Aston Martin Vantage (05 on) - Review

Review by Kieren Puffett on
Last Updated: 16 January 2009
This is Aston Martin's entry level car - if you can call the hand built £80,000 Vantage entry level. Whereas its more expensive siblings are true Grand Tourers capable of traversing Europe rapidly and in luxurious comfort, the Vantage is much more sports car focused. Its revvy 4.3-litre V8 delivers a rush of power and its stiff chassis rewards even the most demanding of drivers. It doesn't skimp on luxury either with full leather interior, electrically adjusted seats and glass engine start button that glows red when the ignition is switched on.
4 out of 5

Safety

Due to the limited number of Vantages produced every year it is highly unlikely Euro NCAP, the company that specialises in assessing the crash protection offered by cars, will test the Vantage. However, the car is fitted with very powerful brakes linked to ABS (to help prevent the wheels locking up) and another system, electronic brake distribution (or EBD), which optimises the braking forces to bring the car to a standstill in the shortest possible distance. Other electronic systems which should help prevent the driver from losing control of the car include traction control and dynamic stability control (DSC). In case an accident can’t be avoided, the driver and passenger are protected by front and side airbags.

NCAP Test

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Provides motoring consumers with a realistic and independent assessment of the safety performance of some of the most popular cars sold in Europe.

Visit Euro NCAP for more info

3 out of 5

Reliability

Modern day Aston Martins are hand-built and also use the very latest technology. The Vantage is assembled in the purpose-built, modern factory at Gaydon in Warwickshire with strict quality controls and had a very extensive development programme so the model should prove very reliable. However, we still hear of teething problems with cars when they should have been sorted out.

Car check problem points

Body

No problems reported so far.

Engine/Gearbox

No problems reported so far.

Other

No problems reported so far.