Aston Martin DB12 Review: Why Everyone Is Suddenly Talking About the ‘Super Tourer’

Aston Martin DB12 is more than a pretty British badge; it’s a 671-hp statement that grand touring in 2026 can be faster, sharper, and more digital without losing that old?school sense of occasion. If you’ve ever felt modern performance cars lack soul, this one aims straight at you.

You know that moment when you climb into a supposedly “premium” performance car, shut the door, and… nothing? No spine?tingling sense of occasion, no theater, just another fast, efficient, slightly sterile machine. The numbers are wild, but the feeling is flat. You get out thinking: is this really all $200k buys now?

If you’ve ever looked at the current crop of super coupes and felt like they were designed more for spreadsheets than for people, you’re not alone. Between touchscreen overload, fake exhaust soundtracks, and cabins that feel more like tech demos than places to spend 500 miles in, it’s easy to miss the days when a GT car felt like a tailored suit instead of a feature checklist.

This is exactly the itch Aston Martin is trying to scratch with its latest icon.

The Aston Martin DB12 isn’t just another DB?series coupe. The company calls it the world’s first “Super Tourer” – a 671 hp grand tourer that’s meant to be as involving on a mountain pass as it is intoxicating on a cross?continent blast. And unlike some rivals, it wants to make you feel something every single time you press the engine start button.

Why this specific model?

On paper, the Aston Martin DB12 is the successor to the DB11. In practice, it’s a clean break – the start of a new era for the brand. Under the hood sits a 4.0?liter twin?turbo V8, tuned to deliver around 671 hp (680 PS) and 800 Nm (about 590 lb?ft) of torque, driving the rear wheels through an 8?speed automatic and an electronically controlled rear differential. Top speed? Around 202 mph. 0–62 mph? Just over 3.5 seconds, depending on spec.

But those are just stats. What matters is how the DB12 tries to translate them into real?world joy.

• Chassis with attitude: The DB12 runs an updated bonded aluminum structure, stiffer than the DB11, with adaptive dampers and multiple drive modes (including Sport and Sport+). Reviewers from outlets like Top Gear, Autocar, and Car and Driver consistently note the car’s composure and confidence at high speed, paired with steering that actually talks to you.
• Electronics that serve the driver, not the other way around: You get a modern stability and traction control suite, configurable drive modes, and that electronic rear differential – but the broad consensus is that they’re tuned to enhance, not sanitize, the experience.
• A cabin finally worthy of the price tag: One of the biggest knocks on the old DB11 was its dated and Mercedes?hand?me?down infotainment. The DB12 introduces Aston Martin’s own in?house infotainment platform with a central touchscreen and a digital driver display, plus physical buttons for critical functions like climate and drive modes. Reddit threads and forum discussions repeatedly praise this blend: modern interface without burying everything in submenus.
• Design that feels unmistakably Aston: A wider stance, larger grille, sharper LED lighting, and clean surfacing make the DB12 look more muscular than the DB11 without losing its elegance. It still reads as a GT, but one that clearly hasn’t skipped leg day.

That combination – raw performance, engaging chassis, and a more contemporary cockpit – is what sets the DB12 apart in a segment that includes everything from the Bentley Continental GT to the Ferrari Roma and Porsche 911 Turbo.

At a Glance: The Facts

Feature	User Benefit
4.0L twin?turbo V8 (~671 hp, 800 Nm)	Explosive acceleration with effortless overtaking power, even at autobahn speeds.
0–62 mph in just over 3.5 seconds (est.)	Supercar?level performance in a car you can comfortably daily drive or tour across countries.
Top speed around 202 mph (325 km/h)	Massive headroom for high?speed cruising and track?day bragging rights.
Adaptive suspension with multiple drive modes	Switch from relaxed GT comfort to sharp, focused handling at the twist of a dial.
New Aston Martin in?house infotainment system	Modern navigation, media, and connectivity without the clunky interface issues of the DB11.
Luxurious 2+2 interior with bespoke materials	A genuinely special place to sit, whether you're commuting or crossing continents.
Enhanced structural stiffness vs. DB11	Improved precision, stability, and ride comfort – the car feels more solid and planted.

What Users Are Saying

Dive into Reddit threads and enthusiast forums and a clear pattern emerges around the Aston Martin DB12.

