Aston Martin DB12 Review (2025)

Introduction

Few car brands exude the coolness of Aston Martin. It is the marque of choice for James Bond, for starters.

But inevitable 007 references aside, in the real world, it's a forcible thorn in the side of companies like Ferrari, Porsche, Bentley, and Maserati.

However, the sad truth is Aston Martin has never been particularly successful.

Its notoriety and prestige are beyond question, but financially, as a business, Aston has lurched from crisis to crisis throughout most of its existence.

In 2020, Lawrence Stroll, the billionaire father of F1 driver Lance, invested around £500 million in the company and acquired an F1 team that now bears its name, and optimism returned.

However, supply chain issues last year, a 50% loss in its share price in 12 months, and an announcement that Aston Martin was cutting 5% of its workforce have once again raised concerns.

Its new CEO, Adrian Hallmark, is aiming for a swift return to profitability. And, thankfully, the automaker's cars have continued to deliver the goods despite continued uncertainty in the background.

The DBX SUV is about to celebrate its fifth birthday, and around six months ago, the company unveiled the third generation of its flagship Vanquish.

Like the Vanquish, the DB series of Astons are Grand Tourers.

But, while the Vanquish has generally been louder, more muscular and ultra-performance-focused, the DB series has traditionally been designed for everyday usability and relaxation on a long pan-European excursion.

However, this has led to criticisms that the DB cars are not reflective of real supercars.

Enter the DB12.

Aston Martin claims this new car is both a Grand Tourer and a supercar - a 'super tourer', as the company calls it - properly bridging the gap between the sporty Vantage and the Vanquish.

Such a feat has never really been achieved before. So, has Aston Martin cracked it, or is this just marketing machinery at work?

At A Glance

The Aston Martin DB12 looks menacing.

The traditional large grille at the front is even larger than before, now completely dominating the aesthetic.

Unlike its predecessors, the new model has a front splitter along the bottom, separated from the grille above it, creating a black space in between. This black space extends upwards at the sides, creating two large air intakes.

Around the side, carved strakes cut a ‘quiff’ into the bodywork behind the front wheel arch, while pop-out flush door handles carry over from the DB11.

The sharp indentation at the bottom of the doors is more aggressive than that of its predecessors.

One feature of more modern Aston Martins is the larger departure angle at the rear, which, when viewed from the side, means the lower bodywork rises up away from the floor behind the rear wheels.

The rear features thinned-out boomerang-shaped taillights, which dig slightly into the boot lid. Lower down, the bodywork is bare, revealing a blackened carbon-fibre shell that houses some aerodynamics, the number plate, and the exhausts. It looks gorgeous and is a step forward from the DB11.

Aston Martin exteriors tend to age well, but while the DB11 still looks as contemporary as anything else on the road, the DB12 takes it to a whole new level.

It is stunning. Mind you, what else did you expect?

Key Features

There aren’t trim levels, as such, on the Aston Martin DB12.

There is a default specification, and then you can personalise your car as much as you like. We will cover most of this later in the optional extras section.

The DB12 comes with 21-inch forged alloy wheels, a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, DAB radio, SatNav, voice control, an 11-speaker audio system, and a wireless phone charger.

You also get a 10.25-inch driver information display, LED day running lights, a laminated windscreen with noise insulation, ambient lighting, a keyless start/stop button, a 16-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, and Alcantara headlining.

A host of advanced driver assistance systems are also included, which we’ll cover later.

Power comes in the form of a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol lump.

If that sounds like a downgrade from the DB11's 5.2-litre V12, you'll be pleased to know that despite 1.2 litres less and four fewer cylinders, the DB12 is nevertheless more potent at 680PS, compared with the DB11's 630PS.

The alternative option in the DB11 – also a 4.0-litre V8 – only managed 528PS.

What’s encouraging is that, although Mercedes-AMG still provides the engine, Aston Martin is finally allowed to tweak it. Previously, Aston was required to use AMG-supplied Engine Control Units (ECUs), limiting the extent to which the mill could be tuned. On the DB12, Aston Martin now has full control over the engine calibration.

Performance & Drive

First, the all-important figures: the DB12 goes from 0 to 62mph in 3.6 seconds and tops out at 202mph.

The acceleration is fierce, pinning you back in your seat – it’s noticeably quicker than the DB11. Yet, as the speed climbs, the rate of acceleration feels undiminishing, too, even as you head north of 100mph.

Acceleration is aided by the eight-speed automatic transmission, which provides quick changes to ensure progress is not delayed. It is even quicker if you dial up the driving settings from GT to Sport and even faster in Sport+ mode.

