Skip advert
Advertisement

Aston Martin Rapide S review

Revised four-door Aston Martin Rapide is sharper to drive

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Aston Martin Rapide S
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The Rapide S is now much more deserving of the Aston badge. It’s sharper and quicker than before, but feels just as much at home on some of Britain’s more rutted roads. It has so much more character than a Porsche Panamera Turbo S, but it’s far from perfect. The infotainment system is almost unfathomable and those rear seats are a little too cramped.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The best place to test the new Aston Martin Rapide S has to be in the UK – after all, it’s where the development team has spent most of its time honing this facelifted four-door.

Aston Martin news and reviews 

It feels right at home on UK roads, too, helped in part by the new adaptive dampers. Keep them in Normal mode and it flows over cracked tarmac that other supercars struggle with. 

Sport and Track modes are progressively firmer, helping to improve cornering slightly, but the Rapide S is so impressive in Normal mode that we ended up leaving the suspension button well alone during our test.

Aston has also mounted the engine 19mm lower and retuned the steering. As a result, this car feels more responsive than the old Rapide – in fact it now feels more like a sports car than a GT cruiser.

The steering itself is hydraulic rather than electric, offering a nice amount of feedback without constantly wriggling around in your hands.

Aston has also upped power from the 6.0-litre V12 from 470bhp to 550bhp, lowering the 0-62mph time from 5.2 seconds to 4.9 in the process. 

It’s not as frantic as Porsche’s Panamera Turbo S, or even the Audi RS7 but it’s plenty quick enough, and you feel in complete control at all times. 

The cabin looks and feels great, but we wish Aston had updated the centre console to mirror the Vanquish. Some switches are tiny, and the main menu is displayed on a minuscule black and white screen mounted above the clock, which is difficult to use, rather than the large colour screen. 

Then there’s the Rapide’s ever-present problem – as a four-seater, it’s not great. The back seats really are for short trips only. Nevertheless, the Rapide S is a truly desirable car to drive and handles wonderfully. And the good news is that there’s no change to the price.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £4,935 off RRP*Used from £13,135
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £37,230Avg. savings £3,710 off RRP*Used from £15,440
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £11,995
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £14,480Avg. savings £1,864 off RRP*Used from £6,700
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment
Xiaomi YU7 - front cornering

New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment

BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why
Road tests
14 Jul 2025
New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range
MG IM5 - Goodwood front

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range

The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up
News
10 Jul 2025
The EV grant is back: Government's new £3,750 electric car discount in detail
Auto Express creative director Darren Wilson charging the Lexus RZ

The EV grant is back: Government's new £3,750 electric car discount in detail

The government has set out its plan to help reduce the cost of affordable EVs by introducing a new £3,750 grant for new EVs sold
News
15 Jul 2025