Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Aston Martin Vantage review - Interior, design and technology

The Vantage blends traditional craftsmanship with modern hi-tech materials and technology

Interior, design and technology rating

4.1

How we review cars
RRP
£134,900 £159,400
Find your Aston Martin Vantage
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

With the previous-generation Vantage, Aston Martin had a timeless classic on its hands; it was perfectly proportioned and, despite its long production run, it was almost universally acknowledged as being the best-looking car in its class. So, when it came to replacing it, Aston Martin was stuck between a rock and a hard place – needing to reinvent the design yet keep it unashamedly looking like an Aston.

Advertisement - Article continues below

While looks will always be subjective, we’d say that, for the most part, the new Vantage looks stunning, with muscular lines, strong rear haunches and some lovely detailing. The large, new grille is more polarising and it certainly seems to work better with some colours than others. And, if you don’t fancy one of the standard colours, there’s always the possibility of having one built to your own specification via the Q by Aston Martin personalisation service.

Inside, Aston Martin has gone to great lengths to improve on the previous-generation Vantage and it has made great strides forward. Today’s car is suitably luxurious and comfortable, yet it also has a sense of drama that’s missing from many of its rivals, which can be seen as rather too clinical.

There’s a traditional instrument cluster in front of the driver dominated by a centrally mounted rev counter, while the buttons and switches on the centre console are logically laid out and work very well. As in many cars these days, the gears are selected via buttons rather than a traditional lever, and while it works well enough, in practice it’s not as intuitive as having a traditional gear lever.

Overall, the quality and finish are spot on and the choice of materials is in keeping with what you would expect from a £120,000 sports coupe. Perhaps the gearchange paddles could be a little more tactile and there are a couple of areas where the trim isn’t quite as well integrated as in a Porsche, but overall the interior is a big step forward for Aston Martin.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

One of the reasons that the Vantage’s interior is such a step up from what went before is the new Mercedes-sourced infotainment system. It uses the Comand set-up that will be familiar to thousands of Mercedes drivers and, while it might not be quite as modern as the set-up in the latest Porsche 911 or in Mercedes-AMG’s own GT, it is still streets ahead of the clunky system in the previous Vantage.

Everything is controlled via an eight-inch touchscreen, which includes sat-nav, as well as Bluetooth, iPhone and USB connectivity and playback, and a DAB tuner.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Aston Martin Vantage

Aston Martin Vantage

RRP £137,045Used from £74,995
Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £18,185Avg. savings £3,831 off RRP*Used from £9,900
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £18,725Avg. savings £4,459 off RRP*Used from £15,045
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £12,195
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Not bothered by MoT advisories? That may be about to change
Protyre area manager Simon Hall inspecting a Vauxhall Corsa's tyre

Not bothered by MoT advisories? That may be about to change

The number of MoT failures caused by worn tyres is on the rise, and experts are calling for mandatory follow-ups on advisories
News
12 May 2025
EV affordability alarm! Running costs are £6k higher than for petrol cars, say car clubs
BYD Atto 3 - front cornering

EV affordability alarm! Running costs are £6k higher than for petrol cars, say car clubs

Running costs for car share club EVs are £6k higher than ICE equivalents according to new data
News
8 May 2025
Mazda MX-5 goes electric: the iconic roadster's radical future
Mazda MX-5 EV exclusive image - front

Mazda MX-5 goes electric: the iconic roadster's radical future

The next Mazda MX-5 roadster is set to be offered as a pure EV, and our exclusive images preview how it could look
News
10 May 2025