2026 Aston Martin DBX S Review: Excellence in (DB)X S
Key Points in This Review:
- The most powerful, capable and expensive Aston Martin DBX, the S is the best of the breed.
- The new DBX S is lighter than the DBX707 if equipped correctly
- Short of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, it feels more capable than any SUV available today.
In the market for an SUV? Lucky you: So long as you’ve got the cash, you can find just about every type of lifted four-door imaginable. We’ve got it stupid good these days; just 15 years ago, sourcing an SUV that handled curves with any composure restricted you to a BMW, Porsche or Mercedes-Benz. If you wanted to haul the fam in a four-door Aston Martin, your only option was the lovely but cramped Rapide sedan. Now, the everything-to-everyone Aston Martin DBX is the British brand’s top (bull)dog in sales — and performance-oriented SUVs are everywhere.
2026 Aston Martin DBX S, front | Cars.com photo by Conner Golden
Related: 2026 Aston Martin DBX S Adds Power, Carbon Fiber
Even so, SUVs are almost universally consumer-grade stuff. Most automakers aren’t investing in low-production, experimental few-offs here — just give the people what they want. But what the people want in the upper-luxury performance SUV segment, according to Aston, is more of everything; more options, more personalization and more performance. Enter the Aston Martin DBX S. A new variant based on — and positioned above — the DBX707, it’s the sharpest and most powerful version of the brand’s SUV.
2026 Aston Martin DBX S, rear angle | Cars.com photo by Conner Golden
What’s the Difference Between an Aston Martin DBX707 and DBX S?
- Takeaway: The S gets a bit more power, retuned steering, revised transmission tuning and a comprehensive options list with lightweight components.
The formula here is the same as in Aston’s past S variants: less weight, more power. Compared with the 707, some 104 pounds are cut by selecting certain options — 42 pounds from the magnesium wheels, 40 pounds from the carbon-fiber roof, 15 from carbon-fiber exterior trim and 7 from the front grille. The lightest DBX S commands the heaviest sticker; the magnesium wheels alone add $22,300 to the final tally.
Aston’s online configurator is coy on pricing — if you have to ask, etc. — but based on the decadent build sheet for my $397,900 test car, these lightweight components will cost you roughly $500 per pound saved. More into creature comforts and style? Aston will gladly bring your books into the red with an options list that includes a $12,000 Bowers & Wilkins sound system and a $14,900 unique S pinstripe livery.
If you wish, you can configure your new S to look a lot like an upfitted 707, but there’s a raft of under-the-skin stuff that ensures the changes go well beyond a simple badge job. New turbos sourced from the Valhalla hypercar push the boosted 4.0-liter V-8 to 717 horsepower and an unchanged 664 pounds-feet of torque, keeping the 707’s claimed 3.3-second 0-62 mph run. Its 0-124 mph run, however, is shaved down by 0.3 second, and the S takes a full second off the 707’s 62-155 mph gauntlet.
It’s nothing mind-blowing in the (extra) power department, but this, in concert with everything else, is what earns that crimson “S” badge. Its steering is retuned and quicker; engineers say the new ratio is 5% faster than before and negates the need for rear-wheel steering, a function found in other performance SUVs. The 707’s shocks are tweaked to balance the new steering setup, as are Sport and Sport+ drive modes that are now more aggressive and holistically sharper than before.
2026 Aston Martin DBX S, front row | Cars.com photo by Conner Golden
How Is the 2026 Aston Martin DBX S to Live With?
- Takeaway: An indulgent interior and well-composed air suspension cut a perfect balance between Bentley luxe and Ferrari sharpness.
That’s the new-new, but the DBX’s prior dynamic genes carry over. The SUV’s proprietary platform still incorporates a double-wishbone front and multilink rear air suspension, backed by standard carbon-ceramic brake discs measuring a whopping 16.5 inches in front and 15.4 inches in back. The 285-wide front and 325-wide rear summer performance tires are equally at home summiting the driveway at your Malibu (maybe Miami, maybe Monaco) manse as they are tackling a track day.
Our first crack at the DBX S saw us far from a pit lane. We pointed this uber-SUV toward a web of squiggled country roads rushing northwest of Santa Barbara into the Santa Ynez area of California, crisscrossing a network of meandering two-lanes that cut equally between open crop fields in the foothills to tight, technical passes hung cliffside. Tacked onto both ends was a good half-hour on the highway, where the DBX’s mundane side shined.