The DB12 is a happy middle ground between the outright intensity of the slightly quicker Ferrari Roma and the more relaxed but still highly capable Bentley Continental GT.

Of course, the noise of an Aston Martin is key, and while there'll be no V12 version, the V8 is more than proficient at striking the right note. It is like a symphony - a robust yet smooth engine note that, while not quite as impressive as the old V12, still sounds musical in its delivery. Admittedly, if you want to hear it, you'll want the convertible Volante version, but the coupe we're testing doesn't disappoint.

The DB11 drove excellently, but the DB12 feels even more planted. Improved aerodynamics gives you more grip and more confidence in the corners, aided by the electronic differential, which helps with traction.

Like the DB11, a range of driving modes are offered, named GT, Sport, Sport+ and Wet, while there's also an Individual setting, which lets you customise the car’s setup to your liking.

The steering is effortless, too. It is light at lower speeds when you're trundling into town, but it firms up considerably around bends, providing plenty of feedback and perfect precision to boost your confidence.

Unless you’re driving unreasonably, you’ll encounter no issues with understeer as you turn into a bend, which the car laps up with ease.

If you're daring, you can get a playful rear slide around the corner in Sport+ mode before the grip returns as you hammer on to the next straight.

The handling is excellent – and the body control exceeds the DB11’s, meeting our highest expectations. On that note, there’s undoubtedly an argument to support Aston Martin’s claims that the DB12 is both a Grand Tourer and a proper sportscar. It offers more of a sense of occasion than the DB11, feeling more stable and more natural to thread around a bend.

However, regarding the GT aspect, the ride is on the firm side. Granted, no supercar has soft, spongy suspension, but it can be unforgiving over larger potholes, especially in the Sport and Sport+ modes.

Thankfully, adaptive suspension means you can adjust its ferocity via a setting on the centre console, so you can enjoy the best of both worlds in terms of outright performance and handling and a more comforting ride.

The scale of the dampers has been broadened - in other words, whereas the DB11 went from soft to hard, the DB12 can go from supersoft to superhard and everything in between.

Even in its softest setting, it isn't a match for the Bentley Continental GT's absorption. Still, there's little doubt that the DB12 will be capable of taking you on an all-day cruise from Calais to the French Riviera (or Bognor to Bradford if you’re having a less exotic day).

Running Costs & Emissions

In an era of electrification bringing down running costs, the DB12 will inevitably buck that trend. It officially returns 23.2mpg – hardly surprising – and slightly worse than the DB11’s V8, which was 24.8mpg, although you do get 152PS more in the DB12.

CO2 emissions are 278g/km, which is on the high side and marginally worse than the DB11 V8. But, by comparison, the DB12’s fuel economy and emissions figures are particularly bad considering the extra power Aston has extracted.

You will also have to get used to its incredibly high road tax. From April 2025, DB12 drivers will have to fork out £5,490 for the first year and £195 a year thereafter. Additionally, because the DB12 has a list price of more than £40,000 (nearer £200,000), you’ll also have to pay the £420-a-year 'expensive car supplement' for years two to six.

In terms of reliability, Aston Martin has made vast strides in recent years – older Astons were notoriously unreliable, but that’s no longer the case.

Precise dependability data is hard to come by, given the small number of these cars on the road compared with average family cars. Nevertheless, our research suggests a mixed picture - and maintenance and repair costs are going to be very high indeed.

Interior & Technology

The interior of the DB12 looks fantastic. It is lined with soft, plush surfaces, covered in leather, with plenty of piano black and the odd dash of silver.

Older Astons haven’t aged well inside, but the DB12 will likely fare better, offering an array of gadgetry that James Bond would be proud of.

The steering wheel is bold. It features a double-spoke at the six o'clock position, plenty of buttons, and a silver garnish on the nine and three-o’clock spokes.

The seats are deep, too.

Its V-shaped centre console arrangement is worthy of Q's control panel. It has rocker switches, a small gear selector, and the all-important glass-fronted engine start button.

The 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen is angled quite sharply, appearing more on the centre console than the dashboard.

As a result, you look down towards it, which isn’t the most practical on the move, but Aston Martin hopes you’ll be too busy having fun driving to worry about such trivialities.

It is the first version of Aston Martin’s in-house infotainment system, which also features on the DBX SUV. Previously, it used a re-badged Mercedes-Benz COMAND unit. The graphics are attractive, modern, and sharp, and the screen is responsive to touches and prods from your fingers. However, some of the text is on the small side, and the menu layout takes a bit of getting used to.

