2021 Aston Martin Vantage
Overview
The 2021 Aston Martin Vantage isn’t just a gorgeous sports car, it’s a vehicular work of art. The Aston’s beautiful bodywork is showcased on a hard-bodied coupe as well as a newly minted soft-top convertible. Both body styles benefit from a 503-hp twin-turbo V-8 that’s sourced from Mercedes-AMG that makes exhilarating sounds. It can be paired with a seven-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic in the coupe; the automatic is required on the roadster. Regardless of which gearbox is feeding the rear wheels, every Vantage is a riot to pilot. Inside, there’s room for two rich people, and there are enough custom options to make the space unique. We only wish the cabin had more sound insulation and fewer cheap plastic pieces. Still, the 2021 Vantage would be worthy of worship for its supermodel shape alone, but it’s so much more.
What’s New for 2021?
Aston Martin finally adds a highly anticipated drop-top model to the Vantage lineup for the 2021 model year. The company also now offers the coupe with a manual transmission, which was previously reserved for the track-focused, limited-edition AMR model. Unfortunately, the new roadster isn’t available with the manual.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Beneath the Vantage’s clamshell hood lies a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 that is supplied by Mercedes-AMG. This engine develops 503 horsepower and 505 lb-ft of torque, which is sent to the rear wheels through either a seven-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission. Going with the manual transmission creates a purer connection with the powertrain, 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.
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.
