Aston Martin V8 Vantage Review

2008 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupe

It might seem strange to describe a $110,000 car as "entry level," but that's exactly what the Aston Martin V8 Vantage is. Meant to sell in greater volumes than its two larger and more expensive brand mates, the V8 Vantage is aimed squarely against lofty, performance-proven competitors from Germany.

Like most of the cars from this iconic British brand, it is simply gorgeous. At the same time, Aston upped the fun-to-drive quotient in the Vantage to make it a true sports car rather than a grand tourer like the DB9.

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is available as a coupe or convertible. The Roadster's power-operated cloth soft top can be lowered in 18 seconds, even at speeds of up to 30 mph. To keep structural integrity intact, Aston Martin's engineers made extensive modifications to the Roadster's body structure. (And if you're wondering why the convertible Vantage bears the Roadster name and not Aston Martin's traditional "flying" moniker, the company is quick to insist that Volante is exclusive to cars with a backseat.)

Although many have said the V8 Vantage is the best-driving Aston Martin ever, it still falls short of the Porsche 911 in terms of overall performance. Yet, that car is practically ubiquitous compared to the rare Aston, which will always have an advantage in terms of cool sophistication and dazzling visual allure. The V8 Vantage is one instance where the "entry level" is a wonderful place to be.

Current Aston Martin V8 Vantage

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is available in two body styles: hatchback coupe and Roadster with power cloth soft top. Both models seat only two people and come with almost identical features. Standard items include 18-inch wheels, 10-way power sport seats, automatic climate control and six-CD changer. Leather upholstery is also standard, and is available in nearly countless color combinations, giving buyers the option of a fully customized interior. Curiously, xenon headlights, cruise control, heated seats and seat memory are options on this car that costs more than $100,000. A navigation system and 19-inch wheels are also options.

For power, the V8 Vantage relies on a 4.3-liter V8 capable of 380 horsepower and 302 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Zero to 60 mph in both the coupe and convertible is accomplished in about 5 seconds.

Inside, the Vantage has an overall look that's nearly identical to the DB9; the two cars share the same dashboard design. The Vantage's interior is smaller, however, with only two seats. The coupe's hatchback trunk can swallow 10.6 cubic feet of stuff, while the Roadster has a typically small 5 cubes of space.

In reviews of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, we've found that it is indeed a true sports car. On curvy roads, it moves confidently, sliding progressively and returning to its intended path with little drama. Its steering and chassis are highly communicative, delivering useful information about what's happening between tire and pavement.

The Roadster's added weight hampers its handling and performance somewhat, but it still offers plenty of grip and high-speed composure. We did note, however, that neither Vantage models matches the performance levels of more mainstream rivals, while the narrow seats and footwells may be uncomfortable for larger drivers.

Past Aston Martin V8 Vantage models

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage debuted for the 2006 model year. In that first year, the V8 Vantage was sold in the coupe body style with the six-speed manual transmission only.

SELECT A SPECIFIC ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE MODEL YEAR*

* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.