Overview
Few cars blend beauty and driver delight like the 2023 Aston Martin Vantage. In both coupe and convertible form, it casts a striking silhouette in its couture-inspired suit of impeccably pressed sheetmetal. Most models are powered by a twin-turbo V-8 making more than 500 horsepower, while a lucky few buyers will wind up with an even more powerful twin-turbo V-12. No matter the powertrain, the Vantage impresses with an athletic chassis, lively handling, and explosive acceleration—not to mention some of the most melodic exhaust notes available today. The interior is snug and can be customized with several high-end options, though we have one complaint: a relative lack of luxury for the Vantage’s six-figure price tag. Still, with styling this sleek and moves this exciting, the Vantage is a highly desirable driver’s car with an iconic heritage.
What’s New for 2023?
A V-12 engine returns to the Vantage lineup for 2023 and it’s a whopper of a powerplant featuring twin-turbocharging and 690 horsepower. The twin-turbo V-12 will be offered in both the coupe and convertible Vantage models, along with a special aerodynamics package for greater downforce. Aston claims a 3.4-second zero-to-60-mph time, which may be conservative. Unfortunately, the order book for this exclusive model is already closed, and only 333 will be produced.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Choosing between the Vantage coupe and convertible is difficult. The hardtop is better for structural rigidity, but the softtop version lets us feel the wind in our hair—and better appreciate the Aston’s glorious engine notes. In the end, we think the money we’d save by selecting the coupe would influence our final decision. Plus, that money would let us personalize our Vantage with the myriad interior and exterior treatments that are offered. We’d also opt for the heated and ventilated front seats to help keep our backsides hot or cold on demand, but we’d pass on the carbon ceramic brakes.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Beneath the Vantage’s clamshell hood lies either a thrilling, thundering twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 or a monster of a twin-turbo 5.2-liter V-12. The base V-8 engine develops either 503 or 528 horsepower and 505 pound-feet of torque. The higher output V-8 is reserved for the track-inspired F1 Edition. The V-12 engine makes 690 horsepower, and Aston claims it’s good for a 3.4-second zero-to-60-mph time—but we think that’s a conservative estimate. We drove the F1 on track and discovered a meaningfully sharpened driving experience and recorded a 3.5-second run to 60 mph. The Vantage’s V-8 sounds beautiful, starting with a low baritone rumble at idle and finishing with a high-strung shriek as it nears its redline. An electronically controlled limited-slip differential and adaptive dampers are standard. The Vantage’s handling is lively but predictable, which makes it hilariously good fun on a race track; the suspension is compliant enough for daily-driver duty, although harsh bumps will be obvious to passengers no matter which drive mode is selected for the adaptive dampers. Unfortunately, the optional carbon-ceramic brakes are less amicable during daily driving. While they’re excellent when enlisted for track duty, the upgraded brakes are too grabby for everyday use. We did get behind the wheel of the Vantage Roadster, praising its look-at-me personality as well as its ability to transition between behaving like an athlete and a lounger.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The Vantage isn’t as thirsty for fuel as its powerful V-8 engine might suggest, at least not when equipped with the automatic transmission. The EPA estimates that the Vantage will earn 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. We haven’t run a Vantage on our 75-mph highway fuel economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, so we can’t evaluate its real-world mpg. For more information about the Vantage’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The exterior theatrics continue inside with upscale materials and countless custom options. It’s easy to spend money on the Vantage: Aston Martin offers fancy options such as a full-leather interior, heated and ventilated seats, a carbon-fiber steering wheel, embroidered headrests, and several different options for interior trim, among many other features. The cockpit is snug for two, but it’s lined with leather and faux suede. Likewise, sport seats with power adjustments and memory settings are standard. Still, its luxury experience is diminished by poor noise isolation on the highway. Interior cubby storage is also scarce except for a shallow center-console bin and door pockets. The convertible’s power-operated fabric roof folds up and down quickly, and features a Z shape that Aston says helps save trunk space. While the Vantage Roadster has a slightly smaller trunk than the coupe, we’re told that it’s still able to fit a full-sized golf bag.
Infotainment and Connectivity
An 8.0-inch display sprouts from the top of its dashboard and is primarily controlled via a rotary knob and buttons on the center console. The Vantage’s infotainment system also includes an Aston Martin audio system, Bluetooth compatibility, and built-in navigation. While an upgraded audio system and touchpad are optional, popular features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are absent.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Although Aston doesn’t offer a full suite of driver-assistance technology, the Vantage can be equipped with several safety features. For more information about the Vantage’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Available 360-degree camera system
- Available blind-spot monitoring
- Available self-parking assist
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
While Aston’s standard warranty isn’t very impressive, especially since complimentary maintenance is not included, the company does offer extended coverage plans for extra money.
- Limited warranty covers three years or unlimited miles
- Powertrain warranty covers three years or unlimited miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
Specifications
Specifications
2023 Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition
Vehicle Type: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door coupe
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $171,586/$189,386
Options: carbon-ceramic brakes, $11,100; premium audio, $2200; Alcantara headliner, $1900; red brake calipers, $1200; body-color rear-diffuser inserts, $900; underhood cross brace, $500
ENGINE
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 243 in3, 3982 cm3
Power: 528 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 505 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: control arms/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 16.1-in vented, cross-drilled carbon-ceramic disc/14.2-in vented, cross-drilled carbon-ceramic disc
Tires: Pirelli P Zero PZ4
F: 255/35ZR-21 (98Y) A6A
R: 295/30ZR-21 (102Y) A6A
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 106.5 in
Length: 176.8 in
Width: 76.5 in
Height: 50.2 in
Passenger Volume, F: 47 ft3
Cargo Volume: 10 ft3
Curb Weight: 3813 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 3.5 sec
100 mph: 7.9 sec
1/4-Mile: 11.7 sec @ 121 mph
130 mph: 13.8 sec
150 mph: 20.8 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 4.1 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 2.6 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 3.0 sec
Top Speed (mfr’s claim): 195 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 150 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 294 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 1.00 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 17 mpg
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 20/18/24 mpg
