Mention the name Aston Martin to anyone with a passing knowledge of cars, and they might conjure up images of James Bond in a DB5, or the sound of a V12 engine. Whatever comes to mind, the British manufacturer has long held a reputation for some of the most beautiful machines in the automotive world, and for good reason.
However, the history of Aston Martin has been one of changing fortunes, and in the past few decades, there have been some hits and misses in the brand’s lineup. There’s no arguing that Aston can make a piece of artwork on four wheels, but what are their cars actually like to own?
We’ll take a look at the current lineup of Aston Martin vehicles, and talk you through the most expensive options on sale right now. There might be some surprises in here, so let’s begin.
So what are the most expensive Aston Martin models in 2023?
The Most Expensive Aston Martins
In this article we’ll go through the most expensive models you can currently buy from Aston Martin, and we’ll talk through their good and bad points. These are all standard models, no ‘one-off’ or extremely limited editions, so if you have the budget and are in the market for an Aston Martin, you can pick any of these cars up right now.
4. Aston Martin Vantage: $139,000 / £131,000
First up we have the Vantage, the entry-level Aston Martin. Entry level might sound strange for a car that starts at $139,000, but in comparison, this is the ‘affordable’ Aston. Even though it’s the least expensive model, the Vantage has a strong history and it’s one of the iconic British sports cars of the 21st century. But is the current model any good?
The positives of the Vantage begin with its design. This won’t be a surprise to anyone who has heard the name Aston Martin before, as the brand has a reputation for some of the most beautiful cars ever created. The Vantage isn’t up there with greats like the DB4, DB5, and the Vanquish, but it’s still a head-turner.
Look past the bodywork and you get an impressive amount of performance from the Vantage, with over 500 bhp (which sounds fantastic), and the option on some models for a manual gearbox. It can’t stand up to rivals like the 911 on the race track though, even with some major improvements over the previous generation. This won’t matter to most owners though; you buy an Aston Martin for the presence more than the performance, and when your car looks this good you won’t care about lap times.
The interior of the Vantage continues a trend of recent Aston Martins. Material quality is as good as you’d expect at this price point, but the technology and infotainment are way off the pace. Aston interiors over the last 20 years have been hit and miss, but it’s more noticeable now with all the extra features. Comparing this to the setup from an Audi R8 or Porsche 911 is almost unfair, and although you don’t buy a Vantage for the interior tech, it is definitely a weak spot.
Summary
| The Good | The Bad |
| Beautiful Design | Interior Tech Needs Improving |
| Great Engine Sound |
3. Aston Martin DBX: $177,000 / £169,500
The next car on our list is the DBX. This is one of the most controversial cars from Aston Martin in recent times, as it’s the first SUV in the company’s history. That might not sound like a big deal, but we are in the age of every manufacturer creating their own high-performance SUV, which hasn’t sat well with purists. Putting that aside, is the DBX a good car or not?
I’ll start off with my own controversial statement: I’m not a huge fan of the DBX design. Aston has clearly tried to keep this faithful to the brand, and it’s certainly a sport-focused design, but I can’t agree with some elements. I think the rear design is too bulky, and the front grille and number plate feel in an odd place to me. These are minor problems for most cars, but Astons are judged at a higher level than most, and this slightly misses the mark.
Thankfully, the design’s disappointment is forgotten as soon as you drive the DBX. This might weigh over two tonnes, but it handles incredibly well, better than all of its many rivals. Aston Martin has pulled off an amazing feat of engineering here, and in an era where sporty SUVs are everywhere, this stands out. You have over 500 bhp to play with here; even better, you have full 4×4 capabilities in the DBX. I doubt any owners are going to do any serious offroading, but it’s good to see Aston hasn’t ignored this.
Once you’re inside the DBX, it features many of the pros and cons of the Vantage. The materials are second to none, but the infotainment is still disappointing. It feels a shame that a fairly inexpensive part of the car’s development has been ignored, and I think for some DBX owners this will be a frustration. The DBX isn’t a two-seater sportscar, this is a (surprisingly practical) family SUV and owners will expect more attention to areas like the infotainment.
