Nadim Mehanna and his MotorShow team took the Aston Martin DBX for a comprehensive drive in the UAE.
The DBX represents one of the most important models in the Aston Martin lineup, marking the British marque’s entry into the luxury SUV segment while bringing its unmistakable character into a more practical body style. Developed to combine the comfort and versatility expected from a premium SUV with the performance and driving involvement associated with Aston Martin sports cars, the DBX occupies a unique position in a segment dominated by established luxury competitors.
Rather than simply adapting Aston Martin’s design language to an SUV, the DBX was developed around the idea of creating a vehicle that could deliver genuine sports-car character without sacrificing everyday usability. Its long proportions, muscular stance, sculpted surfaces, and signature grille give it a distinctive road presence, while the spacious cabin and generous luggage capacity make it considerably more practical than Aston Martin’s traditional two-door models.
From the outside, the DBX immediately stands apart from many of its rivals. The proportions are athletic without appearing overly aggressive, with a long bonnet, short front overhang, flowing roofline, and strongly defined rear haunches giving the SUV a planted appearance. Frameless doors, Aston Martin’s signature grille, and the distinctive rear lighting design reinforce its connection to the brand’s sports-car heritage. On the DBX707, the visual character becomes even more pronounced, with a larger grille, redesigned bumpers, prominent aerodynamic elements, quad exhausts, and larger wheels creating a more performance-focused appearance.
On the road, the DBX immediately feels different from a conventional luxury SUV. The driving position provides the commanding view expected from a high-riding vehicle, but the steering, throttle response, and chassis behavior retain a distinctly sporty character. The standard DBX with its V8 powertrain produces strong performance, while the DBX707 takes the experience considerably further, using a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 producing 707 hp and 900 Nm of torque.
Acceleration in the DBX707 is particularly impressive for a vehicle of its size and weight. The SUV can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in around 3.3 seconds, with a top speed of approximately 310 km/h, placing it firmly in high-performance territory. The nine-speed automatic transmission delivers rapid gear changes, while the active all-wheel-drive system manages the considerable torque available at the wheels.
What makes the DBX particularly interesting, however, is the way it combines this performance with a sense of composure. The power delivery is immediate but controlled, allowing the SUV to feel relaxed during normal city driving before revealing its more aggressive character when the driver pushes harder. On highways, the DBX settles into a comfortable and stable rhythm, making long-distance journeys feel natural rather than demanding.
The chassis is equally important to the driving experience. The DBX uses sophisticated suspension technology with adaptive damping, while the DBX707 adds an advanced active anti-roll system designed to control body movement during enthusiastic driving. This allows the SUV to remain composed through corners while still providing the level of ride comfort expected from a luxury vehicle.
In everyday driving, the result is an SUV that feels considerably more agile than its dimensions might suggest. Steering is responsive and confidence-inspiring, while the low-mounted driving position and carefully controlled body movements help create a stronger connection between the driver and the road. At the same time, the suspension can absorb imperfections effectively, making the DBX suitable for commuting, long highway journeys, and daily use.
The braking system is equally impressive on the DBX707. Large carbon-ceramic brakes provide the stopping power required to control the SUV at high speeds while also helping reduce unsprung weight. Combined with sophisticated electronic systems and torque-vectoring technology, the braking package contributes to the DBX707’s ability to transition between everyday driving and more demanding conditions.
Inside, the DBX focuses heavily on craftsmanship and atmosphere. The cabin combines leather, Alcantara, carbon fiber, metal finishes, and carefully designed trim elements to create an environment that feels distinctly Aston Martin. Rather than relying entirely on screens, the interior blends digital displays with physical controls, maintaining a sense of interaction that is increasingly uncommon among modern luxury vehicles.
The driving position is one of the cabin’s strongest features. The front seats provide a supportive and commanding position, while the elevated seating arrangement gives the driver a clear view of the road. At the same time, the cabin remains intimate enough to retain some of the feeling associated with Aston Martin’s sports cars.
Passenger practicality is another important part of the DBX concept. The SUV provides generous rear-seat space and a large luggage compartment, allowing it to accommodate passengers and everyday cargo without the compromises normally associated with a performance-focused vehicle. This makes the DBX particularly well suited to the demands of daily life in the UAE, where spacious interiors and long-distance comfort are often just as important as outright performance.
Technology has also become an increasingly important part of the DBX experience. The latest DBX707 features a digital driver information display and a central infotainment screen, alongside navigation, smartphone connectivity, wireless charging, voice control, and other connected features depending on market specification. The system combines modern digital functionality with physical controls, creating a more traditional interaction than some of the heavily screen-focused alternatives in the luxury SUV segment.
Driver-assistance technology is integrated into the vehicle without taking away from its performance-oriented character. Features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, autonomous emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, rear cross-traffic detection, and automated parking assistance add an additional layer of convenience, particularly during urban driving and longer journeys.
In markets such as the UAE, where luxury SUVs have become an important part of the automotive landscape, the DBX occupies an interesting position. It offers the practicality, seating position, and road presence expected from a premium SUV, but approaches the segment from the perspective of a performance and luxury brand rather than a conventional SUV manufacturer. Its combination of handcrafted interior quality, distinctive design, powerful V8 performance, and everyday usability gives it a character that is difficult to replicate.
The DBX707 takes that philosophy to an even more extreme level. With 707 hp, 900 Nm of torque, active all-wheel drive, sophisticated suspension technology, high-performance brakes, and a top speed of around 310 km/h, it demonstrates how far the concept of a high-performance luxury SUV can be pushed. Yet its spacious interior, comfortable driving modes, and practical cargo area mean that it remains usable beyond purely performance-focused driving.
The Aston Martin DBX ultimately presents itself as a carefully balanced interpretation of the modern luxury SUV. It brings together the presence and practicality of an SUV with the craftsmanship, design, and driving character associated with Aston Martin. Whether equipped as a comfortable grand-tourer or taken to the extreme in DBX707 form, it delivers an experience that feels more emotional and driver-focused than simply being another large luxury SUV.
With its distinctive styling, powerful V8 engine, sophisticated chassis, premium craftsmanship, and practical interior, the DBX succeeds in expanding the Aston Martin experience into a completely different category. It is an SUV designed not merely to carry passengers, but to preserve the sense of occasion that comes with driving an Aston Martin.