The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante Defies Logic: Review

Motor 1

23-07-2025

It might be a mistake to look at the new Aston Martin Vanquish Volante too rationally. With a starting price of $489,700, it's crazy expensive both at face value and relative to Aston Martin's other cars—the excellent DB12 Volante is over $200,000 less.
But why look at the
Vanquish Volante
rationally when you could just, well,
look at it
. Is there a better-looking convertible on sale today? Is there anything with quite such panache and presence? Is there anything with such an evocative name, with the performance and soundtrack to back it up? For my money, probably not.
Quick Specs
2026 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante
Engine
Twin-Turbo 5.2-Liter V-12
Output
824 Horsepower / 738 Pound-Feet
0-60 MPH
3.3 Seconds
Base Price / As-Tested
$489,700 / $595,300
That's how
Aston Martin
hopes people will see the Vanquish Volante. We can't call it Aston Martin's flagship, as the company will soon launch the 1,000-plus-horsepower Valhalla hypercar. But the Vanquish is the pinnacle of the traditional Aston—a gorgeous, imposing grand tourer with a monster V-12 up front.
This carbon-bodied car will be rare, too. Aston Martin will only make 1,000 examples per year, 400 of which will be open-top Volantes. It recasts the V-12 as something a lot more exclusive than it was before, something for those who want it badly enough to pay the enormous premium.
There's nothing like a V-12. That high-pitched starter-motor sound that gives way to a flare of revs settling down into a smooth idle never fails to make you feel like a million bucks. Aston essentially redesigned its twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter V-12 for the Vanquish, and the result is 824 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. Which is a lot.
Photo by: Chris Perkins / Motor1
Photo by: Chris Perkins / Motor1
Photo by: Chris Perkins / Motor1
Pros: Outrageous Speed, V-12 Soundtrack & Smoothness, Stunning Looks
Aston Martin threw all of its technical know-how, a very advanced traction and stability control system, wide tires, and an electronic limited-slip differential at the problem, but 824 hp and 738 pound-feet of torque is a lot for two rear Pirellis. The first time you try to get the power down hard out of a slow corner, you realize just how much this V-12 has. Like the new Vantage, too, the Vanquish is pretty stiff at the rear, so it can feel skittish at times.
Be measured with your throttle inputs, though, and the rewards are massive. This car is effortlessly fast. Shift around 4,000 rpm and you won't think you're doing much until you look down at the speedometer. Rev the V-12 out and then things get really exciting, with all sorts of pace and a hard-edged (if ever-so-slightly turbo-muted) soundtrack.
As with the DB12 and Vantage, the Vanquish uses an eight-speed automatic transaxle at the back, and it shifts quickly and smoothly, though not as crisply as dual-clutch on downshifts. Simon Newton, Aston's head of vehicle dynamics, said that with its other new models, the company reduced the final-drive ratio to provide more in-gear punch.
With the V-12, the Vanquish didn't need that tweaking. It's got plenty of punch, and that taller final drive gives it the classic striding GT car feel. At 2,000 rpm in 8th, you'll be doing 97 mph; at 3,000, you'll be doing 145 mph. To use a technical term, the Vanquish Volante has legs.
Photo by: Chris Perkins / Motor1
Cons: Firm Low-Speed Ride, Too-Familiar Interior, So Expensive
It's not power without finesse either. Aston developed a new feature called 'Boost Reserve' that juggles the throttle opening and wastegates to keep the turbos spooled up when you lift the accelerator. You can actually hear the turbos whistling away on the overrun with the top down, and the feature works amazingly well. There's no perceptible lag from behind the wheel.
The Vanquish Volante isn't just an engine with some car attached, either. The chassis is a wonderful thing on its own. This is a big, heavy car, but it doesn't drive like it. And not in an artificial way, with rear-wheel steering or active anti-roll bars trying to compensate for the size—just very good spring and damper tuning.
Photo by: Chris Perkins / Motor1
Being a convertible, there's a bit of cowl shake over rough surfaces, and in general, the low-speed ride can be firm, but the dampers do a wonderful job of rounding off any hard edges. And as you build up speed, the car seems to free up a bit, flowing with the road beautifully. There are three damper settings, but frankly, I see no need to switch them from their softest 'GT' mode, which provides the right amount of control and compliance.
Aston Martin has also done a great job with the steering, too. It's heavy, yet in a natural way, with weight building in concert with load increasing on the front tires. And while the Vanquish has a super-sharp front end, with a rear that follows very quickly, the steering is never nervous. Unlike in a Ferrari, where you really have to be measured with your inputs, the Vanquish feels intuitive.
When you're not engaging in a bit of grand touring, the Vanquish Volante is perfectly usable as an everyday car. Roof up, it's admirably quiet, and while you're always conscious of the size, it's not unwieldy. There's also no low splitter to scrape, and the visibility is quite good for a car like this.
Photo by: Chris Perkins / Motor1
Photo by: Chris Perkins / Motor1
Photo by: Chris Perkins / Motor1
The interior is lovely, trimmed with rich-smelling leather everywhere you look. Although it doesn't look or feel that different from the cabin of a DB12 or Vantage. Those cars have lovely interiors, too, but for the extra $200,000-plus, there isn't much that sets the Vanquish apart.
Still, Aston has smartly integrated a lot of physical knobs and buttons that feel wonderful and increase ease-of-use, and Apple CarPlay Ultra integration makes all infotainment functions a cinch. Though note that it's only as good as your phone—you'll need a relatively new iPhone for it to work at its best, and if your phone overheats in the wireless charger, you're out of luck.
It would be an extravagant car to daily drive, of course, but with that V-12 constantly humming along, it would be a hell of a lot of fun too. Just don't expect to fit much in the trunk, especially with the top down.
Photo by: Chris Perkins / Motor1
Really, the choice between coupe and Volante is a matter of personal preference. I don't think the drop-top looks quite as good as the coupe, but it's still one of the most beautiful, striking cars on sale today. And while there are some dynamic compromises from losing the roof, they're hardly great enough to spoil the car.
Park the Vanquish Volante next to a DB12, and it doesn't make a ton of sense. But just look at it. Listen to it. Drive it. Say the words 'Aston Martin Vanquish Volante.'
Suddenly, it makes all the sense in the world.
More on Aston Martin
2026 Aston Martin Vantage S Revealed: More Power, But Softer Suspension
We Tested Apple CarPlay Ultra. It's Great—But There's a Catch
Competitor
Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider
Gallery: 2026 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante Review
Aston Martin
Make:
Aston Martin
Model:
URL:
Aston Martin
46
Source: Chris Perkins / Motor1
2026 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante
Engine
Twin-Turbocharged 5.2-Liter V-12
Output
824 Horsepower / 738 Pound-Feet
Transmission
Eight-Speed Automatic Rear Transaxle
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive
Speed 0-60 MPH
3.3 Seconds
Maximum speed
214 Miles Per Hour
Weight
4,421 Pounds
Seating Capacity
2
Cargo Volume
9.15 Cubic Feet
Base Price
$489,700
As-Tested Price
$595,300
On Sale
Now
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