First Drive: 2025 Aston Martin Vantage – Updated In all The Right Places

by Larry Printz | May 15, 2024

The 2025 Aston Martin Vantage is the sports car for those who prefer a bit more English put into the serve.

It may look familiar, but much has changed in the Aston Martin Vantage for 2025.

As we reported earlier this year, there’s a thoroughly revised Aston Martin for the 2025 model year, one that’s markedly improved from the 2024 model currently on its way out. OK, you may not notice the change from the outside, and that’s understandable.

“So, this was more about platform-based advances. So, as you see, the investment in electrical architecture has been done in generating and creating our own UX UI,” said Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s Chief Creative Officer.

That would be the infotainment system, now operated through a 10.25-inch touchscreen, which is all-new and replaces the previous system, which was little more than an archaic Mercedes-Benz system.

“Along with that came some ergonomic changes to the interior because of how you interface with the it,” Reichman said. “Now that you’ve got a touchscreen, things can go in a slightly different position and space.”

The inside story

A new infotainment system drove the redesign of the Vantage’s cabin.

Certainly, the reworked interior is more spacious than before.

For a sports car, the cabin has an impressive amount of storage, more than the usual sports car minimum of enough space for a toothbrush. The seating position is ideal, and the seats are appropriately aggressively firm and supportive, yet prove incredibly comfortable despite long spells behind the wheel. The center console control layout makes it easy to find the control you want.

Unlike some automakers, Aston Martin designers didn’t consign all the controls to the touchscreen. Better yet, their sensible size makes them easy to actuate at speed, although the heated seat button proved easy to inadvertently actuate while aggressively driving. Reichman has said they will be looking to fix that. Still, cabin interior trim quality is clearly on par with the rest of the segment. In addition, its larger side mirrors and larger windows make seeing out far easier, while its hatchback design lends it practicality.

“It was all about dedicating Vantage inside to the driver,” Reichman said.

Updated wardrobe

Yup, it’s still fast.

There are also a number of changes to the exterior, even if the look is familiar. It’s wider than before, with a larger more upright grille as engineers needed more cooling. That’s because the Vantage’s horsepower is up 153 from the 2024 model, now rated at 656 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque from a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 through an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. Running 0-to-60 takes but 3.4 seconds on its way to a 202-mph top speed.

The driveline is engineered to have a 50/50 weight distribution front-to-rear for better performance dynamics, while additional underbody stiffening improves torsional rigidity. Engineers also designed an all-new suspension with adaptive dampers, an electronic rear differential, and Aston-Martin-specific 21-inch Michelin Pilot S 5 tires. Carbon ceramic brakes are optional, and save nearly 60 pounds in weight.

And with sports cars, weight is the enemy.

How it drives

The V8 engine, though Mercedes-Benz sourced, was tweaked by Aston with a modified cam profile, optimized compression ratios, fit larger turbos, and increased cooling.

We had the chance to drive the 2025 Aston Martin Vantage at the Circuito Monteblanco in Seville Spain, as well as on the exquisite winding roads in the nearby Andalusian countryside.

Its performance goes far beyond what any Vantage has offered since 1950.

The engine’s note is enthralling, which is too bad in a way because the Bowers & Wilkins audio system is positively symphonic. The transmission downshifts just as you contemplate downshifting. It’s always right there in the proper gear when you need it, even though the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters actuate with hair-trigger precision.

The Vantage’s driving modes are truly different, and do more than change the graphics on the driver’s instrument cluster, making it easy to tailor the car’s performance to your mood.

And it all performs with an exactitude that’s enthralling. It’s a speed weapon, delivering the riveting combination of precise handling, exhaust snarl, and sheer speed that will mesmerize speed junkies. The tail rotates around easily, and it’s very controllable, making for fun even at modest speeds. Steering is accurate and quick, so there’s not much cranking of the wheel to get what you want. Plus, the Vantage constantly communicates through the wheel, through the seats, and through the structure, which is incredibly rigid.

Rarity comes at a price

It’s well worth your attention if you’re craving a change of pace in a true sports car. Certainly, it’s rare. Ford builds more Mustangs in one week than Aston Martin builds sports cars in one year. And who doesn’t want to be the only one their block to own one?

Remember, true luxury is rare. Prices start at $191,000.