The praise:

• Driving feel: Owners and early testers talk about the DB12 feeling “alive” in a way many modern GTs don’t. The steering is often described as communicative without being twitchy, and the car balance inspires confidence.
• Engine character: That twin?turbo V8 gets a lot of love. It’s not just about the power; users call out the sound and the way the engine builds torque as core parts of the experience.
• Interior leap forward: Compared to the DB11, people on Reddit and Aston forums are almost unanimously relieved at the new infotainment system and the cleaner, more modern cabin layout. The mix of premium materials and proper physical controls gets frequent shout?outs.
• Looks: Comments like “best?looking new Aston in years” and “finally has the stance it deserved” show up repeatedly. Even in photos, the wider track and more aggressive front end are clearly resonating.

The caveats:

• Price and options: As with most hand?built exotics, the base price is only the beginning. Some users note that optioning the DB12 the way they’d want quickly pushes it deep into Ferrari/Bentley pricing territory.
• Tech maturity: A few early adopters mention that while the new infotainment is a big step up, it’s still a first?generation in?house system. Expect the occasional quirk or software update.
• Practicality: Yes, it’s a 2+2, but rear space is still limited. If you’re regularly hauling adults in the back, you’re shopping in the wrong segment.

Overall sentiment, though, tilts clearly positive: enthusiasts see the DB12 as a meaningful evolution, not just a face?lift, and many call it the first modern Aston GT that truly feels competitive with – and in some ways distinct from – its biggest rivals.

It’s also worth noting that behind the DB12 stands Aston Martin Lagonda, the storied British manufacturer listed under ISIN: GB00BN7CG237, which has been repositioning itself aggressively in the ultra?luxury and performance space.

Alternatives vs. Aston Martin DB12

If you’re shopping in DB12 territory, you’re not exactly short of options. But each rival comes with a different flavor of compromise.

• Ferrari Roma: The Roma is arguably the DB12’s closest Italian rival – gorgeous, powerful, and more overtly sporting. It’s an incredible driver’s car, but Ferrari’s vibe is often more supercar than GT. If you want something a bit more relaxed and opulent for long journeys, the DB12 leans in that direction.
• Bentley Continental GT: The Bentley is the master of effortless luxury and refinement, especially in W12 or V8 form. It’s quieter, heavier, and more limousine?like. The DB12 counters with a more athletic chassis and a sense of driver engagement that’s closer to a sports coupe than a rolling lounge.
• Porsche 911 Turbo / Turbo S: Porsche’s icons are devastatingly quick and incredibly usable, with bulletproof engineering. But they’re smaller, less theatrical inside, and less obviously special from the curb. The DB12 trades some clinical precision for drama and design – which may be exactly what you want in a car at this level.
• McLaren GT: McLaren’s take on the grand tourer is lighter and more focused, but its carbon?tub supercar roots mean it still feels more like a softened supercar than a true GT. The Aston’s blend of comfort, craftsmanship, and long?legged poise is more traditional – in a good way.

What makes the Aston Martin DB12 stand out is its positioning as a “Super Tourer”: not as softly sprung as a traditional GT, not as razor?edged as a mid?engine supercar. It’s meant to be the car you take across Europe in a single hit and still enjoy on an early?morning B?road blast. The feedback from journalists and early owners suggests it largely nails that brief.

Final Verdict

The Aston Martin DB12 answers a very 2026 problem: how do you build a truly modern high?performance car without sacrificing the romance that made people fall in love with GTs in the first place?

By most accounts, Aston’s answer is convincing. The DB12 takes the best parts of the brand’s heritage – the sculpted silhouette, the soulful engine, the hand?finished cabin – and layers on a genuinely competitive chassis and up?to?date tech. It’s faster, sharper, and more capable than the DB11, but it never feels like it was designed by committee.

If you want the quietest, most insulated luxury coupe on the market, a Bentley might still speak louder. If you’re chasing lap times above all else, there’s a Porsche or Ferrari with your name on it. But if you want a car that makes every journey feel like an event – one that talks to you through its steering, its exhaust, and its astonishing pace – the Aston Martin DB12 deserves a very serious look.

It won’t be the rational choice. It’s not meant to be. It’s the emotional one – and that, in the age of clinically perfect performance, might be the most compelling spec of all.

@ ad-hoc-news.de