Aston Martin DB11 Review (2016-2023)

What is the Aston Martin DB11

The DB11 was supposed to signal the start of a brave new era for Aston Martin. The first model launched under the company’s ‘second century plan’, sat on a new platform and used an all-new 600bhp engine which, in a sizeable departure for the British marque, was fitted with a pair of turbochargers. It even introduced a design direction that would underpin the marque’s forthcoming generation of cars.

While Aston Martin hoped for rave reviews for its new sports car from the off, the DB11 initially suffered from several problematic shortcomings that couldn’t be easily overlooked. Certain parts of the cabin were not as luxurious as they should have been for a car of the Aston’s price and status, on certain road surfaces, the ride quality was too brittle for a car that claimed to be a consummate grand tourer and, thanks to those turbos, much of the brilliant V12 soundtrack of old had been lost.

Everybody had their own point of view on the DB11’s styling – certainly there wasn’t the overwhelmingly generous consensus that had met the DB9 13 years earlier, but there was potential. Over the years that followed, Aston Martin began realise that potential as it made minor but significant changes behind the scenes until, in 2018, it launched the DB11 AMR. Here was a more powerful (+30bhp) version with a better ride, a tuneful soundtrack, and a more convincing cockpit. The AMR is now the only V12 DB11 offered by Aston Martin.

How practical is it?

Space and practicality are rarely priorities for supercar buyers, but the front of the DB11’s cabin, at least, is pretty roomy, and there’s no shortage of head and legroom. The miniscule back seats will accommodate people on the smaller side, but little more, and they’re best considered an area for some extra luggage capacity. The boot will swallow a couple of bags but not a great deal more.

If you’re after a top-end GT car with space for regular long-distance trips, more practical alternatives such as the Mercedes S-Class Coupe or the Bentley Continental GT would do a better job in this respect.

What's it like to drive

Several years after it was launched, the DB11 is now a supremely capable and likeable GT. Dynamically, it’s very well judged, with crisp steering and a fine balance between body control and ride comfort, plus a magnificent engine in that 630bhp 5.2-litre V12 (there is also a V8 variant that’s more affordable and scarcely any slower).

Whether you prefer your DB11 with eight cylinders or 12, it’ll be crushingly fast in a straight line. The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 – sourced directly from Mercedes-AMG and shared with the smaller Vantage and the DBX SUV – develops 503bhp, meaning even the entry-level DB11 will reach 62mph in just 3.9 seconds.

With another 127bhp, the twin-turbo V12 AMR is faster still, and capable of hitting the same speed in 3.7 seconds and powering on to 208mph, where the V8 tops out at 187mph. All models use the same eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Technology, equipment & infotainment

Even the most basic DB11 comes well specified as standard. Thrown into the asking price, you’ll get heated seats, a 360-degree parking camera, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, electric front seats, keyless go, smartphone integration and a 400-watt stereo.

Buyers can upgrade their cars with all manner of leather finishes, paint colours, custom stitching and so on, as well as additional kit such as heated and ventilated seats, a Bang and Olufsen audio system, auto parking and powered seat bolsters.

A previous-generation Mercedes infotainment system is all that really undermines the cabin ambience, because it’s dated and a little clunky, but at it least works reliably.

Aston Martin DB11 running costs

Don’t expect to be able to run any DB11 on anything but a very generous budget. They sit in the highest insurance and road tax brackets and will slurp through fuel with an insatiable appetite. V12 cars might never crack 20mpg, while an figure of 22mpg in mixed driving is realistic for a V8. Expect that fuel economy number to tumble with vigorous use.

A five-year Aston Martin service plan will cover scheduled maintenance costs over that term, but after that you’ll be spending a low four-figure sum each year just to give your DB11 the bare minimum of maintenance, and tyres will cost a fortune.

On a car like this, it is doubly important not to scrimp on maintenance costs. A high-performance Aston Martin will only ever feel at its best when lavished with the care and attention it deserves – cutting corners in the short term could ultimately lead to much bigger bills later. That does, of course, apply to each of the DB11’s rivals, too.

Aston Martin DB11 reliability

Aston Martins don’t have a reputation for being the most dependable cars on the road. They rarely feature in owner satisfaction surveys, but scare stories are more common than Aston or any of its customers would like. Certain common faults are beginning to emerge, and some owners have reported starting issues, while others have had problems with the sat-nav and air-con.

However, the DB11 was the first of the new era of Aston Martins and it should prove to be more reliable than the company’s earlier cars. Many of the electronics and the infotainment system, as well as the V8 engine, are lifted directly from the Mercedes-Benz parts bin, which bodes well for durability. What’s more, the eight-speed automatic gearbox that serves in all models is a ZF item that’s used by manufacturers far and wide, and it’s known to be a tough and dependable transmission.

All Aston Martins are covered by an industry standard three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, which owners can extend at additional cost for up to two more years. The company offers several different grades of extended warranty: Plus, Premium and Classic.