S or not, the heart of the DBX remains in step with Aston’s indelible grand-touring ethos: Aside from some faint tire noise, a firm suspension, slightly grabby brakes and the unmistakable background roil of the V-8, this nuclear-grade SUV is about as comfortable in traffic as a Porsche Cayenne Turbo or BMW X5 M Competition. The interior, though, is a cut far, far above those mass-market sleds, with acres of primo cowhide, matte carbon fiber and metal trim that matches the automaker’s $400,000-plus Vanquish for fit, finish and presentation.
2026 Aston Martin DBX S, wheel | Cars.com photo by Conner Golden
About the make
Aston Martin
Aston Martin is a British ultraluxury automaker that produces low-slung sports cars and the sleek DBX SUV.
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2026 Aston Martin DBX S Review: Excellence in (DB)X S
By Conner Golden
West Coast Bureau Chief
How Does the 2026 Aston Martin DBX S Drive?
- Takeaway: The new DBX S is one of the sharpest, most capable and most thrilling SUVs at any price.
It’s comfortable even when you hit the jet-boil. That 3.3-second 0-62 mph scoot is as physical as it is theatrical, with a full-throttle launch lifting the nose slightly and drenching a good square mile with its ferocious thunder. The heart of the 4.0-liter V-8 is still sourced from Aston’s technical partner Mercedes-AMG, but the Brits have done a commendable and effective job differentiating it from both a sound and character perspective. I’ve always liked AMG’s potent V-8, but it’s often been more brutally effective than characterful, spouting a metallic, antiseptic soundtrack that’s more mechanical than sonorous.
The DBX S has no such problem. It’s pure Euro-muscle, a raucous clash sharing the same tonality and raw edge as Aston’s Vantage — an unsurprising similarity given the shared powertrain. Perhaps my favorite bit of the S is its removal of the secondary rev limiter that restricted revs to around 3,500 rpm or so while in park. DBX owners are (unsurprisingly) not shrinking violets, and more than a few specifically requested the ability to rev the (lug)nuts off their new toy. We’re happy to report the change works quite well (much to the chagrin of local golfers trying to enjoy Santa Barbara’s perfect summer weather).
It certainly sounds every bit of 717 hp, and it moves like it, too; forward pace matches the hotshot Lamborghini Urus and Cayenne Turbo both on paper and in feel, with enough grip and canyon confidence to equal any super-SUV this side of the shocking Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT. And when that straight turns into, well, a turn, it’s easily one of the sharpest-driving SUVs available at any price, though the same can be said of the DBX707.
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1 / 272026 Aston Martin DBX S, hood detail | Cars.com photo by Conner Golden
Should You Upgrade From a DBX707 to the New Aston Martin DBX S?
- Takeaway: Opting for the S likely won’t be worth it for many buyers, but those on the fence — or those who have the original 542-hp DBX — will find the DBX S lives up to its 717-hp rating.
Without back-to-back wheel time in a 707, it’s difficult to say just how much of a difference the optional lightweighting makes on the S, but its baseline capability is remarkable for something with four doors, a usable cargo area and a (token) terrain mode. Turn-in and subsequent steering feel is as sharp as any modern hot hatch; there’s truth in Aston’s claim of full rear-wheel-drive power transfer revealed during moments of moderate rear-end squirm under power.
The S’ air suspension tuning is excellent from both a composure and comfort perspective, demonstrating compliance over fractured pavement without a hint of wallow when hurled across tighter roads. Brakes are arguably the most important component for a fast SUV, and the S’ standard carbon-ceramic discs drop speed like you’re smashing into a bollard. Entirely fade-free and mostly progressive in application, they’re stout enough to haul you down from triple highway speeds with the full family and dog in tow — not that you should do that.
For a core set of buyers, we expect this to be their first dalliance into Aston Martin ownership, and the marque seems perfectly content with that, provided they can shape them into repeat customers. It’s the most approachable and usable Aston, without losing its exotic appeal, and it’s on the top, top rung of performance SUVs.
Related Video:https://players.brightcove.net/1578086878/HyOJ1bP6_default/index.html?videoId=6363759243112
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
West Coast Bureau Chief
Conner Golden joined Cars.com in 2023 as an experienced writer and editor with almost a decade of content creation and management in the automotive and tech industries. He lives in the Los Angeles area.
