The Aston Martin DBX is a savior and it gloriously puts forth fine British heritage and luxury, and pumped-up drama. But ever since its inception in 2020, the DBX has been struggling to make a point. Its competitors like the Lamborghini Urus have started a new supersport segment among big-bulky SUVs, and the Bentley Bentayga has raised the bar when it comes to uber-luxurious off-roading.
But Aston Martin seems to be stuck in the middle ground with the DBX as it tries to be the jack of all trades but remains a master of none. It has meaty performance but is let down by the sheer bulk it carries. And when it comes to offroading, the lux-driven curvy design makes it hard to go off-roading.
You don't wanna scratch this Brit. But Aston Martin has given the 2022 DBX a sensible touch for China with a smaller and more efficient inline-6 hybrid engine. Yes, we now have an Aston Martin, that isn't a coupe, and doesn't pack a V8!
The 2022 Aston Martin DBX Straight-Six helps escape exorbitant taxes in China and also brings back a 6-cylinder in an Aston after 28 years!
China-Only 2022 DBX Packs A 429 HP Mild-Hybrid Straight-Six
The new 3.0-Liter turbocharged inline-6 engine is the same unit that underpins the Mercedes-AMG E53. It is a mild-hybrid setup that gets a bumped-up electric started motor that can aid the engine in high loads and juices up using regenerative braking.
It also comes with an electric compressor to help the turbocharger by building up a boost at lower revs. All of this comes together to pump out a peak output of 429 HP and 384 lb-ft of torque. This is no match to the OG V8 motor with 542 horses, but the straight-six saves on a lot of fuel and taxes in China.
Also, the AWD layout coupled with a smart 9-Speed Automatic transmission helps it do 0-62 MPH in 5.4 seconds and have a top speed of 161 MPH. The 2022 Aston Martin DBX Straight-Six is the most fuel-efficient one yet with a claimed 22.4 MPG under WLTP testing. The V8 DBX returned just 16.4 MPG. There are no changes to the 2022 Aston Martin DBX Straight-Six interior whatsoever.
Slew Of Unique Components In The 2022 DBX Straight-Six
Its engine is not the sole distinctive component that makes it unique in the DBX line-up. This China-only Aston Martin also comes with a Mercedes-AMG sourced electronic slip differential at the rear. Other cool bits include a carbon fiber driveshaft, 3-chamber adaptive air suspension, and 48V electronically controlled anti-roll bars.
In short, the least-powerful DBX gets better at taking on terrains. Aesthetically Aston Martin has added in a bunch of uniquely-designed wheels ranging from 21- to 23-inches along with "Straight-Six" badging on the quarter panels.
The Cheapest DBX Till Date; But Only For China
Keeping the engine displacement at the 3.0-liter mark helps Aston Martin escape the painfully exorbitant tax levied by China. The 2022 DBX Straight-Six starts at 1.898 million Chinese yuan (~$297,000) which is notably cheaper than the V8 model priced from 2.298 million Chinese yuan (~$360,000).
While the efficient DBX is only for China, Aston Martin will be treating us with a high-performance model - the DBX S with a more powerful version of the V8 motor with over 600 HP. Aston Martin has also confirmed a series of variants in the future including a universal hybrid, along with new body styles including stretched options.
Sources: Astonmartin.com, Carscoops.com, Motorauthority.com