2025 Aston Martin Vantage Evaluate

A extra compact footprint sufficiently differentiates the Vantage from the bigger DB12 grand tourer and Vanquish flagship. Each these stellar fashions serve their objective, however the smallest Aston within the lineup caters to driving fans with a dynamic and nimble chassis.

That chassis now homes a twin-turbo AMG V8 massaged by Aston to pump out an unbelievable 656 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. The concurrently svelte, sinewy, and muscular exterior traces give strategy to a surprising inside, which could simply function the Vantage’s spotlight.

Altogether, tech permits the Vantage to inhabit a newly luxurious, easy, and highly effective function within the lineup. One way or the other extra unique, extra highly effective, and extra inexpensive than a Porsche 911 Turbo S, the Vantage fairly presumably represents essentially the most engaging deal within the six-figure sports activities automobile realm.

In brief: Chic to have a look at, the 2025 Aston Martin Vantage is equally as partaking to drive. The brand new face-lifted mannequin yr lacks a V12 engine choice, positive. However, the twin-turbo 4.0L engine’s low-end torque and high-end horsepower present gobstopping efficiency.

Adjustable exhaust, suspension, steering, and transmission shifting complement the powertrain, proving as soon as once more that the brand new Aston underneath Lawrence Stroll’s management continues to enhance yr over yr by constantly including new knockouts to the lineup. The engine, design, inside, experience high quality, and worth all mix completely to set the Vantage atop many lists of dream automobiles.

2025 Aston Martin Vantage Evaluate

Earlier than I acquired this 2025 Vantage loaner, the design caught my eye each in pics and in particular person. However I all the time take automotive “first drive” evaluations, usually performed underneath tightly monitored situations, with a grain of salt. In different phrases, the Vantage arrived in Los Angeles with powerful footwear to fill, however I nonetheless harbored some skepticism.

Similar Powertrain, Extra Energy

The engine, nonetheless constructed by AMG however now “tuned by Aston Martin,” undoubtedly hits the nail on the top. How can the identical 4.0 L now put out 156 extra horsepower than the “regular” outgoing Vantage — and even 128 horsepower greater than the older automobile’s strongest F1 variant?

Taming that unbelievable energy, a ubiquitous ZF eight-speed automated gearbox mounts in a “transaxle” location between the rear wheels. However I quickly realized that, to my shock, this transmission is just not a dual-clutch, as on the Vanquish. And that’s a bummer, as a result of the Vanquish’s DCT may presumably stay as much as Porsche’s PDK requirements.

Nonetheless, the standard torque converter automated permits the Vantage to shift extra easily. Plus, fashionable electronically adjustable shock dampers additional contribute to an incredibly wide selection of makes use of for the brand new Vantage.

I set the whole lot to the softest drive modes and cruised across the roughest roads of Los Angeles in consolation. Solely the worst ruts and pace bumps triggered any jolting within the cabin, and the comparatively excessive experience peak (in comparison with different supercars) by no means required a front-axle elevate system.

Within the softest mode, the Vantage’s engine settles right into a mellow idle, completely thumping out torque at low revs. The deep rumble simply pleads for launch into increased RPMs, although. So quickly sufficient, I headed out to Malibu to set the Vantage unfastened.

Getting critical meant switching over first into Sport mode, after which Sport+ to open up the exhaust valving, stiffen up the dampers, and tighten the steering to offer a touch extra suggestions.

Dealing with

Rocketing out onto straightaways, the 4.0L V8’s high-end output in all probability issues lower than the deep wells of torque on reserve. Therefore the choice to skip a DCT, maybe, since second and third gear suffice for nearly any (authorized) use on public roads. Then once more, I stored popping down a gear simply to listen to extra turbo blowoff and the pops and bangs of overrun.

The transaxle format helps with dealing with in some ways, however maybe greatest by offering a little bit of a rear bias when punching onerous on the brakes. Setting the Vantage’s nostril through these carbon ceramics (a $14,400 choice) requires only a smidge of toe strain. Then the entrance tires hook up, prepared to tear across the tightest corners with out as a lot squiggle from the rear finish, which a extra typical transmission hooked up to the engine may create.

Whereas cornering, the transaxle then offers higher weight distribution to maintain the skin tires planted. This permits Aston to make use of barely softer suspension damping, making a little bit of compliance and luxury to assist masks a curb weight that tops out above 3,800 kilos. However the tires nonetheless stayed merely glued to the tarmac.

Till, that’s, I began to feather in some energy. With the entrance wheels at even a light angle, the rears simply like to step out. However every second of oversteer left me impressed, given the convenience with which I caught on to holding throttle enter and leaning into the slide.

On a misty morning on the town, I additionally found that in moist situations, the Vantage will fortunately drift even with traction and stability management absolutely on. The fast steering, exact however missing in some suggestions as typical of electrically assisted techniques, helps make such shenanigans rather less scary, given the prodigious price ticket.

Consolation & Tech

In the meantime, ripping round Malibu or by site visitors in L.A., I match simply wonderful at 6’1” with lengthy limbs. The usual seats stored me snugged into place with out the discomfort of racier buckets.

CarPlay linked promptly every time, too. However most significantly, Aston’s new heart console design options an ideal design, highlighted by textured metallic dials for many touchpoints.

The screens is likely to be on the smaller finish of the spectrum, at simply 10.25 inches for each the infotainment and gauges. However as I realized on the Vanquish, the purpose is simply to get in and drive, specializing in the highway, not a bunch of digital readouts.

Pricing & Competitors

Not like that $600,000-plus Vanquish, although, in some way Aston priced the brand new Vantage decrease than a Porsche 911 Turbo — and considerably under a Turbo S (which begins at $230,000 earlier than tacking on Porsche’s notorious choices, which tally up even faster than Aston’s). That Turbo S places out 640 horsepower at present, which explains why Aston upped the AMG engine’s output to 656 ponies.

The 2025 Vantage begins at $191,000. My overview car has a sticker worth of $287,400. Skip a few of the much less vital choices, just like the $13,600 for this gaudy Cosmopolitan Yellow paint, and abruptly, the 2025 Vantage appears surprisingly attainable. For an Aston Martin, anyhow.

2025 Vantage Evaluate: Conclusions

I handed again the keys to my Vantage virtually in a funk. Few automobiles ever handle to stay as much as expectations so effectively, even within the six-figure worth vary. Aston wrote an enormous examine with the up to date exterior design, and cashed in with a spectacular experience that may serve equally as a every day driver — it’s a hatchback, in spite of everything — or a hard-charging canyon carver.

In truth, the Vantage boils down the whole lot nice about Aston Martin into one good character: Trendy, sporty, snug, and now extra highly effective than ever. Calling any automobile with virtually $100,000 in choices inexpensive can definitely sound absurd, and but in comparison with the competitors the Vantage positive seems to be like a screaming deal.

Regardless of being clearly out of attain for the 99%, this true aspirational automobile legitimately left me debating my life selections. It’s simply that good.