Style, luxury, and blistering performance are three elements that the Aston Martin DBX707 has in spades. Building on base DBX, which is already an exceptional SUV, the DBX707 raises the stakes even higher.
Subtle exterior design features differentiate the DBX707 from the DBX, with a larger front grille and an all-new design for the day running lights, plus a new front splitter profile. New louvred bonnet blades that continue along the flanks, made from carbon fibre on this DBX707, are combined with a deeper and more heavily sculpted side profile leading to the new lip spoiler. The significantly enlarged twin rear diffuser rises to meet the new large diameter quad exhaust system and to complete the rear-end changes, the new rear bumper has integrated quarter panel vents.
It’s under the clamshell bonnet where Aston Martin’s engineering team have showed their hand to realise the full potential of the DBX’s 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8. The DBX707’s engine now features ball bearing turbochargers and a bespoke engine calibration to liberate more power and torque. More power does mean more fuel use and the official combined fuel efficiency is now 13.5L/100km and for my weekend of bliss I used 20.6L/100km.
Maximum power from the front mid-mounted “hot-V” turbocharged all alloy quad overhead cam V8 is now 707PS and if you are like me and wondered what ‘PS’ stands for it’s a German word, PferdStarke, which is the metric measure of horsepower. To express it another way the DBX707 has 697BHP or 520KW at 6,000rpm. Maximum torque is a whopping 900NM between 2,750 – 4,500rpm, so this 2.2 tonne plus SUV can do the 0-100 km/h sprint in a mind bending 3.3 seconds! And it will go on to a top speed of 310km/h.
Integral to the DBX707’s suite of performance enhancements is the standard fitment of Carbon Ceramic Brakes. Measuring 420mm front and 390mm rear, these discs are gripped by 6-piston calipers and result in a 40.5kg reduction in unsprung weight. The DBX707 I drove was fitted with optional 23” wheels finished in Textured Black and I liked these because they didn’t show the dirt.
Also new to Aston Martin’s flagship high performance SUV is a 9-speed ‘wet clutch’ automatic transmission. The adoption of the new wet clutch transmission results in noticeably faster gear changes compared to the torque converter transmission. Launch capability is also improved with “Race Start” available in GT Sport and Sport+ modes. Race Start is simply engaged by placing your left foot hard on the brake and pulling both paddle shifters towards you. Then you fully depress the accelerator with your right foot hard, release the brake and hold on! I could feel the backend sit down and the front pitch up as the DBX707 pummels the bitumen in front thanks to the electronically controlled active all-wheel drive system.
The DBX707 has five drove modes available four on-road and one off-road (see my previous experience driving the standard DBX off-road here). The four on-road modes are GT, Sport, Sport+, and Individual. Under Individual mode you can adjust the suspension, steering, drive, and exhaust to your personal preference. There are also buttons on the centre console to raise and lower the vehicle, adjust the damper stiffness and to engage the loud exhaust when you are driving in GT mode.
In Sport+ mode the DBX707 really hunkers down and will even allow a bit of a wiggle from the backend out of the corners and this caught me a little off-guard when I first time that I encountered it. Ride comfort is optimal in GT mode, but still perfectly livable in Sport and Sport+ modes thanks to air suspension system and dedicated chassis tune on the DBX707. You can even tow up to 2,700Kg using a braked trailer and carry 75Kg (including all roof loading equipment) on the roof, if you find the need to.
The exhaust note is loud, but not obnoxious and there are a few pops and bangs on aggressive up and down shifting using the slender and beautiful carbon fibre paddle shifters. There is even a dual acoustic engine start (quiet start or sport start), so if you really don’t like your neighbours, you can engage an extra loud cold start by pulling the paddles towards you before push the Start button. You won’t hear their cursing though thanks to the acoustically laminated windscreen and front side windows on the DBX707.
Because once you shut the soft-close doors your senses become focused on the interior of the DBX707, which is pure Aston Martin. Almost every surface you can see and touch covered in sweet smelling Onyx Black Semi Aniline leather with stitched leather on the dash, under the centre console and door trims. To demonstrate the attention to detail that Aston Martin have showed here, even the tabs that secure the storage behind the front seats are made from leather. The headliner is covered with Black Alcantara and even the cover over the panoramic sunroof is Alcantara.
