2023 Aston Martin DBX707

If you're in the market for a rapid and supremely plush SUV, the 2023 Aston Martin DBX707 is right up your gold-lined street. The British brute builds on the already sprightly DBX recipe with a spoonful of power, a hearty dose of torque, and a solid dose of chassis upgrades for good measure.

The result? The 2023 DBX707 produces an astonishing 697 horsepower and 663 lb-ft of torque from its AMG-derived 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, paired with a nine-speed automatic enabling a 193 mph top speed to make this the fastest SUV in the world. Is that reason enough to sign on the dotted line? It would be, were it not for the existence of the Aston Martin DBX707's competitors, which include not only the Bentley Bentayga Speed and Lamborghini Urus but a little something called the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT.

Is Gaydon's first attempt at a super SUV worthy of your attention? We'll answer that question in the Aston Martin DBX707 review below.

Launched at $236,000 in base form, excluding a $3,086 destination charge, the base price of the Aston Martin DBX is not for the faint-hearted. Factor in that the price climbs rapidly as you customize your spec and add options, and the DBX707's MSRP quickly inflates. The only other SUVs in a similar ballpark are the Lamborghini Urus - which is more expensive - Bentley Bentayga, and Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

Aston Martin's engineers have created a masterpiece, as the 2023 DBX707 tackles corners with the competence of a much smaller, far sportier car. That doesn't exempt it from being used daily as a family SUV, however. If anything, the chassis upgrades have made it an even better daily driver, with re-tuned air suspension maintaining its suppleness but with less slack.

In GT mode, the V8 retreats into a slumber and quietly moves the Aston DBX707 along, riding on an effortless wave of torque that belies its full potential. Prod the throttle, however, and the twin-turbo motor will propel you along outrageously. Outputs of 697 hp and 663 lb-ft are astonishing in anything, let alone a plush, high-riding tourer such as this, and yet they somehow play best supporting actor, not starring role.

The DBX707 delights in tackling corners that would have other SUVs scraping along by their door handles. Place it in Sport+, and the throttle response and gearchanges are sharpened while the suspension is placed in a firmer setting. The changes between modes are incremental rather than bipolar in nature.

It grips with tenacity and exhibits very little body roll through the corners. What impresses the most is just how easy the DBX707 is to drive. It sticks like glue, with very little hint of understeer - the standard dynamic torque vectoring certainly helps, as do the trashcan lid-sized carbon ceramic vented brake discs (420 mm front, 390 mm rear).

The 707 is a marked improvement over the regular DBX and bests the Bentayga Speed for sheer excitement, too. What's more, it's more potent than the 641-hp Lamborghini Urus and far less spiky in its demeanor when you hustle along.

You'd struggle to find a bad car here, in the rarified atmosphere where ultra-luxury super SUVs reside. Being "good" is a prerequisite to entry, but it will not charm any prospective owners. In other words, the DBX707 needs to be sublime - and that it is.

For an SUV, it's an absolute masterpiece to look at and drive. Perhaps one could argue that the styling is a touch overdone, but it's far more tasteful than the nouveau riche Bentayga Speed, and it's eons ahead of the Urus when it comes to desirability.

Inside, it can't quite match the Bentley in terms of luxury - although it comes very close. However, almost all rivals have it completely bested in the infotainment department, where its old Mercedes COMAND system simply does not cut it.

But to drive, we're not sure there's another SUV that comes close. It has the balance, poise, and composure of a sports car, and that's not hyperbole. You just have to pay for the privilege, and when a Cayenne Turbo GT costs far less for a package almost as good, then the Aston has to rely on its ability to stir the soul.

Good? No. It's absolutely exquisite.

There's just one trim level available for the Aston Martin DBX707; all that's left to do is wade through the endless options, select your desired specification, and fork over an eye-watering chunk of change.

We'd go for Liquid Crimson, a Signature Metallic hue, and pair the deep paintwork with a dark grille finish - the chrome option gives the front end a peculiar, gaping appearance. The 23-inch forged wheels, painted in a Textured Black finish, look best and tie everything together nicely. In keeping with the subtle theme, we'd spring for the black-painted brake calipers and smoked rear taillights.

Inside, it's the Inspire Comfort theme we're selecting (in monotone) with Sandstone (light cream) upholstery. This provides a luxurious feel and gives the sense of more interior space. The Satin Chrome interior jewelry and Piano Black wood inlays gets our nod. We'd steer clear of most options, save for the heated steering wheel and ventilated seats for the front and rear occupants.