2022 Aston Martin DBS Review: A High-End Heavyweight Hitter

The 2022 Aston Martin DBS is a grand touring coupe of the highest order and oozes sex appeal, luxury, and status. It's not alone in the segment, however, and has to fend off rivals like the sublime Bentley Continental GT Speed and the hair-raising Ferrari 812 Superfast, both brilliant cars that do some things better than the Aston. Still, with a 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12 engine under the hood producing 715 horsepower and 663 lb-ft of torque and looks to die for, this British highway bullet ticks most of the boxes the well-heeled care about. Once dubbed the Superleggera, Aston is under no illusion this is not a lightweight machine. Instead, it's a hard-hitting heavyweight of the highest order. Available in both coupe and topless form - we review the Aston Martin DBS Volante separately - there's enough style for any buyer. For 2022 Aston Martin has added a few new interior configurations for the DBS, but the recipe remains the same: big engine in the front, luxury in the middle, and tire smoke out the back.

2022 DBS Exterior

Dimensions

2022 DBS Performance

2022 Aston Martin DBS Handling and Driving Impressions

The Aston Martin DBS straddles the line between supercar and luxury tourer, and that line can get blurry at times, but at the limit, the DBS makes its true intentions clear. Driving at legal speeds and with a relaxed demeanor, the DBS feels massively comfortable. Bumps in the road are soaked up without much complaint, thanks to the adaptive damping suspension. Some of the competitors to the Aston Martin DBS may provide a more buttery-smooth ride, most notably the Bentley Continental GT and the Merc S-Class Coupe, but you'd have to be nitpicky to genuinely complain about the DBS.

A stiff twitch from the chassis reminds you that the DBS likes to be driven hard, and once one starts to push the DBS, the suspension works well with the chassis and beautifully balances grip and comfort. The DBS's weight is challenging to hide, and with its elongated hood and less-than-ideal visibility, drivers will need to spend some time behind the wheel to get to know the car before unleashing the full magic of that V12.

We did find that the steering on the 2022 DBS can feel overly heavy, but many might like that as it adds an element of connectivity between the driver and car. The turbocharged V12 engine provides beautifully linear power that is easy to handle when pushing through corners, but at the limit, that power can easily overwhelm the rear tires and make the DBS a bit unruly to drive. With some experience, however, this is one of the most engaging coupes in the segment.

2022 DBS Interior

2022 DBS Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

Verdict: Is The 2022 Aston Martin DBS A Good car?

The US market is littered with competent sports cars and supercars that will lap the Nürburgring faster than you can say 'economic recession,' and as some push for faster, more lightweight, and more capable cars, others, like Aston Martin, are keeping things deceptively classy and more relaxed, while having loads of power on tap. Despite its massive outputs and 211-mph top speed, the DBS isn't a winged hypercar that looks like something out of a Japanese Manga cartoon; it's a luxury grand tourer that can be both relaxed and thrilling at the drop of a hat. We love its exotic exhaust note, stunning styling, and luscious interior, but the DBS can be an intense car to drive: it can be a lot to handle when pushed to the limit, and it's just a hefty thing overall. However, drive it at sensible speeds, and few cars offer the same elegant thrill. We're quite okay with the idea of spending more time behind the wheel if it means learning how to balance the power and control of this beauty.