Exterior
There are only a few cars in the world today that garner as much esteem and appreciation as the Aston Martin DB9 – and justifiably so, as it is an automobile with a stunning appearance.
The smoothly streamed lines neatly express its mighty nature without a hint of overbearing boldness.
It’s lengthy hood and powerful wings have become a modern classic, and consequently, the DB9 remains an eye-catching car in spite of the years passing since its introduction in 2004.
There were some minor styling polishes in 2010 to include a new grille, new metal tyres, modified headlight bezels and bright backlight bunches, but are they enough to stand this beautiful car out alongside the unveiling of the new DB9-derived Virage?
Interior
The superior attention to detail is not forgotten once the doors are opened in their signature upward style and we enter the car itself.
The design inside matches the exquisite detailing of the smooth outer shell, resulting in an appearance and experience which feels almost architectural. Here, plastics, alloy and leather all blend with a handstitched beauty – resulting in a feeling of relaxed easiness once you settle comfortably into the leather seats. Overall, the DB9’s interior simply feels extraordinary.
That the dashboard controls are all easy to read even in bright sunlight and the touch-sensitivity of the stereo controls are delightful, seem to be minor mentions in an environment where technical specifications seem to become irrelevant beside such aesthetic beauty, but Aston Martin has not forgotten to pay the same level of perfection to the controls themselves.
Practicality
Pretending this is a four-seat Aston Martin is a little presumptuous. Yes, there are two rear seats that can be used in very infrequent circumstances, but even an average-sized adult is going to have trouble on anything other than a short journey. If you want a four-seat Aston, the Rapide is a much better bet.
Of course, if you need some extra luggage room, then the back seats provide ample space for a couple of suitcases! In this way, the DB9 shows how it is a great daily driver choice, and more than adequate for short breaks away. The boot itself is of a reasonable size, but the shape does make it difficult to use for hard luggage.
In a nod to practicality, door bins are available, as well as cup holders and a small glove box.
Ride and Handling
The adaptive damping system is newly added to the DB9 in this 2010 model, and it adds a significant level of stability and smoothness of ride over a variety of roads – acting by tracking surface changes and making minute alterations to the suspension where needed.
There is a great combination of precision and driving quality when turning on the default ‘comfort’ mode, where ‘sportive’ ride mode releases some of the car’s power and changes its composure giving a completely different driving perspective. The quick and precise steering works well with the perfect weight distribution to make the overall handling experience a complete joy.
Performance
Boasting a 470bhp 6.0 litre V12 engine, the DB9 provides enough capability to reach a top speed of 190mph and accelerates to 62mph in a respectable 4.8 seconds.
With an optional touchtronic automatic transmission, the DB9 can offer a superior gearbox with faster and smoother changes, leaving the standard manual transmission a somewhat rare alternative.
Safety
Not to compromise the safety of its driver and passenger, the directional stability system, pre-tensioned seat belts and front and side airbags provide well for the car occupants.
The aluminium-reinforced body ensures great protection in the case of a collision and combines with the interior technology to make the DB9 a safe modern vehicle.
