2010 Aston Martin DBS Review
2010 Aston Martin DBS Review
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
+48
Used DBS for sale
Appraise This CarAston Martin DBS types
- Coupe
- Convertible
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Ferocious power, surprisingly livable for road trips, exquisite interior, muscular take on DB9's gorgeous styling, it's James Bond's car of choice.
Cons
- Pricey compared to DB9, limited passenger seat movement, steering could use more weight and feel, dodgy navigation system.
What’s new
For 2010, the Aston Martin DBS gains a convertible body style known as the Volante. The previously optional Bang & Olufsen sound system is now standard and an Alcantara steering wheel is a new option.
Edmunds says
If Aston Martin is your type of exotic car company, there is nothing more exclusive or exciting than the stunning 2010 Aston Martin DBS.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2010 Aston Martin DBS 2dr Coupe (5.9L 12cyl 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$406/mo for DBS Base
DBS Base
vs
$181/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
Vehicle overview
The dormant V12 awakens with a sharp blip and a mighty roar like the crack of a whip releasing an avalanche. You slot the chunky metal gear lever into 1st and unleash the 510 ferocious horses. Your back sinks into the snug Alcantara-swathed seat, your grin widens, the boisterous horns of the James Bond theme blares in your head. The 2010 Aston Martin DBS is as much an experience as it is an automobile.
The DBS is a modified version of Aston's sexy DB9 and is now available in both coupe and Volante convertible body styles for 2010. With its bulging fenders and a more chiseled fascia, the difference between the DB9 and DBS is like pretty boy Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig's tough guy in a dinner jacket -- both compelling in their own way. The differences in performance are similarly subtle. The DBS's V12 produces 40 additional horses, and with carbon-fiber body panels and other weight-saving measures, it can hit 60 mph a half-second quicker. The retuned chassis and steering aren't radically dissimilar to those of the DB9, but all of these small changes add up to a total sports car that is more communicative and thrilling.
Yet, while the DBS's tough guy credentials are clear, the "dinner jacket" bit extends beyond just the handsome styling. The made-to-order interior is adorned in leather, Alcantara and subtle accent trim of aluminum, carbon fiber, piano-black wood and even sapphire crystal. Customers can choose between a pair of vestigial rear seats or more useful parcel shelves that also save some weight. With either, however, two passengers will discover that the DBS lives up to its grand touring description over long journeys, with supportive seats and a suspension tuned to be compliant.
When it comes to exotic sports cars like the DBS, the few models available each command their own particular niche, making direct comparisons pointless. If a Bentley Continental GT Speed, Ferrari 599, Lamborghini Gallardo or Mercedes-Benz SLS also tickle your fancy, there's little apples-to-apples fodder to share. And at these prices, there's little point in dollar-to-dollar comparison, either. But every time you open its "swan doors" and fire that sonorous V12 to life, we're pretty sure the Aston DBS will impress.
Performance & mpg
The 2010 Aston Martin DBS is powered by a 6.0-liter V12 that produces 510 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, while a six-speed automatic with paddle-shifter manual mode is optional. Aston Martin estimates the DBS coupe will accelerate from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.3 seconds, meaning it's a good bet it'll get to 60 mph in close to 4 seconds flat.
Safety
The DBS comes with a fair amount of safety equipment for an exotic sports car. Stability and traction control are standard, along with antilock carbon-ceramic disc brakes. Side airbags and front and rear parking sensors are standard. There haven't been any official government crash tests conducted, but if you go by the Bond movie "Casino Royale," you can flip a DBS nine times and allegedly survive. So there's that.
Driving
The 2010 Aston Martin DBS is striking for how easy it is to drive. The clutch is light and short in travel, while the shifter snick-snicks through the gates with precision. The steering is light and the cabin's decent visibility makes it feel less onerous than some other exotics. Not only is it easy to handle, it's also surprisingly comfortable. Although the ride is firmer than the DB9's, the DBS is never punishing. The optional automatic transmission may not be as engaging as the automated manuals found in competitors, but it's also a lot smoother in everyday driving.
The DBS may be easy and comfortable, but with 510 hp flowing to the rear wheels of a 3,737-pound sport coupe, it is still a car that must be shown respect. Even a dollop of excessive throttle will get the tail wagging mid-turn, so unless you're a drifting specialist, it's wise to keep the stability control turned on. The DBS seems more at home on long, high-speed sweepers than in tight hairpins. In either setting, though, that light steering proves to be a slight detriment, lacking the feel and weight of a Ferrari or Porsche's steering. If you want a balance between grand touring comfort and hard-core driving histrionics, the DBS is it.
Interior
As with all Aston Martins, the 2010 DBS is one of the finest examples of interior craftsmanship. It's difficult to find a surface not covered in soft leather or Alcantara faux suede. Subtle carbon-fiber trim lines areas of the doors, while tasteful alloy trim and must-have optional piano-black trim adorn the center console. The elegant key fob (or Emotion Control Unit) that seamlessly slides into the dash is partly made from sapphire crystal. When it comes to controls, easily deciphered buttons combine with a central LCD screen layout borrowed from Volvo to create a user-friendly and attractive interface. Unfortunately, Aston also nicked a Volvo navigation system, which is one of the worst on the market.