A 10.25-inch digital instrument screen complements it with customisable layouts. You can have a single dial in the middle and a choice of displays on either side, one of which can be the SatNav map if you wish. Or you can switch to a more conventional two-dial layout, which then offers a choice of a single display in the middle.

Thankfully, even though room is at a premium in any supercar's cabin, there are still loads of physical buttons and switches to control various features, including the climate control. That means it’s easy to adjust things on the move, which avoids spoiling your fun driving, unlike manufacturers who insist on shoe-horning every feature into the touchscreen.

Overall, it’s a lovely place to be, offering executive levels of comfort and sophistication.

Practicality & Boot Space

Of course, practicality is never a strong suit of supercars, unless you're leasing an Aston Martin DBX or a Lamborghini Urus.

Nevertheless, there’s plenty of legroom in the front seats, and finding a comfortable driving position is easy, as the driver's seat is 16-way electrically adjustable, and the steering wheel is powered.

Even if you’re very tall, you’ll have no trouble fitting in the DB12, as the seats sink quite low down, even though the roof is lower than in most cars, meaning there’s sufficient headroom.

The DB12 is a four-seater, although the rear seats will be extremely cramped for adults, who will likely find they don’t have enough headroom, let alone legroom. A couple of small kids, though, should be fine, if a bit cocooned.

Visibility out of the front isn't the best, partly because of the low driving position but also because the windscreen pillars are on the thick side. It is even worse out of the back, thanks to even thicker pillars and a shallow rear windscreen. Thankfully, rear parking sensors and a 360-degree surround-view camera are standard.

The DB12's boot space measures 262 litres, 10 litres less than that of the Ferrari Roma but two litres more than that of the Bentley Continental GT - although it's twice as big as that of a Porsche 911's under-bonnet boot.

In practice, the rear seats may be more useful as additional storage space than for passengers. Speaking of which, there are several places to put things inside the cabin. The DB12's centre console has a wireless phone charging pad, two cupholders, and a reasonably sized cubby, and the door bins aren't bad-sized either. You also get a glove box - a notable omission on the DB11.

Safety

Prestige brands such as Aston Martin don’t tend to get their cars safety tested by Euro NCAP, and we expect that to remain the case with the DB12.

Nevertheless, the beast comes with a suite of advanced driver assistance systems. These include automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness detection, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, lane change assist, and front and rear cross-traffic assist.

You also get automatic high beam control and a 360-degree surround-view camera system.

Options

Lots of options for the DB12 are available.

There are 73 different body colours to choose from, although Aston Martin will famously create any shade of your choice – for a price.

You can select front splitter enhancers, a grey or black roof, a black grille, or pick from seven alloy wheel designs and seven shades of brake callipers - and there are even carbon ceramic brake discs, ‘smoked’ taillights, and privacy glass. That is just the exterior!

Inside, you can choose from 25 primary colours and 33 secondary hues. There are also two different coloured headliners, six seatbelt shades and eleven carpet colours,

Additionally, you can have enhanced sports seats, a heated steering wheel, a carbon fibre package, black exterior badging, a Bower and Wilkins surround sound system, and upgraded floor mats.

A range of accessories, such as a garage door opener, umbrella, first aid kit, heated travel mug, luggage sets, a smoker's pack, ski pack, pet pack, and golf pack, can be added.

There is also a paint care kit, convenience pack with hazard symbols, winter tyres, and car covers.

Rival Cars

The DB12’s main foes are the Bentley Continental GT and the Ferrari Roma.

Both rival models have distinct personalities, though. The Bentley is meant to focus on luxury, relaxation and grand, powerful, long-distance cruises, whereas the Ferrari Roma is a car intended to produce more in-the-moment thrills.

As we’ve said, Aston Martin wants the DB12 to do both. The Porsche 911 arguably wants to achieve the same, although this largely depends on your chosen model.

Verdict & Next Steps

Overall, Aston Martin makes a very strong argument that the DB12 is both a sports car and a cruiser.

Admittedly, the ride is firm, so better alternatives are likely if you really want a supercar that's easy to live with every day or more relaxing to make long journeys in. On the other hand, the sports car characteristics mean that, as GT cars go, this is more fun to drive.

The DB12’s handling is excellent, the noise is still delightful, the looks are wonderful inside and out, and in terms of technology and usability, the interior is a great step forward with dynamism and modernism aplenty.

Sure, practicality and running costs are the big downsides of the DB12, but it won’t be much better on any other supercar. Plus, if you’re heading off on weekends away thrashing around Europe, at least you’ve got space in the two back seats.

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Aston Martin DB12.