Introduced back in 2020, the DBX became the best-selling model in Aston Martin’s lineup shortly thereafter, proving once again that while sports coupes might be nice to look at and fun to drive on a good road, it’s the SUVs that ensure an automaker’s checks clear.As such, the folks in Gaydon have given the high-riding five-seater a steady feed of updates in the time since, first with the huge performance improvements that came with the debut of the DBX707 in 2022, and then with the chassis tuning tweaks and tech glow-up that arrived for 2025. Keen to strike while the iron is hot, the 2026 DBX S now serves as the flagship version of Aston Martin’s super-sport-utility vehicle. First applied to the 2004 Vanquish, the S badge denotes an Aston Martin model that’s been further honed in the name of performance, and in this case, that enhanced capability is achieved through a host of strategic tweaks rather than a comprehensive overhaul. And while that might sound a bit underwhelming at first blush, Aston Martin finds itself in the serendipitous position of not having to apologize for the complexity, bloat, and compromises to refinement that have infiltrated the super-SUV segment over the past few years.
It might be tempting to assume that this is Aston’s answer to the Lamborghini Urus Performante, especially when you consider the racy weight-saving options like a carbon fiber roof (which replaces the panoramic glass roof that’s standard for the DBX707), 23-inch magnesium wheels, and a lightweight polycarbonate grille, all of which contribute to a total weight savings of roughly 103 pounds over the DBX707. The Mercedes-AMG-sourced 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 also now produces 717 horsepower thanks to turbo tech borrowed from the Valhalla hypercar, while peak torque remains unchanged at 664 lb-ft. In the age of hybridization and performance EVs, those power numbers aren’t as jaw-dropping as might have been just a few years ago, but it’s worth pointing out that the 4,850-pound DBX S is nearly 700 pounds lighter than the Lamborghini Urus SE (not to mention the similarly-hefty G99 BMW M5 Touring) due in large part to the DBX S’s lack of electric assistance. Further aiding the DBX S’s sense of urgency is revamped programming for …
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Author: Bradley Iger
