Used 2017 Aston Martin Vanquish

The 2017 Vanquish is the flagship in the Aston Martin lineup. As such it doesn’t just count itself among the small but elite cadre of cruise missiles in the British automaker’s arsenal, but the range-topper among them. Offered as a coupe or convertible (called "Volante"), the Aston Martin Vanquish is one of the most expensive new cars available thanks to a starting price of nearly $300,000. That kind of money buys serious performance hardware like a 568-horsepower V12 engine and jaw-dropping design, but much of the Aston’s appeal is its exclusivity. In truth, you can get more performance, technology and features at a lower price in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe, Porsche 911 Turbo or Audi R8. Still, none have the esoteric nature of an Aston.

With a V12 engine pumping out nearly 570 horsepower to the rear wheels, a 0-60-mph time of 3.6 seconds and top speed of 201 mph, the 2017 Aston Martin Vanquish will indeed vanquish most anything else on the road. It can corner, too, but it’s not a track-honed, tarmac-shredding machine like a Porsche or McLaren. The Vanquish’s best case is made as a grand touring car. The Vanquish’s velocities come gracefully, and its 8-speed automatic transmission is far more refined than the 7-speed automated manual of the Aston Martin Vantage. Even the seats encourage longer hauls thanks to their buttery leather that can be heated or cooled at the driver’s whim. Steering feel is well-connected to the road, yet comfortable enough to not make low-speed maneuvers feel burdensome. Like other Astons, a trade-off of the Vanquish’s gorgeous design is limited rear visibility. But unlike a $23,000 Hyundai Elantra, blind-spot monitoring isn’t available.

Coupe versions of the 2017 Vanquish have seating for two, with the rear area designed to hold cargo. The Vanquish Volante convertible has 2+2 seating, but the rear seats are tight and best used for storage. As expected, the materials are ultra-luxurious, from the plush leather to the carbon-fiber trim. Indeed, if the 2017 Aston Martin Vanquish’s exterior makes a statement to everyone outside, the interior does the same for the lucky driver and passenger. Even starting up this handcrafted machine is special: Place a rectangular glass prism in a slot in the center stack and the Vanquish roars to life.

Clearly, there is no effort within the Aston Martin design team to brew up the flavor of the moment. Instantly recognizable as an Aston, the Vanquish is finely drawn to reflect an unerring salute to the timelessness of the marque’s heritage. This car would have looked great decades ago and will still look great a century from now. The front end is unmistakably Aston Martin, and the form of the whole will never be confused with anything else. Vanquish coupes have a gorgeously raked roof, while the Volante convertible is of course at its best with the fabric roof folded.

MAGNIFICENT EXTERIOR
So help us, we’re suckers for the looks of any Aston Martin, and the Vanquish is as close to an ideal in automotive design as there is. We would not change a crease, a line, an angle.

V12 ENGINE
It displaces 5.9 liters, makes 568 horsepower, and can send this exotic car to a top speed of 201 mph. Throttle response is instantaneous, power delivery seemingly endless. And the sound is glorious.

What does nearly $300,000 worth of Aston Martin buy? Plenty of ultra-high-performance hardware for sure, starting with that V12 engine. There’s an opulent interior, too, drenched in fine leather and top-notch materials. A 13-speaker/1,000-watt Bang & Olufsen system will please audiophiles, and the new AMI III infotainment system with navigation helps make the Vanquish feel somewhat current — but with a display that’s only 6.5 inches, it’s no Audi or Mercedes. And while parking sensors and a rearview camera come standard, forget about active safety and driving features like lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control or automatic emergency braking.

As if a 2017 Aston Martin Vanquish isn’t exclusive enough, you can tailor yours to the color scheme you like, right down to the shade of the brake calipers and seat belts. Ventilated seats are also available, as are a 6-disc CD changer, auto-dimming rearview mirror and universal garage-door opener (yes, those are still extra on a $300,000 British supercar). Unlike mainstream luxury brands, you won’t find options like wireless phone charging, automatic parking assist and semi-autonomous driving features.

The 2017 Aston Martin Vanquish is available with one engine and transmission choice: a 5.9- liter naturally aspirated V12 with 568 horsepower and a “rear mid-mounted” 8-speed automatic that can be operated with paddle shifters. Helping put the power to the ground is a limited-slip differential and a launch-control function. The engine defines all the attributes expected for a car at this level: smooth, responsive, strong. It’s likely no Vanquish owner will actually see 200 mph, but rest assured, given enough clear pavement, this thing will do it. It shouldn’t be a surprise that such a big engine is thirsty. So thirsty that you’ll pay $1,300 in a gas-guzzler tax. Looking slightly ahead, the 2018 model, to be called the Vanquish S, will output 580 horsepower.

5.9-liter V12
568 horsepower @ 6,650 rpm
465 lb-ft of torque @ 5,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/21 mpg

Note: Due to changes in EPA testing to more effectively reflect real-world conditions, some 2017 models show slightly lower fuel-economy scores than their 2016 versions.