Article content As an ardent gearhead, Ferraris and Porsches rank right up there in terms of unabashed lust, and I would never turn down any chance to drive one. Yet, to be perfectly honest — and possibly influenced by my British ancestry — the cars I lose my heart to most are the ones wearing the Aston Martin wing plate. Front engine, rear-wheel drive, with a long, achingly sensual shape, their classic lines and proportion have me in their thrall.
Then there’s the outlier DBX , AM’s all-wheel-drive sport-ute that is the very definition of Sesame Street ’s “one of these is not like the others.” Purists can cry in their beer all they want. Time and again, manufacturers, especially the luxury brands, have found adding a crossover/SUV to their vehicle lineup has quickly resulted in it becoming a best-seller, with welcomed profits that can then be ploughed back into further product research and development.
Just ask Porsche. As for DBX, called “the supercar of SUVs” by the company with nary a hint of pretentiousness, it accounted for 44% of AM’s total sales last year. With a percentage like that, it’s not a vehicle Aston can nor will let fall behind the competition.
Learn more about the cars T he high-dollar, two-row super-ute, which made an ill-timed d ebut in 2020, right at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic , is about as aesthetically pleasing as a two-box shape allows, with a long wheelbase to maximize interior space, yet compacted engine placement to shorten overhang. Aston’s designers did their level best to imbue it with styling cues from its DB sports cars. Not convinced about the looks? Ah, but massive power is an aphrodisiac for many, and when AM showcased the DBX707 for the 2023 model year, it certainly upped its desirability factor, this version bringing with it stunning performance and world-class dynamics — in no small part due to its hand-assembled, 697-hp, Mercedes-AMG twin-turbo 4.
0L V8. Throwing shade at the competition, AM proudly boasted that the DBX707 was “a sabre in a segment of sledgehammers.” (Point of information, the 707 in the name refers to the engine output in the European pferdstarke [PS] rating.
Converting to our more familiar mechanical horsepower rating yields the ever-so-slightly lesser 697.) Not resting on its well-deserved laurels, which is to say there’s always room for improvement, the DBX gets a makeover for 2025. This starts with the unchanged 707 engine now becoming the only powertrain option; the slow-selling 542-hp version of the same Mercedes V8 has been retired.
Let’s explore the 2025 Aston Martin DBX707’s performance With primary gas-powered competition coming from the likes of Bentley’s Bentayga and the Lamborghini Urus, not to mention the slightly more prosaic yet still formidable Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, Aston Martin made sure the DBX707 wasn’t bringing a knife to a gunfight. The 697 hp/664 lb-ft twin-turbo V8 is bolted to a nine-speed wet-clutch automatic gearbox, which in turn is mated to a sophisticated AWD system capable of sending up to 100% of the torque to the rear axle on demand. This results in acceleration as fast, if not faster, than the DB12 sports car .
When pushed, the DBX707 will launch itself to 100 km/h in a rapid 3.3 seconds and achieve a top speed of 310 km/h. And with the sport-ute tipping the scales at 2,245 kg (4,950 lbs), platter-sized brakes are required to provide the sort of stopping power track fiends will appreciate — standard 420-mm front and 390-mm rear carbon ceramic brakes hidden behind 22-inch rims, with a choice of cast or forged 23-inch alloy wheels available for the minor sum of $9,200.
How does the DBX707 handle? Yes, the gods — at least the gods of speed — do live in the details. AM engineers enhanced the DBX707’s already fine handling with detail changes to the sport-ute’s chassis software. Their quest for continual improvement resulted in recalibrating the two-way electronic dampers and triple-chamber air springs to increase transient body control, thus improving response — and driver confidence — especially when hooning twisting and undulating canyon roads.
Electric active anti-roll control, essentially 48-volt motors mated to the front and rear anti-roll bars, provide sports car-like stability when needed. 2025 Aston Martin DBX707 exterior tweaks The visible changes could be described as finessing the details, but they are no less noteworthy. They include new “presenting” door handles, which power outward when the car is unlocked, and new flush glass swivel-head door mirrors, the latter driven by the adoption of a more sophisticated advanced driver assistance system (ADAS).
The new mirror design features improved fully integrated cameras to support the 3D parking cameras. Unlike the old design, in which the adjustable mirror moved within the fixed outer shell, the new version sees the whole mirror and shell assembly swivel as one to provide adjustment. This, says AM, maximizes the size of the reflective surface for a greater field of view in addition to providing better camera packaging.
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and interior improvements Aston Martin has addressed the biggest issue with the previous models, namely the location of transmission shift buttons, which were located high on the centre stack, flanking the start button. Not ideal placement, especially for those with shorter arms. Both the button and the shifters have been relocated to the centre console.
