SUV instead of James Bond speedster: the Aston Martin DBX in the test

Men like James Bond are born loners. They are therefore difficult to imagine as family fathers. This is why home supplier Aston Martin has only built sports cars so far. But times change.

Berlin (dpa-infocom) - When the latest James Bond film comes to the cinema in the fall, Daniel Craig will drive an Aston Martin again - as he did in "Goldfinger", and again and again since then. And it will probably be a sports car again.

But at the latest in the film that follows, there are more options open to him and his scriptwriters. Because now Aston Martin is also building its first off-road vehicle and putting the DBX into position against Range Rover, Porsche Cayenne, Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus for just under 190,000 euros.

From the racetrack to the terrain

It comes as no surprise that you can take an Aston Martin to the racetrack, even if it weighs just under 2.5 tons. Finally, the electronics of the DBX, which is drawn in the current Aston Martin style and surprisingly flat for an SUV, allows an almost pure rear-axle drive and correspondingly lascivious rear swiveling. And there is no doubt about the high level of travel comfort on long tours on the autobahn and country roads - especially not with the first model with air suspension. But that an Aston Martin is just as good in fields, forests and meadows has never been seen before. Thanks to increased ground clearance, all-wheel drive and a number of special drive programs, the DBX skilfully digs through the dirt, climbs over rocks and does not allow itself to be slowed down by a watercourse.

For adventurers with a sense of family and large luggage

More important to the engineers than the dramatically expanded range of driving profiles, however, are the completely new qualities in everyday life. Because although the British have so far only built sports cars that only offered emergency seats in the second row, the DBX is almost something of a family carriage and therefore also offers princely space in the rear. A length of 5.04 meters and a wheelbase of 3.06 meters put an end to the eternal restrictions: While 007 had to choose an accompanying person up to now, he could now take up to four Bond girls with him or prove himself to be a good family man and on the Isofix You can even fit child seats in the rear. And instead of narrow agent equipment, several suitcases can now fit behind the large electric tailgate: the largest trunk in the company's history to date holds up to 632 liters, and if that's not enough, you can still use the trailer hitch.

Familiar power and performance

As new as the everyday skills are to an Aston Martin, the more familiar the engine is. As with its sports cars, the manufacturer relies on the 4.0 liter V8 gasoline engine that the British order from AMG in Affalterbach. It is true that the V12 from the DBS would be the accolade with which the DBX would drive at eye level with Bentley Bentayga and even with the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. But there are no serious deficiencies in this engine either.

What if 405 kW / 550 PS and 700 Nm go to work during the kickdown? Even 2.5 tons suddenly feel very light, and before the DBX has accelerated from 0 to 100 km / h within 4.5 seconds, the inertia of the mass can no longer be felt. If you then simply let your foot stand, at a maximum of 291 km / h you will once again experience how extensible the limits of physics are. But at the latest at the next refueling stop, it becomes clear that the show of strength costs a lot of energy and that 14.3 liters (CO2 emissions 340 g / km) from the test bench will certainly not go 100 kilometers in practice.

Noble but dusty equipment

The equipment and the ambience are also typical of an Aston Martin. That is why the DBX looks so classy and elegant, as it should be for this price range. He pampers eyes and hands with high-quality materials and careful processing. There are also quirky options such as a transport system optimized for dogs, hunting rifles or fishing rods. But that's why the DBX, like so many luxury models from rather small manufacturers, also looks a bit outdated and lacks modern extras. The autonomy of the assistance systems is not particularly far off, and the infotainment system lacks the online networking and even the touchscreen.

Conclusion: the first Aston for everyday use

Just as James Bond is the man for special cases, Aston Martin has so far built cars for exclusive leisure enjoyment. But with the DBX, the British are getting closer to everyday life - without betraying their traditional values.

Data sheet: BMW 220d GranCoupé

All data according to the manufacturer, GDV, Schwacke

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 200812-99-137547 / 23