The gauges are another point of contention even though they look exquisite. Not only do the speedometer and tachometer rotate in opposite directions (the tach goes the wrong way) but the speedo features such a huge range of numbers that you have to rely on the redundant digital readout in the trip computer.
Surprisingly, even tall drivers will find plenty of head- and legroom in the DBS, although the passenger seat annoyingly doesn't adjust for height. Given that the rear seats are only usable for tiny people, we'd stick with the parcel shelves to bolster the coupe's decently sized 9-cubic-foot trunk. The Volante trunk's volume has not been disclosed, though it's a safe bet that it is a bit smaller than the coupe's.
2010 Aston Martin DBS models
The 2010 Aston Martin DBS is available in coupe and Volante convertible body styles. Two seats are standard, with a pair of rear parcel shelves that can be replaced by two tiny optional seats. Standard equipment includes 20-inch wheels, an electronically adjustable suspension, carbon-ceramic brakes, xenon headlights, front and rear parking sensors, automatic power-folding outside mirrors, cruise control, an eight-way power driver seat with memory functions, a four-way power passenger seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a battery deactivation switch (for long-term disuse), Bluetooth, a hard-drive-based navigation system and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen surround-sound system with an in-dash six-CD changer, an auxiliary audio jack and an iPod interface. The Volante features a fully powered retractable soft top and tonneau cover.
Major options include different wheel designs, upgraded performance tires, Alcantara steering wheel and satellite radio. There are a number of customization options including piano-black interior trim, full leather upholstery (versus part Alcantara) and special-order paint colors.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2010 Aston Martin DBS.
5 star(100%)
4 star(0%)
3 star(0%)
2 star(0%)
1 star(0%)
2 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.88 out of 5 stars
Extremely fun but rather expensive
Joe64, 07/22/2008
2008 Aston Martin DBS 2dr Coupe (5.9L 12cyl 6M)
I bought the DBS for my wife's birthday and we both absolutely love it. It has excellent handling and it's sharp styling turns heads wherever it goes. Compared to other sport coupes it gets excellent mpg and low cost of ownership. My only regret about buying the DBS is that I wish I just got the DB9. Except for some crome accents, rims and sport seats it is the exact same … thing...Just a whole lot less!
5 out of 5 stars
Phenomenal
Chambers , 10/24/2023
2010 Aston Martin DBS Volante 2dr Convertible (5.9L 12cyl 6M)
Perhaps not the best at anything other than aesthetics, but the most perfect mix of EVERYTHING for its era. A definite classic, worth every penny. Absolutely adore mine even 13 years later.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2010 Aston Martin DBS, so we've included reviews for other years of the DBS since its last redesign.
2010 DBS Highlights
Coupe
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $266,000 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 13 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $406/month |
Seating | 2 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 6.6 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / unlimited miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the DBS include:
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
People who viewed this also viewed
Related Used 2010 Aston Martin DBS info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Used Porsche Cayman 2016
- Used Cadillac XT5 2010
- Used Rolls-Royce Corniche 2012
- Used Nissan Rogue 2022
- Used Chevrolet Camaro 2012
Shop similar models
- Used Aston-martin Dbs-superleggera
- Used Aston-martin Vanquish
- Used Aston-martin Vanquish-s
- Used Aston-martin DB11
- Used Rolls-royce Dawn
Shop used vehicles in your area
- Used Aston Martin DBS 2010
- Used Aston Martin DBS 2011
- Used Aston Martin DBS 2012
- Used Aston Martin DBS 2022
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- Hyundai Kona
- Dodge Durango 2023
- 2023 Toyota 4Runner
- Chevy Traverse Car
- Bentayga
- 2023 BZ4X
- Mitsubishi Sports Car
- 2023 Challenger
- 2023 Chevrolet Suburban
- BMW M2
Research other models of Aston Martin
Research similar vehicles
- Jaguar F-TYPE 2023
- 2024 Porsche 911
- 2023 Lamborghini Huracan
- 2023 Chevrolet Camaro
- 2024 S5
- 2023 DB12
- 2023 C-Class
- BMW M4 2023
- LC500 Convertible
- Porsche Boxster
Other models
- New GMC Savana-Cargo for Sale in Danvers, MA
- Used Toyota Land-Cruiser in Dublin, CA
- New BMW 2-Series for Sale in Gloucester, MA
- New Kia Ev6 for Sale in Asheville, NC
- New Chevrolet Bolt-Euv for Sale in Hampton, GA
- New Mercedes-Benz Glb-Class for Sale in Waxahachie, TX
- Used BMW M6 in Burbank, IL
- Used Pontiac G6 in Cary, IL
- Used Dodge Intrepid in Portage, MI
- New Genesis Electrified-G80 for Sale in Macomb, IL