Aston Martin does things differently. At first glance the ultra-premium brand seems all about beauty, the DB11 so strikingly attractive it actually causes passersby to stop in their tracks and don awestruck stares, and that response from our test location in Vancouver, Canada, one of North America’s supercar capitals that hardly takes notice of the many Ferraris, Lamborghinis and McLarens lining its streets.

Likewise, the DB11’s interior is so over-the-top luxurious you’d be forgiven for forgetting you’re in a sports car at all, but its deep, burbling V8 exhaust note quickly reminds of an inner beast-mode waiting to be unleashed.

Aston Martin DB11 V8 looks fabulous in Vancouver's evening sun.
Trevor Hofmann / HotCars

To be clear, there are different levels of DB11 beast, the hairiest being a 630 horsepower in-house-engineered 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12 capable of catapulting the big 2+2 from standstill to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds before attaining a top track speed of 208 mph (335 km/h), but most will find the Mercedes-AMG-supplied 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 more than adequate. It comes complete with Aston Martin designed componentry including a new air intake, slimline wet sump lubrication to lower its center of gravity, new ECU software that reprograms the throttle mapping, bespoke engine mounts, and a new exhaust system, all allowing the 503 horsepower and 498 lb-ft of torque engine to shoot from standstill to 60 mph in a mere 3.8 seconds before attaining its 187-mph (301-km/h) top speed.

The DB11's lines near perfection.

In case you’re wondering, that’s seriously quick performance. I tested this model in its original “Launch Edition” duds back in 2017, incidentally, that car sporting an earlier version of its optional V12 making 600 horsepower, but the performance numbers between both were too narrow to warrant the costly upgrade, forcing Aston Martin to improve its game with the 2018-present V12-powered AMR.

Related: Aston Martin's Most Badass Sports Cars, Ranked

Either way, the DB11’s straight-line capability never gets old, especially when all the available power is held in check by such a wonderfully responsive chassis.

Ideal Balance of Handling and Ride Quality

The DB11's exterior design is wholly original.

The suspension was revised when the V8 debuted for 2018, with modified bushings, geometry, anti-roll bars, springs, dampers and ESP software, which, along with 254 pounds (115 kilos) of weight savings from the smaller engine, resulted in better agility when pushed hard. Just the same, this DB11 V8 is hardly a featherweight at 3,880 lbs (1,760 kg), but thanks to mass reducing items like CFRP fender panels it’s no Bentley GT either, the most basic version of the alternative British touring car adding more than 1,000 lbs (484 kg) to the lightest DB11, yet still performing brilliantly through the corners. The smaller V8 was also moved farther rearward behind the front axle to improve weight distribution, allowing for a nimbler, lighter feel at all times.

Even subtly feathering the throttle produces instant response, this aided by a lightweight, ultra-rigid carbon-fiber driveshaft. Acceleration, while plenty quick, is smooth and effortless through its eight forward gears, the ZF-sourced automatic mounted mid-ship for better weight distribution, while the V8’s sonorous growl is always there, but not omnipresent like in the Vanquish S I drove back in 2018.

This in mind should leave you any thoughts of supercar extremism to AMR versions of the Vantage and DB11, the DBS Superleggera, or of course the Valkyrie, as the DB11 V8 is instead an impressively capable grand touring car that’s tuned more for refinement than honing your track skills.

The DB11's details are exquisitely crafted.

To that end it’s one of the easiest ultra-luxury GTs I’ve driven on busy city streets. The evenly weighted yet wonderfully reactive Bosch electric steering is near effortless to direct, even when negotiating confined parking garages or running errands around town, which I found surprising considering the meaty 255/40 front and 295/35 rear ZR20 Potenza rubber below, and how relentlessly steadfast it was through the corners.

Equally impressive was ride quality without any sense of harshness, the DB11’s long wheelbase no doubt helping in this respect, while the aforementioned eight-speed automatic was by far the smoothest Aston gearbox I’ve ever experienced. Still, transitions through the cogs are wickedly quick when its drive mode selector gets switched to its most exhilarating Sport Plus setting. Default GT and mid-range Sport modes provide less aggressive responsiveness, while the choice of steering wheel paddles or total automation makes for hands-on engagement or relaxed motoring, depending on your mood.

Century of Heritage Sets Aston Martin Apart

The way the front fenders float over the wheels below is a superb design element.

It shouldn’t come as any surprise that Aston Martin understands how to make big coupes handle well. It was building grand touring cars long before Ian Fleming’s 007 started saving the world from behind the wheel of a DB5, 1964’s “Goldfinger” making the British brand a household name. Aston’s first cars rolled out of its initial Callow Street, London factory in 1913, 13 years before Mercedes-Benz arrived on the other side of the English Channel, and they’ve produced a long line of revered GTs ever since.

