Aston Martin
Aston Martin isn’t letting the ultra-luxury performance SUV game slip past its grasp. Enter the brand new 2026 DBX S—a sharper, barely more aggressive evolution of the already formidable DBX707. While it doesn’t completely rewrite the SUV’s formula, it brings enough firepower and attitude to maintain Aston’s flagship SUV punching within the heavyweight class, right alongside the Lamborghini Urus SE.
Let’s start with the headline: power. The familiar twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, sourced from Mercedes-AMG, has been retuned to deliver 717 horsepower—a modest but meaningful 20-hp increase over the DBX707. This bump comes courtesy of turbocharger upgrades borrowed from the upcoming Valhalla supercar, showing how Aston continues to trickle down its high-performance tech. While the 0–60 mph time stays unchanged at 3.1 seconds, the DBX S is a touch quicker to 124 mph, and still tops out at a wild 193 mph—just 1 mph shy of the Urus SE’s peak.
Aston Martin didn’t stop with raw numbers. The DBX S gets tweaked shift mapping for its nine-speed automatic, especially in Sport and Sport+ modes. Gear changes are snappier, and revised steering geometry makes for a quicker rack and more immediate feel behind the wheel. The intelligent AWD system from the DBX707 stays, able to shifting all torque rearward or as much as 50 percent to the front, depending on conditions. The air suspension and carbon-ceramic brakes (16.5 inches front, 15.3 rear) also carry over from last yr’s refresh.
But probably the most talked-about changes are visual and, interestingly, mostly optional. Aston revised the DBX S’s front and rear fascias, with a bolder front splitter and a cleaner, more defined rear diffuser. Still, the eye-catching highlight is a stacked, vertically oriented quad-exhaust system—two suggestions per side—that evoke memories of the Lexus IS F and help visually anchor the rear.
Here’s where things get a bit more complicated. Aston Martin talks up the DBX S’s food plan, however it’s only on offer should you’re willing to open your wallet wide. The brand new 23-inch magnesium wheels, carbon fiber roof, lightweight grille, and other carbon details trim over 100 kilos from the SUV’s curb weight, bringing it to 4,846 kilos. While that’s still hefty, every bit helps when attempting to wring supercar performance from a family hauler. Still, none of those weight-saving measures are standard. Which means unless you tick the precise (and sure expensive) boxes, your DBX S is likely to be all bark and never much less bite than the DBX707.
That raises a philosophical query: Why introduce a brand new trim level where much of the development is à la carte? Perhaps Aston Martin is betting its buyers value exclusivity and customization over base-level spec sheets. But with the 2025 DBX707 already starting near $260,000, the fully optioned DBX S could easily surpass the $300,000 mark—putting it well into Bentley Bentayga Speed and Urus Performante territory.
Interior updates are minimal—mostly limited to latest trim decisions and a few “S” badging—since the cabin was already overhauled within the last refresh with improved screens and updated tech. For a vehicle geared toward the one-percenters, the changes could also be subtle, but Aston has clearly prioritized feel and fine-tuning over flashy gimmicks.
Deliveries of the 2026 Aston Martin DBX S are scheduled to start in fall 2025, with full pricing expected to be announced in the approaching months. Within the meantime, it holds its place as certainly one of the few ultra-luxury SUVs that hasn’t forgotten the meaning of “sport” in “sport utility vehicle.”
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This Article First Appeared At www.automotiveaddicts.com
