Aston Martin DB11 review – interior and tech

Just as with graceful exterior design and endless James Bond references, Aston Martins are also defined by luxurious handcrafted interiors. The DB11 is no different. Swoop inside via the swan-hinged door (that is to say the door rises ever so slightly so as to avoid kerbs) and you’re greeted first not with wow-factor tech or groundbreaking interior design, rather the smell of expensive leather. 

Nearly every surface across the dash, doors, seats, and even roof panel where specified, is leather trimmed and this instantly makes the Aston feel special. Of course, while the material quality by and large is deeply impressive, also evident is the dark side of ‘handmade’ through the clangy doors and squeaks and rattles that can often reside in modern Astons.

It doesn’t help that rivals from Bentley and Lexus are world-class when it comes to build quality, and some of these niggles are difficult to stomach in a car costing as much as an apartment in some parts of the country.

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The interior’s design is a little lacklustre, too, missing the glamour and presence of the Bentley’s cabin, while in terms of tech the DB11’s set-up is closing in on five generations behind the latest Mercedes systems. The infotainment system's clunky interface and dated graphics are massively off the pace, and prompted Aston Martin to draft in an all-new cabin design with far more advanced tech for the DB12. The DB11 also lacks much in the way of basic modern equipment, with no head-up display or adaptive headlights.

But what the Aston offers in place of modern accoutrements is that aforementioned hand-built feeling, and indeed the choice to be able to specify your car exactly as you want it. Many early press-car examples of DB11 and Vantage were specified to show off the sheer level of personalisation options available, climaxing perhaps in the DB11 V8 we first drove back in 2018 which paired a metallic white exterior with a deep purple leather finish contrasted with violent pink stitching.