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How Much Is the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan?
By Jared Gall
October 24, 2025
Share2026 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo | Manufacturer image
Key Points
- New SE R-Line Turbo boasts increases of 67 horsepower and 51 pounds-feet of torque
- All-new third generation debuted for 2025
- Priced from $32,280 (all prices include destination)
All-new for 2025, the Volkswagen Tiguan stacks up well against its myriad competitors, with a comfortable and spacious interior, a cavernous cargo hold and luxurious touches like available massaging front seats. VW only changed one thing for the 2026 Tiguan, but it’s a big thing: The newly available SE R-Line Turbo tops the lineup with a whopping 268 hp and 258 pounds-feet of torque, increases of 67 hp and 51 pounds-feet more than the rest of the family.
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Shop the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan near you
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2026 Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0T SE R-Line Black 4MOTION
$42,251 MSRP $42,251
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2026 Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0T SE R-Line Black 4MOTION
$41,401 MSRP $41,401
View all 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan models for sale near 60606
Availability and Pricing
The 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan will arrive in dealerships soon. Full pricing is as follows:
- S: $32,280
- SE: $35,080
- SE R-Line Black: $38,720
- SE R-Line Turbo: $44,560
What Are the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan’s Powertrain Specs and MPG?
Every Tiguan is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is a $1,500 option on the S, SE and SE R-Line Black, and it’s standard on the SE R-Line Turbo.
The turbo four makes 201 hp and 207 pounds-feet of torque in FWD models and 221 pounds-feet with AWD. The R-Line Turbo gets a more powerful version that generates 268 hp and 258 pounds-feet.
The base S trim level is the most efficient Tiguan, returning an EPA-estimated 26/34/29 mpg city/highway/combined with FWD versus the SE and SE R-Line’s 25/32/28 mpg. With AWD, all three are rated at 22/30/25 mpg. In the R-Line Turbo, the trade-off for the additional power is minimal. With its standard AWD, the most powerful Tiguan returns 22/29/25 mpg.
What Are the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan’s Trim Levels?
It may sit on 17-inch wheels and have manually adjustable cloth seats, but the new Tiguan’s luxury bent is already showing on the entry-level S trim — specifically in its windshield wipers, which are rain-sensing and boast heated washer nozzles. The S also features LED exterior lighting, heated side mirrors, and keyless entry and start. Inside, it has dual-zone automatic climate control, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.9-inch touchscreen with voice control and seven speakers. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and phone charging are all wireless.
To that, the SE adds 19-inch wheels, windshield-wiper deicers (more wiper accoutrement!), a power liftgate and remote start. Its cabin is upgraded with synthetic leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver’s seat and 10-color ambient lighting.
True to its name, the SE R-Line Black wears black 20-inch wheels, as well as black mirror housings, roof rails and badging. The R-Line part of the name refers to more aggressive sill panels and front and rear bumpers. There’s also a panoramic moonroof, head-up display and unique interior trim including brushed stainless-steel pedals.
In addition to its 33% horsepower bump, the SE R-Line Turbo sports full-width LED light bars and illuminated VW logos front and rear, a hands-free power liftgate and puddle lamps. Inside, the range-topping Tiguan is completely overhauled, with quilted leather upholstery, ventilated and massaging front seats, a heated steering wheel, a power-adjustable passenger seat, a 15-inch touchscreen, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, three-zone automatic climate control and 30-color ambient lighting. Nor does it bow out of the forward-visibility party: The Turbo also includes a heated windshield.
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Standard and Available Safety Features
Volkswagen’s IQ.Drive safety suite is standard on every 2026 Tiguan and includes forward collision warning with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure steering assist, blind spot monitors and rear cross-traffic alert. Front and rear parking sensors and automatic high beams are also standard. The only additional safety tech is standard on the SE R-Line Turbo: a 360-degree camera system with automated parking and road-sign recognition.
Related Video:https://players.brightcove.net/1578086878/HyOJ1bP6_default/index.html?videoId=6372928928112
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
About the make
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automaker that offers a range of cars and SUVs, including a roster of ID-branded EVs.
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Shop the Volkswagen Tiguan2026 Volkswagen Tiguan specs and reviewsCompare the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan
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