Summary
| The Good | The Bad |
| Incredible Performance | Disappointing Interior Technology |
| Surprisingly Practical | Not The Best Looking Aston Martin |
2. Aston Martin DB11: $205,000 / £163,000
The DB11 is the next car on our list, and for me, it encompasses the feeling of an Aston Martin more than anything else from their current lineup. The successor to the DB9, this is the more refined Aston, in comparison to the sportier Vantage. It’s still incredibly powerful, but you’d find the DB11 more at home on a grand tour than on a racetrack.
That might sound like some marketing rubbish, but this has been designed to be a luxury tourer more than a sports car. You have a few engine options, starting at a V8, but you’d be mad not to pick the V12. The DB11 can be pushed if you want that driving thrill, but don’t go expecting the handling you’ll find in rivals like the Mclaren 570s.
This is an incredibly beautiful car, and for my money, it looks better than the aggressive Vantage. The DB11 is a peak GT car, the perfect vehicle for those long-distance drives, and Aston has absolutely nailed that feeling. The interior design and tech (which have often been disappointing in recent Astons) are passable, but they don’t match the tech you can find in an Audi R8, or the luxury in a Bentley Continental.
Overall, the DB11 is at a price point where it competes on too many fronts, but the combination of the design and that V12 keep this car relevant. It might not be as popular as the high-end 911s or as dramatic as a McLaren, but if you’re looking for what Aston Martin means, this is the 2023 car to own.
Summary
| The Good | The Bad |
| The Looks Alone | Too Many Rival Options |
| Perfect For Grand Touring | The Interior Tech Could Be Better |
1. Aston Martin DBS: $316,000 / £253,500
The final Aston Martin on our list for 2023 steps things up a level, and it’s the DBS. This is Aston’s flagship model (if you don’t count their limited edition work) and although it’s based on the DB11, the DBS is in another league entirely.
The DBS captures everything great about the DB11 – the striking design and incredible V12 – and turned what was an excellent GT car into a lightweight monster. In fact, the full title of this car, “DBS Superleggera” means superlight in Italian, and it feels fitting that the DBS is competing with Ferrari and Lamborghini.
Performance figures sit at 715bhp, with a claimed 0-60 time of 3.4 seconds. That’s not exactly slow, but you can better that time in a BMW M5, so the DBS must have something else up its sleeve right? Well like any Aston Martin, this car is about the experience more than the numbers, and in that aspect, the DBS delivers. The V12 soundtrack alone sets this car apart from almost anything else on the road, and this is a car you can still use as a GT, crossing continents faster than anything without a jet engine.
Inside the DBS every material is high quality, as you’d expect from a car at this price point. There is less storage space in here than the DB11 so long-distance trips will require traveling light, but it’s manageable for two people. The infotainment is still disappointing, and Aston Martin needs to resolve this for their next generation of cars. Having said that, to be criticizing these features shows just how good the rest of the DBS truly is.
At prices in excess of $300,000 / £250,000 (and that is before any expensive options), the DBS is going head to head with some powerful competitors. The DBS can’t hold up to some of the performance stats from the likes of a Ferrari F8 or Mclaren 720S, but if you’re in the market for a piece of incredibly quick automotive art you can’t go wrong here.
Summary
| The Good | The Bad |
| Everything Good About The DB11 Is Here | Hard To Ignore The Competition |
| One Of The Best Engines From Aston Martin |
Summary
There we are – the most expensive Aston Martins on sale right now. Once a leading light in the British automotive world, it’s no secret that Aston fell on hard times over the past few decades. What we are seeing today is the promise of a true turnaround for the company. Ten years ago people were unsure whether Aston Martin would still exist, so seeing these cars today is an incredible achievement.
4. Aston Martin Vantage: $139,000 / £131,000
3. Aston Martin DBX: $177,000 / £169,500
2. Aston Martin DB11: $205,000 / £163,000
1. Aston Martin DBS: $316,000 / £253,500
This is without even mentioning the likes of the Valhalla or Valkyrie, where Aston Martin is pushing the boundaries of what is capable on four wheels. Let’s hope that the future for one of Britain’s automotive icons continues to shine bright and that we see plenty more excellent cars in the years to come.
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