What is it like to be behind the wheel of the 2025 Aston Martin Vantage…

For most people, driving an Aston Martin is a dream. A lot of us have seen James Bond piloting cars from this iconic brand, and yet, for most of us, that dream of driving one remains unfulfilled. Only the ones fortunate enough get to drive one. To my utter joy, fortune has smiled, no, it has grinned on me as I have gotten to drive a fair few of them; the DB11, the DB12, the DBX, and, of course, the ballistic Vantage. 

The other three I named, two of them were GT cars and the other an SUV (believe it or not). But the Vantage… far from any of those. It was a thoroughbred that demanded absolute focus, unwavering commitment, and tons of respect. It was an experience that I will never forget. So when I heard that the Gaydon marquee was coming up with a new Vantage for 2025, I was excited, but more than that, I was a little apprehensive. 

You see, the world is changing. EVs are the norm, and even performance car manufacturers are leaving their old ways behind and going the hybrid route, if not full-blown electric. I was apprehensive because I believed that if the Vantage went the same route, the idea and the experience would be a little muddied. I am not against the general idea of hybrid sports cars, but the Vantage was a little too pure. 

So, imagine my joy when I found out that my fears were unfounded. The new stuck to its foundation. It continues to be powered by a good’ol V8 and drives the rear wheels only… and I hope that it stays that way at least for the foreseeable future. I would not mind a couple more iterations that retain the unadulterated exhilaration that defines the Aston Martin Vantage. 

Talking about the changes, we will start with the design. The old Vantage was a menacing-looking car. The way it looked was perfectly in sync with the way it went. I am very happy to report that those traits have only been accentuated in the latest iteration. To me, one of the best-looking Aston Martins ever was the One-77. Not a lot of people know much about it, but just look it up and you will know what I am talking about. 

The front fascia of the new Vantage is as close to that car as it can get without being a clone of it. Aston Martin has been known for conceiving some of the best-looking cars ever. Their design team is very good at what they do… perhaps a little too good for their own good because I can’t fathom how they are going to top this. Moving towards the back, the muscular arches and the way the lines end towards the back are a thing of beauty. It is a strange concoction of unmatched sophistication and unbridled aggression. 

Step inside the car, and the interior is very reminiscent of the DB12. It has been refined compared to the previous Vantage, and now, it feels bespoke. The interior exudes class and elegance worthy of a car of the Vantage’s stature. The touchscreens, the lighting, and the sort are all well and good, but the driving position and the steering wheel take the cake. As soon as you get in there, ready to press the starter button to get the V8 going, you are already smitten by the sense of occasion that being inside the cabin of the new Vantage brings. 

Despite all the praises I have showered the new Vantage’s design and interior with, the real deal is what’s under the hood. You see, a car has to be drop-dead gorgeous and intoxicatingly opulent to be an Aston Martin… but to be a Vantage, it has to be a brute savage. That is exactly what the engine is there for. A 4-litre, twin-turbo V8 from AMG that produces around 150 horsepower more than before. If one felt that the previous Vantage was a beast, this one is a hellhound for sure! 

The new Vantage has the blessings of 656 horses. That is insane, but what’s even more terrifying is the 800 Nm of torque that is sent to the rear wheels between 2,750 rpm and 6,000 rpm. The torque is the only thing more exciting than the rumble of that V8. It just roars as you prod the accelerator and pops and crackles in protest as you let it go. According to Aston Martin, it would go from 0-100 km/h in 3.4s onto a top speed of 325 km/h! The sheer shove that is there makes you feel like it will bite your head off if you are not careful. But it doesn’t. 

That is where Aston Martin has put a lot of work. Despite the dollops of power and a torrent of torque, the new Vantage somehow feels more docile than the previous one. Do not get me wrong, it will still burn the rear tyres off in a hurry if you are careless, but it does not feel like it will do that even when you feel like you are treating it with all the respect you have got. It is a hooligan still, but now… it also has poise. 

There are a lot of things that get the credit for this transformation. The new electronically adjustable Bilstein DTX dampers, the new traction control system, and an e-diff for the 8-speed auto. The bespoke Michelin tyres are wider than ever, of course. The electronics are the highlight for me. Even on roads like ours, I found myself confident enough to be a little playful. Trust me, I did not want to, but the urge to hear that V8 sing can overpower the highest of saints. 

I also felt that the steering felt more connected to the road. In the DBs and the previous Vantage, it felt like there was a lot between the road and your hands on the wheel. In this Vantage, it feels like the steering wheel has you talking to the front wheels directly. On smooth tarmac, it is a boon, but on bad roads, the communication might feel a little too much. I am not complaining because having ridden all sorts of superbikes and hyperbikes all my life, I really appreciate the feedback and the connection with the road. 

Despite all my attempts at trying to bring you a “review” of this car, I will honestly admit that I am probably not qualified enough to. The first reason is that I am not a racecar driver. The second, and the more important one, is that I am too smitten with this car. I have driven cars more powerful, but a lot of them had sophisticated all-wheel drive systems that made you feel like you were in control of all that power. Here, it is hard to discern if it is you who is controlling the car or the other way round. And that, my friends, should be the SI unit of the worth of cars like the new Aston Martin Vantage. 

It has all the electronics you can ask for and yet, you do not feel nanny’d. It demands concentration, rewards skill, and punishes callousness. Aston Martin states that this car is meant for the “real drivers”, and I cannot agree more. For that, I am in awe of the new Vantage. As the automobiles of this new world careen towards being more and more inert, the new Vantage is alive. It exists on the physical plane, yes, but it has a soul too. 

Now, I had already mentioned that I am probably not qualified enough to review this car in a traditional sense. Because the traditional sense would mean that I have to go looking for its flaws as well. To be honest, I just found one. I recently got myself a new M340i, and it has 400 horses, which isn’t too shabby… but after having driven this, it is going to feel a little tame… a little too pedestrian. 

I am a very practical man, and I am quite alright with change. But after having driven this car, I can’t help but feel sad over the possibility of cars like these ceasing to exist… cars that chew up their tyres on a whim and mark the tarmac with big black lines… cars that wake you up from your slumber like a shot of caffeine in your veins… cars that look like they were carved by the hands of beings that have transcended humanity. 

Before I sign off, there is one thing I must do. I implore every single person who can afford one of these to give it a shot. You may have already driven some exciting cars, but this… the new Vantage, it does things that only a few cars can. And the number of those cars is only going to diminish. So if you can, drive one and, when no one’s looking, poke the bear and see why Bond looks like he has a lot of weight hanging off his lower body. 

Here’s some more eye candy from our time with the 2025 Aston Martin Vantage…