The most notable Aston Martins came after Sir David Brown came into the picture in 1947, his famed DB series GTs highlighted by the ‘50s and ‘60s-era DB4 GT Zagato, DB5 (Aston just reopened its factory to produce 25 more “continuation” DB5s) and DB6, the late ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s V8 Vantage series (and the less celebrated yet still impressive Virage), the important DB7 and much better DB9, Vanquish, and DBS models that I’ve tested and reviewed on multiple occasions, and now the all-new Vantage, plus this DB11. We covered a number of the just-noted Aston classics in our “Coolest Aston Martin Models Of All Time, Ranked” story, so make sure to check it out, and if you want an overview of all Aston Martin GTs leading up to this point, make sure to see our “70 Years In The Making: The Evolution Of The Aston Martin Vantage” story.

Superbly Crafted Cabin Loses Some of the Old DB9’s Charm

The DB11's interior is made from the industry's best materials.

The automaker’s century of experience translates into some of the best interiors in the industry too. Fitted with stunning saddle tan leather upholstery featuring beautifully stitched quilting and ornately decorated perforations, not to mention an oh-so British brogue design highlighted by creamy leather underlay beneath, the DB11 takes pampering its occupants to new levels. My tester’s hides were incredibly soft, this being some of the better automotive leatherwork I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing, while all other surfaces and switchgear are made from top-tier materials too.

My only disappointment was the lack of analogue primary instruments, but only because Aston Martin previously produced some of the more beautifully executed mechanical gauges around. The move “up” to a fully digital cluster is therefore akin to swapping out your favourite Patek Philippe Calatrava for a smartwatch. The digital wrist device might keep better time and have many more functions than a traditional mechanical wristwatch, but it’s a common appliance made from microchips, a motherboard and a display under gorilla glass compared to hundreds of meticulously crafted components made from precious metals and finely polished gems. The DB11’s customizable digital cluster is well executed, however, with deep contrasting colours, high-definition clarity, artfully designed graphics and a load of functions, while its faux tachometer spins counter-clockwise to maintain traditional Aston Martin character.

Aston Martin Turns to Mercedes for Much-Improved Infotainment

The gauge cluster is purely digital now.

The center display is discreet, a good thing in an Aston Martin. It’s large enough at 8.0 inches, and its squarish fixed tablet-style design hides the fact it’s sourced from the same automaker that supplies the engine. The palm rest and knurled aluminum rotating selector on the lower console is a more obvious giveaway to its maker, the touchpad on top capable of character recognition, multi-touch responsiveness, gesture capability, and more. The display is clear, attractive and fast at processing inputs, while the navigation system came with highly detailed mapping and good accuracy. Split-screen backup and overhead 360-degree surround parking cameras made protecting the rims and bodywork easier, while the audio system provided impressive sound quality, but not as good as the optional Bang & Olufsen BeoSound system tested in the first DB11 I mentioned earlier.

Together with the upgraded display, the center stack gets much improved switchgear. A top row of circular buttons is set aside for Aston Martin’s pushbutton ignition and trademark gear selection, while the interface just underneath controls the dual-zone auto climate control system, which includes buttons for the heatable and ventilated front seats. Just under that, an assortment of controls adjust infotainment, audio, the parking sensors, auto start/stop system, power locks and more. The array of touch-sensitive buttons, backlit scripts, and clear displays appear more modern than the rows of large billet aluminum knobs found in the old DB9, which is an update I completely approve of.

The 8.0-inch infotainment system is a big improvement over the previous design.

Near countless exterior and interior colour and materials options are available, as are various embroidery and/or embossing styles, plus other options for a price of course. In standard trim, the 2020 DB11 V8 will set you back a cool $199,000, which is about $42,000 less than the V12 version, while our Canadian readers can purchase one for $220,000 CAD.

What makes the DB11 stand out from many of its peers is general livability, its driving position superb, with good reach and rake from the steering column, and wonderfully comfortable, supportive multi-adjustable seats. There’s room in the back to strap in smaller adults or kids, and the trunk even provides reasonably good storage, for a sports car at least.

Inflow of Cash Means Aston Martin is Financially Sound

In a DB11, comfort is as important as performance.

Practical matters in mind, much of the publicly traded company (AML–LON) was just purchased by Canadian businessman Lawrence Stroll, known best for the Tommy Hilfiger clothing brand and the Racing Point F1 Team, which will soon be rebranded Aston Martin F1. Fresh financing, also from Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team boss Toto Wolff and others, means the British brand will be able to weather our current storm of health and financial challenges, meaning your automotive investment will be protected.

In the end, there are faster, more capable super coupes available on today’s market, some from Aston Martin as noted earlier, but few competitors are more beautiful on the outside or as nicely finished inside, and most don’t provide the same level of comfort, making the DB11 as ideal for daily driving as it is for carving up a circuitous mountainside road. It’s this combination of superlative performance and absolute civility that makes the DB11 stand out from its peers, and should give anyone with the means reason enough to experience the car firsthand.

Next: First New Aston Martin DB5 In Over 50 Years Rolls Off The Line