What does it cost?
Aston Martin Vanquish Coupe full 9 point review
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Performance
The 5.9-litre V12 engine gives you 565bhp and 457lb ft of torque, making the Vanquish capable of 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds and a maximum speed of 183mph. However, the gentle shifts of the six-speed automatic transmission make the power delivery feel curiously nonchalant, and the car feels less rapid than it is.
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Ride & Handling
The steering is crisp, well-weighted and unerringly accurate. The handling is also helped by strong grip and powerful, progressive brakes, while the whole car feels beautifully balanced in bends. The ride is less impressive. It's supple enough with the adaptive dampers in Normal mode, but big undulations make the Vanquish bounce too much. Sport calms the bouncing but makes the ride choppier, Sport Track even more so.
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Refinement
The Vanquish is very refined indeed, and some might even argue that it’s too refined for a flagship Aston. Wind noise is minimal and road noise well suppressed for a wide-tyred supercar. Rattles and squeaks are non-existent. In Normal mode, the engine is sonorous but never overbearing. In Sport it's loud and boomy, and the novelty soon wears off.
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Buying & Owning
A Vanquish costs Ferrari and Bentley money. It deserves to be in such company, but depreciation might be heavier because there are many more Aston Martins in circulation. The official combined fuel consumption of 19.6mpg will be tough to match if the power is properly enjoyed, and the CO2 emissions are similarly frightening.
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Quality & Reliability
This is a lovely object, no question. The paint is flawless, the panel gaps are tight, and inside, you’re treated to lashings of leather and aluminium. Past Aston Martins have been unimpressive in their electronic dependability, but we’ll have to see how this one fares in the fullness of time.
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Safety & Security
You get plenty of airbags and all the usual driver-assistance systems. The engine has also been lowered to give more space above it, meaning the Vanquish can meet pedestrian protection rules without having to make the bonnet pop up. The rounded front grille collapses inwards on impact, too. As usual with Astons, a Tracker is standard.
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Behind The Wheel
You sit pleasingly low, with your driving position tailored electrically. Gear mode is selected by Aston's usual glass console buttons, manual shifts are via aluminium paddles fixed to the steering column. The centre console has touch-screen switches divided into system areas, and these work fairly well.
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Space & Practicality
There's plenty of room for two, but the tiny rear seats (which aren't obligatory) are little more than storage shelves. There's no dashboard glovebox, either, so centre console storage has to suffice. The boot is usefully large, though, and compares well with those of competitors.
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Equipment
The list is lengthy, and plenty more can be added especially if you study the permutations of exterior and interior finish. The British-made sat-nav system is properly modern and works well, while the 1kW sound system comes from Bang & Olufsen.
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