Aston Martin is renowned for racing and iconic cars with breathtaking looks and performance. Just watch a Formula One race and you can鈥檛 help but notice the thundering down the track.
The 2025 Vantage coupe now has the power it deserves. I found myself lucky enough to drive it, and I was thundering down Route 29 and Interstate 270 at wildly lower speeds than what it鈥檚 capable of on the track. A shame, if you want to experience all the power the 656hp hand-built V-8 has to offer.
This Aston Martin is ready to play at the track, where it can legally exercise its extreme power and improved handling. The vehicle is willing and able on back roads, where it feels glued to the pavement and still willing to break traction and let the back-end hangout into a drift on a closed course. The optional, humongous carbon brake discs and yellow brake calipers stop this super car quickly and fade-free. While the high performance is impressive, the daily drivability is key, especially when some cars in this class just can鈥檛 be driven often.
With this Aston, there鈥檚 enough ground clearance to clear speed bumps and driveways without any worry. It is certainly a rare super car.
Smoke show
You just want to stare at it.
Visually, the Vantage is stunning. It looks fast and exotic. It has a pretty face with a black vanned grill in front and the beautiful long-sculpted hood, with two air vents 鈥� looking tasteful, without looking overdone. Step to the side and its proportions are on point, with lots of curves that seem to set off upgraded 21-inch wheels and optional yellow brake calipers 鈥� highlighting the impressive braking system. The super car鈥檚 high style carries through to the back end, with smoked taillights, a rear diffuser and enough carbon fiber to rival the company鈥檚 Formula One car.
Track and highway luxury
The interior is well-appointed and updated to better attract a customer willing to spend significant money on a car. It starts with 12-way power front seats that keep you planted on the track, without sliding around or snugly in place on the highway. The leather feels smooth and refined. Aston Martin feels more handcrafted, and less like a mass-produced sports car. You can customize the vehicle to suit your taste with many colors options and outside and inside finishing touches, meaning no Aston Martin Vantage is the same.
Unlike other super and exotic cars, the headroom was good, and people of all heights seem to fit without issue. A more modern central touch screen is easy to use, and audiophiles with an extra $10,000 in their pocket should go for the Bowers & Wilkins audio system with crisp sound 鈥� it is a treat to the ears when you don鈥檛 want that V-8 sound. The rear hatch will swallow a good deal of cargo for this super car class.
Cost: $191.000; as tested $264,300
MPG: 15 mpg city and 22 mpg highway; I managed 19.7 mpg in 236 miles of mixed driving.
Safety: Active brake assist, attention assist, adaptive cruise control, blind spot assist, 360 degree camera, front & rear parking sensors, blind spot warning, lane keep assist, active brake assist with cross-traffic function, autonomous emergency braking
Options: $9,700 racing line range paint, $1,900 yellow-painted brake calipers, $800 front grille vanned black, $14,000 brake disc type carbon, $1,400 smoked taillights, $3,100 headlining contemporary Alcantara $5,800, 21鈥� Y Spoke forged wheels, $4,300 center finisher-Satin Carbon Fiber, $2,900 IP upper trim inlay-carbon, $2,200 IP lower trim-carbon, $600 presenting door handles, $3,700 black park-upper, $2,900 contrast stitching, $3,300 black pack-lower, $2,100 interior-accelerate-monotone, $3,500 transportation and handling
Things to know: The 2025 Aston Martin Vantage packs more extreme power, a comfortable and user-focused interior and stunning looks that help this super car stand out.
Pros:
- Big power upgrade with 2025 Vantage helps it compete in the super car class.
- Easy to use more often with good space and easy to drive when compared to the competition.
- Looks that will excite and draw a crowd.
Cons:
- High starting price, climbing quickly higher with options.
- All that power impacts fuel economy when on the track.
- It feels a bit heavy and not as sharp as some other more exotic rear engine super cars.
