2022 Aston Martin Vantage

The lovely Aston Martin Vantage Racing Green paint is an F1 special, available in both gloss and satin finishes, paired with dark grey accents that stretch all the way from the hood to the trunk lid. Our tester – with the latter satin finish – looked absolutely stunning in any light.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Beneath the 2022 Aston Martin Vantage‘s clamshell hood lies a thrilling, thundering twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 that is supplied by Mercedes-AMG. This engine develops either 503 or 528 horsepower and 505 lb-ft of torque. The higher output is reserved for the track-inspired F1 Edition. While the regular Vantage feeds the rear wheels through either a seven-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission, the F1 Edition only comes with the latter.

We drove the F1 on track discovered a meaningfully sharpened driving experience. Still, going with the regular model’s manual transmission creates a purer connection with the powertrain than the auto box, and also has the added performance benefit of removing 209 pounds. The Vantage’s V-8 sounds beautiful, starting with a low baritone rumble at idle and finishing with a high-strung shriek as it nears its redline.

An electronically controlled limited-slip differential and adaptive dampers are standard. The Vantage’s handling is lively but predictable, which makes it hilariously good fun on a race track; the suspension is compliant enough for daily-driver duty, although harsh bumps will be obvious to passengers no matter which drives mode is selected for the adaptive dampers.

Unfortunately, the optional carbon-ceramic brakes are less amicable during daily driving. While they’re excellent when enlisted for track duty, the upgraded brakes are too grabby for everyday use. We did get behind the wheel of the Vantage Roadster, praising its look-at-me personality as well as its ability to transition between behaving like an athlete and a lounger.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The 2022 Aston Martin Vantage isn’t as thirsty for fuel as its powerful V-8 engine might suggest, at least not when equipped with the automatic transmission. The EPA estimates that models with the automatic will earn 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. Models with the manual are rated at 14 mpg city and 21 highway.

However, we haven’t run a Vantage with either transmission on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, so we can’t evaluate its real-world mpg. For more information about the Vantage’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The exterior theatrics continue inside with upscale materials and countless custom options. It’s easy to spend money on the Vantage: Aston Martin offers fancy options such as a full-leather interior, heated and ventilated seats, a carbon-fiber steering wheel, embroidered headrests, and several different options for interior trim, among many other features.

The cockpit is snug for two, but it’s lined with leather and faux suede. Likewise, sport seats with power adjustments and memory settings are standard. Still, its luxury experience is diminished by poor noise isolation on the highway. Interior cubby storage is also scarce except for a shallow center console bin and door pockets.

The convertible’s power-operated fabric roof folds up and down quickly and features a Z shape that Aston says helps save trunk space. While the Vantage Roadster has a slightly smaller trunk than the coupe, we’re told that it’s still able to fit a full-sized golf bag.

Infotainment and Connectivity

8.0-inch display sprouts from the top of its dashboard and is primarily controlled via a rotary knob and buttons on the center console. The Vantage’s infotainment system also includes an Aston Martin audio system, Bluetooth compatibility, and built-in navigation. While an upgraded audio system and touchpad are optional, popular features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are absent.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Although Aston doesn’t offer a full suite of driver-assistance technology, the Vantage can be equipped with several safety features. For more information about the Vantage’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.

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Full Specifications