Of greater interest to technophiles is with the DBX’s adoption of Aston Martin’s in-house-developed infotainment system, finally ditching the archaic and frustrating Mercedes-sourced system. AM boasts this is nothing less than a “transformative enhancement showcasing exemplary deployment of craft and innovation, combining immaculate design and indulgent luxury with a formidable suite of connected car technology.” Yes, folks, that is hyperbole dialled up to 11.
The bespoke, fully integrated multi-screen system features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus multiple USB-C connections, and full online connectivity supported by the Aston Martin customer app. DBX707 features buttons for the key mechanical operations of gear selection, drive mode, heating and ventilation, highlighting company philosophy of creating a mix of digital and analogue controls. Ensuring the most used controls are always at hand, there are also control switches for suspension, ESP and exhaust, lane keep assist and park distance control.
Information is displayed using Pure Black touchscreen technology with full capacitive single and multi-finger gesture control. The driver’s instrument cluster is a 12.3-inch screen — 1.
5 inches larger than those found in the DB12 and Vantage — with a second 10.25-inch central infotainment display screen integrated into the new dashboard and centre console. Complementing the integration of Aston Martin’s next-generation infotainment system, DBX707 also showcases all-new interiors.
There are three different trim specs, each with its own signature detailing; Inspire Comfort features matrix embroidery and quilting, Inspire Sport has vector embroidery and Accelerate with Alcantara for an extra element of sportiness. There’s a new steering wheel, redesigned D-pull door handles and vertical air vents, and larger front door veneer panels available in a variety of materials. How does the DBX707 drive? Aston Martin made no pretense of trying to portray the DBX as an off-roader, laying out a drive loop around California’s wine-producing Sonoma Valley that took in four-lane, a zip down the magnificent Pacific Coast Highway, and several canyon roads — including an actual Canyon Road — that played to the sport-ute’s handling improvements.
Despite a persona geared to the well-heeled scofflaw, the DBX707 is fully capable of being a quiet and comfortable daily driver, ready for a daylong journey, schlepping the kids to school or running off to the supermarket. But that’s not where the fun lies. In as few as words as possible, the 707 goes like stink and corners like nobody’s business.
Getting into the near-deserted canyons, the Aston sport-ute powered along with verve and balance that belie its size, an angry snarl from the quad exhaust pipes under throttle and a pop-pop-pop under braking, just enough to set it up for yet another tight turn. The brakes were extremely effective, though there was maybe a half inch too much pedal travel before pads grabbed ceramic discs. And since we’re being picky, the steering wheel felt just a tad light, at least until switching into the Sport+ drive mode, where it properly firms up.
Like a proper sports car, the DBX is essentially rear drive, with the centre diff apportioning power to the front axle when slippage is detected. The 707’s well-balanced 52/48 weight distribution, the wide Pirelli P Zero rubber (the tester fitted with the optional P285/35ZR23s up front, P325/30ZR23s at the back), the recalibrated air suspension and electronic active roll control system kept it level and firmly planted, even at the elevated speeds attained. How much is the 2025 Aston Martin DBX707 in Canada? Nobody will accuse Aston Martin of selling to the masses.
Nope, its fine selection of sports machines appeal to moneyed sophisticates who are willing to pay for exclusivity. And it will take deep pockets to own a 2025 DBX707, the company not shy about a healthy increase of the MSRP for the 2025 model. The starting price for one of the fastest SUVs marketed is $302,100, plus another $4,600 for transportation and handling.
However, the Q Photon Green example you see in the photographs has more than $120K worth of options, including $17,900 for the paint, $37,000 worth of carbon fibre bits, and $15,000 for the sublime 23-speaker, double amplified, 1,600-watt surround-sound Bowers & Wilkins audio system. Asking $1,400 for a heated steering wheel, however, seems like one cash grab too far. Final thoughts Tobias Moers, who was CEO of Aston Martin at the introduction of the 707 two years ago, said at the time that high-priced, high-powered SUVs represent the largest growing segment within the luxury vehicle segment.
The only thing that’s changed since is the addition of more models from more manufacturers with more powertrain choices to tempt the affluent enthusiast; those who own multiple vehicles. More than once have I heard the DBX707 described as the car James Bond would drive once he retired from saving the world, settled down and had kids. A fanciful thought, but one that could invoke an impetus for those passionate of the Aston Martin brand, the enthusiasts who love their sports cars but are desirous of something more practical.
Sleek, aerodynamic and eye catching, with a near-scientific balance of sports car feel and enhanced luxury, the DBX707’s 2025 makeover raises the bar by which other high-dollar competitors are judged. Yes, it is excessive, making no apologies for being so. Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on X , Tiktok and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice.
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