Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Aston Martin DB9 (2012-2016) review

The Aston Martin DB9 is stunning, desirable, fast and comfortable, but it's just starting to feel its age nowadays

Overall Auto Express Rating

3.0 out of 5

  • Silky and punch engine, very comfortable, beautiful design
  • Lacks the technology and space of its rivals, expensive to run
Find your Aston Martin DB9
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Hassle-free way to a brand new car
Or are you looking to sell your car?
9/10 sellers got the price they expected
Advertisement

If it's absolute class you want from a supercar, then the Aston Martin DB9 takes some beating. The British-built V12 engined car can be considered more of a quick GT car than a pin-sharp racer, but there's no doubt its relaxed approach hold plenty of appeal.

The DB9's design and underpinnings may now be more than a decade old, but it still has its place in Aston's lineup. It's more cosseting and luxurious than the quicker V12 Vantage, and a great deal cheaper than the flagship Vanquish. It also retains the timeless styling that means, from the exterior at least, it will never look dated.

Advertisement - Article continues below

It continues to be a fast, luxurious, front-engined, rear-wheel-drive coupe that will carry two people and their luggage on long journeys at high speed in absolute comfort. Judged on its own merits, it's a jaw-droppingly beautiful car, but the DB9 is starting to lag behind more advanced competitors such as the Ferrari California, Mercedes SL65 and Bentley Continental GT in terms of technology and outright spaciousness.

In 2015, Aston bid a final farwell to the DB9 with what it claimed to be the ultimate version. The DB9 GT brings a more powerful 540bhp V12, a more modern and better finished interior, new tech and a lightly refreshed exterior design.

Engines, performance and drive

With a 510hp V12 engine providing the power, the Aston Martin DB9 is a suitably fast and thrilling GT that is as happy sweeping down a German autobahn at 150mph as it is entertaining on a twisty British back road. Carbon-ceramic brakes are standard and they’re strong, with good pedal feel and little fade even after repeated heavy use. A 0-62mph time of 4.6 seconds is a little behind the 4.3-second time of the Bentley Continental GT, but the DB9 is more about fast driving in comfort than just the numbers.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Three-mode adaptive dampers give the DB9 a superb compromise between ride and handling, while a separate Sport button delivers sharper throttle response when called upon. The DB9 also rides on 20-inch wheels and tyres that provide masses of grip, yet don’t ruin the ride. The quick-shifting six-speed Touchtronic semi-automatic gearbox means there’s no traditional manual gearbox, but you do get steering-column-mounted paddle-shifters.

The Vanquish is the sharper and more composed steer, but the DB9 does a perfectle acceptable job of being a comfortable but fast GT, like the Bentley Continental. 

MPG, CO2 and Running Costs

A 510bhp 6.0-litre V12 engine is never going to win any fuel economy contests. And while the DB9 is more efficient than ever, its economy figure is a predictably dismal 19.5mpg with CO2 at 333g/km. Stop-start systems and highly advanced gearboxes are helping Aston's rivals, such as the Mercedes SL65 AMG, achieve far better efficiency than. Insurance and road tax are also very steep, and the DB9 needs a service every 12 months or 10,000 miles. And despite the car's desirability, depreciation is also quite heavy.

Interior, design and technology

With a history of stunning Aston Martin DB models in its bloodline (including James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5), the DB9 remains one of the most striking coupes on the road. The current DB9 looks nearly identical to the previous Virage coupe, and while that means the DB9 boasts new body panels from the windowline down, it maintains that unmistakable Aston Martin beauty.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The only thing that dulls the appeal of its classic shape is familiarity – the rest of the current Aston range is designed along similar lines, so the DB9 struggles to stand out. Interior design has always been an Aston Martin hallmark, and occupants enjoy beautiful hand-stitched leather trim, luxurious wood panelling, plus extremely high-quality fit and finish throughout. That said, the layout is a bit dated, although the tweaked materials and new infotainment system of the DB9 GT go some way to help.

Practicality, comfort and boot space

If you want an Aston Martin that will fit the family, go for the four-door Rapide. Despite being a two-plus-two, the DB9 is a grand tourer for two people - plain and simple. Even children will find the tiny back seats uncomfortably cramped, and luggage space is pretty limited, too, at only 227 litres – those rear seats are best suited to a few more bags, anyway. Headroom, legroom and storage space for the driver and passenger are all more than adequate - they're the only people that matter with this car.

Reliability and Safety

The DB9 was a big step forward over the Jaguar XJS-based DB7 in terms of reliability, and reported problems with the engine, gearbox or ancillaries are long gone. Because the DB9 is based on tried-and-tested mechanicals, any teething troubles will have been ironed out. This car doesn't get the Euro NCAP crash-test treatment as it's sold in such small numbers, but that doesn’t mean it lacks safety kit. Electronic stability control, traction control, side-impact protection and a full compliment of airbags are all present and correct.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

More on DB9

Used Aston Martin DB9 (2004-2016) review
Used Aston Martin DB9 - front
Used car tests
19 Jul 2022

Used Aston Martin DB9 (2004-2016) review

A full used buyer’s guide on the Aston Martin DB9 that was on sale between 2004 and 2016
Aston Martin Lagonda review
Aston Martin Lagonda - front
Road tests
2 Aug 2019