My DBX707 was fitted with the optional Interior Jewellery Pack – Q in 2×2 Twill Carbon Fibre Trim with Dark Satin Chrome, so there was carbon fibre on the centre console, door trims and behind the front seats. I also really love the machined door pulls, just another example of the special Aston touches in the DBX707.
For customers looking to further enhance the exclusive nature of DBX707 and create something truly unique, Q by Aston Martin, the brands bespoke service delivers the ultimate in personalisation. Offering an extensive palette of options, from unique graphics through to tinted carbons and bespoke materials on both the interior and exterior, each ‘Q by Aston Martin – Commission’ car can push the boundaries of desire and is completely tailored to the customer.
In the DBX707 I drove the seats were also covered in Onyx Black Semi Aniline leather with contrast stitching and embroidered Aston Martin wings on the headrests. Both seats have power adjustment for recline, forward/back, seat height front and rear, and 4-way lumbar support with three memory positions. They are also heated and ventilated, but I found that the cooling was a bit noisy when in operation.
The infotainment technology in the DBX707 is an older style, so the 10.25” central display is not a touchscreen and you still need to use the rotary toggle controller or the touch pad to navigate it and it only has wired Apple CarPlay. Or you can use voice control by pressing the button on the heated steering wheel with a microphone on it to activate it. The voice control worked well for making phone calls, but it took a couple of attempts to get it to set the destination I was after and did not work for changing a radio station, so not really up to the standard of a high-end vehcile.
There’s a wireless charger for your phone located under the centre console bridge and in the cubby under the arm rest are two USB-A ports, one 12V socket and an SD card slot. In front of the arm rest there are two cup holders with removable mat located in the base to make spills easier to clean up and the drink bottle storage in the front door cubby is at a 45o angle.
The rear seats are very spacious with abundant head and leg room on offer for two adults to comfortably sit back there and for younger passengers the DBX707 has two ISOFIX/three rear tether child seat restraint points. The centre seat folds down as an arm rest with two very grippy cup holders or you could lay a slim drink bottle down in the rear door storage cubbies.
The rear seats are heated and ventilated as well, and like the front seats the ventilation is noisy to operate. Rear passengers get digital temperature and air speed operation with two central air vents, B pillar vents and vents under the front seats. Below the climate controls there are two USB-A ports.
The tailgate is power operated with open/close on the button under the tailgate, on the key fob and in the cabin located under centre console next to the wireless charge pad. You can also raise and lower the SUV from the button located in the boot space and there is a temporary use spare tyre located under the boot floor.
The boot is a good size for carrying the weekly shop or luggage for a weekend away and has four substantial tie down points, two lights and a 12V socket. If you need more space, you can release the 60:40 split fold rear seats using a button in the boot space and then manually fold the seats back up or open the centre seat only for longer items.
The DBX707 does not have an ANCAP safety rating, but passengers are protected by airbags for driver, front passenger and knee and front thorax and side curtains. Active safety features include Auto Emergency Braking, Blind spot warning including Lane change warning, Forward collision warning, Rear cross traffic detection, Lane departure warning and Lane keep assist, which is so aggressive it sounds like you have hit something, so it really gets your attention. I do like that when you engage adaptive cruise control the vehicles illustrating its operation on the 12.3” digital driver information display are the silhouette of the DB5. The DBX707 also has as auto lights and auto wipers and a 3600 view reversing camera and 3600 sensors.
All new Aston Martin vehicles come with a three-year unlimited kilometre and an extended warranty can also be purchased. The service interval for Astons is every 12 months or 16,000km whichever occurs first and a major service is completed every four years.
The Aston Martin DBX707 truly is a SUV like no other and currently sits at the top of the luxury SUV deck thanks to its performance and styling. The Aston Martin DBX707 is priced from $428,400 plus on-road costs and this stunning Onyx Black DBX707 has a number of optional extras fitted. You can design your DBX707 using the online configurator or visit your preferred Aston Martin dealer for more information.
| Pros | Cons |
| The performance | Operation of ventilated seats is noisy |
| The interior finish | Voice control is not up to standard |
| It’s also a practical family SUV | Infotainment system is dated |
Photographs by Driven Women Magazine.