Used Aston Martin DB11 2016-present review

Aston Martin's DB series is its royal family, with the DB11 being the youngest member. It was launched in 2016, taking over as the brand's flagship grand touring coupé from the DB9 that came before it. Where did DB10 go? Well, that was a sports car built in only a handful of numbers for the James Bond film, Spectre.

Back to the DB11, though. Under its bonnet sits a choice of either a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 or a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12. The former produces a mighty 503bhp, meaning it'll be fast enough for most. If not, then the 600bhp of the V12 will do the trick. As of 2019, this engine become available solely in the AMR (Aston Martin Racing) version with 630bhp.

There's but one true trim option and it comes suitably well equipped, with heated, electrically adjustable leather seats, climate control, keyless entry and start, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, a 360deg parking camera, a DAB radio, sat-nav, an 8.0in infotainment touchscreen, LED headlights and an Alcantara headliner, among other things.

On the road, it’s fair to say this car marked a return to form for Aston. The two engine choices both sound glorious, and it responds to the pedal with either unit with alacrity. It’s fast and fun, and oddly, as it’s the cheaper version, the V8 is the most entertaining. That’s because it’s lighter than the V12 and lightness is a golden when it comes to handling.

In bends, the DB11’s body stays relatively flat, and the V8 is sharper to turn in and it feels much nimbler scything through a challenging series of corners than the V12, or, for that matter, the Mercedes S-Class Coupe or the Bentley Continental GT. It steers better, too. The steering is quick, but not so fast around the straight-ahead that it feels nervous at motorway speeds, and it transmits a pretty well-defined impression of the road straight to the palms of your hands. This supplies you with the confidence to know when the front tyres are either gripping or about to take you wide.

The suspension has adaptive dampers as standard, and these deliver a good spectrum of modes, from softest GT through Sport and Sport +. In its softest setting, the DB11 isn’t as pliant as the S-Class Coupé or Continental GT – you feel a little more shimmy over rippled sections of motorway, and a firmer bump across potholes in town – but it’s perfectly acceptable.

Inside, the driving position is spot-on. There’s plenty of adjustability in the seat and steering wheel, though visibility is limited by those stylish thick pillars. Fit and finish retain the best bits from Aston Martins of old. Soft, hand-stitched leather sits side-by-side with wood or carbonfibre trim highlights, and all that looks like metal in the interior really is metal, including the air vents, for example. Space up front is fine, but as you might expect taking in that rakish profile the rear seats are best reserved for tiny children or suitcases. Speaking of which, the boot is a little on the small side, although you can squeeze in a couple of overnight bags.

If you're interested in finding a used DB11, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Prices for the earliest DB11s start off at around £83,000, this for a car with a low to average mileage for the year, bought from an independent dealer. Up this to between £85,000 and £100,000 for a 2018 or 2019 car with an average mileage for the year and a full service history bought from a franchised dealer. You'll need at least £100,000 for a 2020 or 2021 example, with nearly new cars going for upwards of £130,000.

If you'd like an AMR, have a budget of more than £105,000.

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MPG

The V12 car does an average official 24.8mpg, according to the old NEDC test, and 21.1mpg according to the newer WLTP tests, and corresponding CO2 emissions are 265g/km. By contrast, the V8-engined car achieves a claimed official figure of 29mpg NEDC and 24.8mpg WLTP and CO2 emissions of 230g/km.

Road tax

Annual car tax (VED) is based on CO2 emissions for all cars registered before April 2017, so expect hefty bills. Those registered after that date will pay a flat rate of annual tax, currently £165 per year, followed by a supplementary luxury car tax for vehicles costing over £40,000 new, which currently stands at £335 per year for years two to six of the car's life.

Insurance and servicing

Insurance is top-group high, at 50, so expect big bills. Servicing? Likewise. Big bills.

It’s lighter and more agile, and cheaper to run, so we’ll take the V8 version, please.

Our favourite Aston Martin DB11: V8

The Jaguar F-Type came along and took the car world by storm. It was so gorgeous to look at and so loud in its exhaust that it's always been a difficult car to ignore. Not only does it sound great, it's fantastically quick, especially in 5.0 V8 SVR mode. It undercuts the Aston on price, too, both new and used.

The Porsche 911 is an iconic sports car. It's seriously rapid and grippy, yet it's also refined and can even be comfortable. It generates lots of noise, not all of it welcome, but it's a terrific driving experience. There are plenty to choose from, and hundreds of different models, all fast and fun and surprisingly frugal.

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If you're interested in finding a used DB11, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.