Aston Martin Lagonda review

Editor-in-chief Steve Fowler fulfils a boyhood dream by getting behind the wheel of a 1981 Aston Martin Lagonda
Cardi Concept 442 gives slick new look to Aston Martin DB9
Cardi Concept 442 - front three quarter
News
11 Apr 2016

Cardi Concept 442 gives slick new look to Aston Martin DB9

This redesign of the aging British supercar is the work of Russian coachbuilder Cardi
Skip advert
Advertisement
Aston Martin launches DB9 Bond edition
News
2 Sep 2015

Aston Martin launches DB9 Bond edition

Are you a Bond fan? This could be your perfect car: the Aston Martin DB9 Bond edition
Aston Martin DB9 GT 2015 review
Road tests
18 Aug 2015

Aston Martin DB9 GT 2015 review

Aston Martin's grand tourer bows out in style with most powerful version yet: the DB9 GT
Special edition Aston Martin DB9 GT gets extra power
Aston Martin DB9 GT front static
News
24 Jun 2015

Special edition Aston Martin DB9 GT gets extra power

Aston unveils 'ultimate' run-out special DB9 GT for final production year with 541bhp, plus updates to V8 Vantage and Rapide saloon
Aston Martin commits £20m to British factory expansion
News
28 May 2014

Aston Martin commits £20m to British factory expansion

Huge extension of Aston Martin’s Gaydon HQ will create 250 new jobs, promises ‘next generation of new sports cars’
Aston Martin developing all-new platform for DB9
Aston Martin DB9
News
30 Apr 2014

Aston Martin developing all-new platform for DB9

Aston to ditch VH architecture for an all-new platform in next-generation of sports cars, beginning with new DB9 in 2016
Aston Martin special editions to debut at Geneva 2014
Aston Martin V8 Vantage N430 front
News
19 Feb 2014

Aston Martin special editions to debut at Geneva 2014

Aston Martin's Geneva Motor Show stand is shaping up to be a special edition fest with two new models debuting
Skip advert
Advertisement
Bosch and Aston Martin build hybrid DB9
Bosch Engineering Aston Martin DB9 hybrid header
News
14 Jun 2013

Bosch and Aston Martin build hybrid DB9

A plug-in hybrid Aston Martin DB9 has been built by Bosch to showcase the driving dynamics potential of hybrid cars
Aston Martin DB9 Volante (2004-2015) review
Aston Martin DB9 Volante front action
In-depth reviews
18 Dec 2012

Aston Martin DB9 Volante (2004-2015) review

The soft-top Aston Martin DB9 Volante is Britain’s answer to the Ferrari California and Mercedes SL65
Skip advert
Advertisement
Aston Martin DB9 Volante
Aston Martin DB9 Volante front action
Road tests
15 Nov 2012

Aston Martin DB9 Volante

We drive the stunning new Aston Martin DB9 Volante, which gets a 510bhp 6.0-litre V12 engine
New Aston Martin DB9
New Aston Martin DB9 front action
Road tests
16 Oct 2012

New Aston Martin DB9

We get behind the wheel of the lighter and faster new Aston Martin DB9 to deliver our verdict
Aston Martin DB9 Volante (2005-2012) review
Aston Martin DB9 Volante convertible front tracking
In-depth reviews
5 May 2012

Aston Martin DB9 Volante (2005-2012) review

The DB9 Volante is everything you'd expect from an Aston - fast, beautiful and engaging to drive
Aston Martin DB9 (2005-2012) review
Aston Martin DB9 coupe front tracking
In-depth reviews
5 May 2012

Aston Martin DB9 (2005-2012) review

Superlative grand tourer from the beloved British manufacturer is now starting to show its age against more advanced competition
Skip advert
Advertisement
Aston Martin DB9 Volante Morning Frost
Aston DB9 Volante Morning Frost
Road tests
4 Feb 2011

Aston Martin DB9 Volante Morning Frost

Special edition drop-top promises the ultimate in comfort and luxury
Aston Martin DB9 Volante
Aston Martin DB9 Volante
Road tests
24 Sep 2010

Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Raft of changes makes open-air super Brit even more desirable
Aston Martin DB9
Aston Martin DB9
Road tests
2 Jul 2010

Aston Martin DB9

Facelifted grand tourer is better than ever
Aston Martin DB9
Aston Martin DB9
Road tests
7 May 2008

Aston Martin DB9

A round of revisions make the stunning DB9 more desirable than ever.
Aston Martin DB9 Sports Pack
Aston Martin DB9
Road tests
30 Aug 2006

Aston Martin DB9 Sports Pack

Great looks and an awesome V12 soundtrack – there’s no doubt Aston Martin’s DB9 qualifies for supercar status
Aston Martin DB9 manual
Road tests
27 Jul 2005

Aston Martin DB9 manual

Real sports cars are fitted with manual gearboxes. That's the view held by driving enthusiasts right across the world - and it is a serious problem fo…
Skip advert
Advertisement
Aston Martin DB9
Road tests
16 Mar 2004

Aston Martin DB9

Here in the Auto Express office, the DB7 won an unofficial award, but we doubt Aston Martin will be too proud. We decided that it was the Most Disappo…