2023 Aston Martin Vantage Review

The 2023 Aston Martin Vantage may be the smallest and least expensive car in this English automaker's lineup, but it's still burnished with the shine and rarity of its more expensive stablemates. With its long, sleek hood, low roof and muscular rear fenders, the Vantage is the kind of car you might leave for the aliens as an example of humankind's peak automotive design ingenuity.

Compared to more mass-produced sport coupes, the Vantage offers strong but not awe-inspiring performance. Sharp handling and a 503-horsepower turbocharged V8 sourced from Mercedes will thrill most drivers. Those who desire more can turn to the new V12 Vantage, which uses an in-house-developed 12-cylinder making nearly 700 horsepower. According to Aston, that's good enough for 0-60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. Collectors, take note: Aston says this is the last of its cars that will use a V12.

But while the Vantage's exclusivity and extensive opportunities for personalizing it make it a one-of-a-kind experience, those other mass-production models are typically more comfortable, more technologically advanced and more well-rounded performers. The Vantage's infotainment system — also sourced from Mercedes but from a previous-generation parts bin — is woefully outdated, and it highlights the Vantage's clumsy cabin design.

While a rational examination reveals the Vantage's flaws and strengths of its competitors, there's no denying the powerful emotional connection evoked by its seductive design. Be sure to read our test team's Expert Rating below for an honest look into the Vantage's rational and emotional lure.