9.2 or DBS 59,,, and way more than in our Freelander.
Do I want to criticise, no of course not but I would being dishonest with myself if I did not mention my/our real concerns on the ride comfort (please fix it).
So for me, I remain a customer for a DBX, this Aston Martin SUV is a truly amazing achievement, congratulations and thank you to all involved in its development,,,,, the competition must be pooing themselves.
On track a truly astonishing range of performance, especially so in Sports and Sports plus modes (terrific exhaust sounds are a real bonus). Way more power than one could ever need on public roads but so important its there. The acceleration especially impressive when in what felt like 4-5 seconds we went from 50 to 95-ish mph and that was with 4 POB. AP wanted an SUV with proper sports car performance, well he's certainly got what he wants there.
Off road was equally impressive. For me the most convincing manoeuvre was when we stopped half way up a very wet and muddy steep incline (I was expecting to simply slide all the way back down to the bottom) yet without hardly a wheel spin we simply continued the climb up to the top with unbelievable nonchalance. Thru the woods and along the deep and muddy track, we seemed to almost sail across the deepest water hollows, never a moment where the vehicle appeared to be struggling or show a sign of being out of control.
Out on the public roads we were taken along motorways and B class roads. Here I experienced the one issue that concerned me (Julia too) and that is the harshness of the ride. Even in GT mode (softest) where we were at slower speeds (around the track perimeter and town roads) any slight pot hole was felt, certainly more so than in either my DB9.2 or DBS 59,,, and way more than in our Freelander.
Do I want to criticise, no of course not but I would being dishonest with myself if I did not mention my/our real concerns on the ride comfort (please fix it).
So for me, I remain a customer for a DBX, this Aston Martin SUV is a truly amazing achievement, congratulations and thank you to all involved in its development,,,,, the competition must be pooing themselves.
Edited by MO55 on Saturday 15th February 10:09
Edited by MO55 on Saturday 15th February 20:30
bolidemichael said:
What would resolve the harshness of ride, in your view? Perhaps a smaller wheel diameter with a tyre of more generous profile? Is there an air suspension set up for soaking up bumps and potholes, too?
Unfortunately I am not qualified to answer your suspension set up question. 
MO55 said:
bolidemichael said:
What would resolve the harshness of ride, in your view? Perhaps a smaller wheel diameter with a tyre of more generous profile? Is there an air suspension set up for soaking up bumps and potholes, too?
Unfortunately I am not qualified to answer your suspension set up question. 
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