2023 Aston Martin Vantage Review, Pricing, and Specs

$146,986

V-8 Convertible

$158,186

F1 Edition Coupe

$171,586

Convertible F1 Edition

$182,886

V-12 Coupe

$301,286

Choosing between the Vantage coupe and convertible is tough. The hard top is better for structural rigidity, but the soft top version lets us feel the wind in our hair—and appreciate the Aston’s glorious engine note even more. In the end, we think the money we save by choosing the coupe will influence our final decision. In addition, the money will allow us to personalize our Vantage with various interior and exterior treatments on offer. We also opted for heated and ventilated front seats to help keep our rear end warm or cool on demand, but we’ll be using carbon ceramic brakes.

Engine, Transmission and Performance

Under the Vantage’s clamshell hood lies either a thrilling and rumbling twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 or a monster 5.2-liter twin-turbo V-12. The base V-8 engine produces either 503 or 528 horsepower and 505 pound-feet of torque. The higher output V-8 is reserved for the track-inspired F1 Edition. The V-12 engine makes 690 horsepower, and Aston claims it’s good for a zero-to-60-mph time of 3.4 seconds—but we think that’s a conservative estimate. We drive F1 on the right track and discover a more meaningful driving experience and record a 3.5 second run to 60 mph. The Vantage’s V-8 sounds beautiful, starting with a low baritone at idle and ending with a high-pitched scream as it nears its redline. A limited-slip differential and electronically controlled adaptive dampers are standard. The Vantage’s handling is lively but predictable, which makes it very funny fun on the race track; the suspension is quite compliant with the duties of a daily driver, although severe bumps will be apparent to passengers regardless of the selected driving mode for the adaptive dampers. Unfortunately, the optional carbon ceramic brakes are less friendly during daily driving. While it’s excellent when listed for track duty, the upgraded brakes are too impressive for everyday use. We have done get behind the wheel of the Vantage Roadsterpraising his look-at-me personality as well as his ability to switch between behaving like an athlete and a sun lounger.

Real World Fuel Economy and MPG

The Vantage isn’t as fuel-hungry as its powerful V-8 engine suggests, at least when equipped with an automatic transmission. The EPA estimates that the Vantage will get 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. We haven’t run the Vantage on our 75 mph highway fuel economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, so we can’t rate real world mpg. For more information on Vantage fuel economy, visit the website EPA website.

Interior, Comfort and Cargo

The outdoor theater continues inside with upscale materials and plenty of custom options. It’s easy to spend money on the Vantage: Aston Martin offers luxury options such as a full leather interior, heated and ventilated seats, a carbon fiber steering wheel, embroidered headrests and several different options for interior trim, among many other features. The cockpit is comfortable for two, but it’s lined with leather and faux suede. Likewise, sports seats with power adjustment and memory settings are standard. However, its luxurious experience is diminished by poor noise isolation on the highway. Interior cubby storage is also limited except for a center console bin and shallow door pockets. The convertible power-operated fabric roof folds up and down quickly, and features a Z-shape that Aston says helps save luggage space. Although the Vantage Roadster has a slightly smaller trunk than the coupe, we’re told it can still fit a full-sized golf bag.

Infotainment and Connectivity

An 8.0-inch display sprouts from the top of its dashboard and is controlled primarily via rotary knobs and buttons on the center console. The Vantage’s infotainment system also includes an Aston Martin audio system, Bluetooth compatibility and built-in navigation. While an upgraded audio system and touchpad are optional, popular features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are absent.

Safety Features and Driver Assistance

Although Aston doesn’t offer a full suite driver assistance technology, the Vantage can be equipped with several safety features. For more information on Vantage crash test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) website. Key safety features include:

• A 360-degree camera system is available
• Blind spot monitoring is available
• Self-parking assistance is available

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

While Aston’s standard warranty isn’t all that impressive, especially since free maintenance isn’t included, the company offers extended coverage plans for extra money.

• The limited warranty covers three years or unlimited miles
• Powertrain warranty covers three years or unlimited miles
• No free scheduled maintenance

More Features and Specifications