“Wow, this is very… red.” I climb into the DBX707 and one of Aston Martin’s PR team starts talking me through what is new. I should be studiously taking notes, but all thought is derailed by my scarlet surroundings. It feels like I’ve dived into a vat of tomato ketchup, or stumbled upon the aftermath of a chainsaw massacre. It is very red.
Fittingly, the mid-life facelift for the DBX707 focuses on its interior, but the ‘Spicy Red’ leather of my test car (pictured below) is very much optional. Phew. Far more important is the new infotainment system – the Achilles’ heel of the ‘707’ since it was launched in 2022.
I was there for that launch, driving on fabulous mountain roads in Sardinia and based at a hotel featured in the Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me. Aston Martin’s then-new DBX707, I concluded, was ‘brilliantly bombastic’, yet it only merited four-and-a-half stars overall, let down by tech more dated than a Tinder addict. Is this now a five-star car?
A mid-life makeover
Before we get to the new touchscreen, let’s run through the other changes for this 2024 model year. Unlike most facelifts (automotive or otherwise), the DBX707 has emerged almost identical. Look closely and you’ll spot larger side mirrors, an integrated carbon lip on the roof spoiler and flush-fitting door handles that pop out when pressed.
There are also five new paint colours – including F1-inspired Podium Green, previously limited to the AMR23 Edition – and two new alloy wheel finishes. And that’s it. Still, when your starting point is arguably the best looking SUV on sale, why change things for their own sake?
The Aston Martin’s 707hp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which drives all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission, has been left unchanged. However, it now sounds more boisterous at low revs, while there are small changes to the suspension calibration and steering response in GT mode.
Inside the Aston Martin DBX707
Inside is where you really notice the difference. Unless your brain is bamboozled by all the red, that is. The dashboard has been completely redesigned, with a distinctive horizontal divider and a new centre console. Instead of pushing buttons to select drive, neutral or reverse, you now toggle a small, Porsche 992-style lever, which nestles between tactile metal roller controls.
The new 12.3-inch central touchscreen was developed in-house by Aston Martin and is larger than the 10.25-inch system in the DB12 and new Vantage. Wireless Apple CarPlay is included and Android Auto will be coming soon via an over-the-air update. You can also connect your phone to the car via a dedicated Aston Martin app.
These changes combined give the DBX707’s cabin a real lift, so it now feels worthy of the £205,000 asking price. Yes, the new infotainment can be slightly fiddly to operate, but it’s no longer a deal-breaker that might see you shopping elsewhere. Quality is also excellent and there is ample space for passengers and luggage – as you’d expect in an SUV with a similar footprint to a Range Rover.
Lastly, whatever your thoughts on ketchup couture, everything inside the DBX707 can be bespoke, with endless colour and trim options available via Aston Martin’s ‘Q’ personalisation service. The only limiting factor is your bank balance.
Muscle and flow
It does. In GT mode, the DBX707 plays the relaxed cruiser, with effortless performance and a calm ride. The wet clutch AMG gearbox shuffles gears smoothly and the high seating position gives you a commanding view of the road ahead. The big-bolstered seats are very comfortable, too.
You can’t escape its size and 2,245kg heft, but on more challenging rural roads, the Aston Martin also does a passable impression of a sports car. Bilstein DTX adaptive dampers and a 48v anti-roll system combine to keep this luxury SUV locked onto its line. It’s composed, surefooted and good fun.
Nonetheless, the V8 up front still dominates the experience. Its full 663lb ft of torque bulldozes onto the scene at 2,750rpm, with the eponymous 707 horsepower arriving at 6,000rpm. The numbers are impressive – 0-62mph in 3.3 seconds and 193mph – but this engine’s chest-beating, hedonistic character is what truly defines it. At low speeds, it rumbles like an all-American muscle car. Go faster and it sounds like a WW2 bomber strafing the Cotswolds. Glorious.
Aston Martin DBX707: Verdict
There are some less impressive numbers associated with this V8, of course, such as 19.9mpg (if you drive like a saint) and 323g/km of CO2. But all of us will be strong-armed into electric cars soon enough, so it’s a privilege to enjoy such a riotous, over-endowed engine while we can.
Crucially, while the DBX707 already possessed the road manners to match, it now has an interior that doesn’t let the side down. If you can accept the contradictions inherent in a ‘Supercar of SUVs’ (to borrow a phrase from the press release), it’s a compelling package – an Aston Martin that could be your family daily-driver, yet still delivers on the promise of that illustrious badge.
So, a five-star car now, then? Yep, five stars.
• Tim Pitt writes for Motoring Research
Aston Martin DBX707
PRICE: £205,000
POWER: 707hp
0-62MPH: 3.3sec
TOP SPEED: 193mph
FUEL ECONOMY: 19.9mpg
CO2 EMISSIONS: 323g/km
