Used 2017 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante Convertible Review

"Understated" isn't often used to describe high-voltage sports cars, but if any exotic coupe could bear the mantle, it would be the Vanquish from Aston Martin. Excluding essentially one-off offerings such as the One-77 and Vulcan, all Astons share a singular design language that is beautiful, elegant and, yes, understated. Rather than the sharp angles of the Lamborghini Aventador or aerodynamically obsessed Ferrari F12, the 2017 Vanquish simply offers clean lines, the familiar Aston grille and a well-integrated rear spoiler. The understated theme carries into the cabin, where top-shelf leathers coat every conceivable surface and the craftsmanship is unparalleled. Under the hood, though, is a non-turbocharged V12 engine that revs high and has that classic soundtrack charm that so many other turbocharged sports cars have lost.

True, the Vanquish is also rather dated. Cargo space is limited, even by segment standards, the infotainment system is more 2007 than 2017, and the Vanquish can't match the latest pavement-warping performance of its peers. But if you love the classic look of an Aston Martin and want to enjoy one of the last classic V12s, this is your car.

The primary goal of a grand tourer is to perfectly blend performance and comfort, and the 2017 Aston Martin Vanquish delivers. The luxurious cabin is immaculately trimmed, with sumptuous  materials covering every visible surface. A multitude of luxury features are standard, so most of the options skew toward appearance modifications both inside and out. Still, there are a few stand-alone extras that serve functional purposes, such as an auto-dimming mirror and stolen vehicle tracking. The Vanquish is available as a coupe or a soft-top convertible (Vanquish Volante).

Regardless of body style, the Vanquish is powered by a 5.9-liter V12 engine (568 horsepower, 465 pound-feet of torque) located in front and powering the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. A traditional manual is not offered.

Standard equipment includes 20-inch wheels, launch control, a limited-slip differential, carbon-ceramic brakes, a driver-selectable, three-mode adaptive suspension, xenon headlights, LED running lights, carbon-fiber exterior aerodynamic elements, power-folding mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, cruise control, automatic climate control, heated power-adjustable front seats, driver- and passenger-seat memory settings, a full leather interior, a simulated-suede headliner, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth, a navigation system, a 6.5-inch pop-up display screen (with a center-stack-mounted knob controller), Apple CarPlay and a 13-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system with satellite radio and a USB port. By default, the Volante has a pair of vestigial rear seats and the coupe has small rear parcel shelves, though rear seats can be added. 

Options include forged alloy wheels, carbon-fiber roof and mirror caps, ventilated front seats, the sport steering wheel from the One-77 supercar, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a six-CD changer. Along with an extensive color palette for the exterior and interior, further customization is available through the "Q by Aston Martin" program.

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our first drive of the 2015 Aston Martin Vanquish (5.9L V12; 8-speed automatic).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted, the current Aston Martin Vanquish has received some revisions, including a completely revised infotainment interface in 2017. Our findings remain applicable to this year's Vanquish, however.