Aston Martin DBX S vs. Ferrari Purosangue: The Ultimate Super SUV Showdown
The landscape of automotive excellence has dramatically shifted. Where once the very notion of a “supercar” conjured images of low-slung, razor-edged machines, the modern era demands a more versatile, albeit equally exhilarating, proposition. Today, the pinnacle of performance and luxury often arrives in the more capacious, yet no less potent, guise of the Super SUV. In the fiercely competitive arena of these high-octane behemoths, two titans stand poised to redefine expectations: the Aston Martin DBX S and the Ferrari Purosangue. As an industry veteran with a decade immersed in the world of performance vehicles, I’ve witnessed firsthand the evolution of these machines, and the current contenders represent the zenith of this transformative journey. This isn’t merely a comparison; it’s an in-depth exploration of what defines the best super SUV in 2025.
My recent encounter with these automotive marvels, set against the dramatic, unforgiving backdrop of England’s Lake District, specifically the notorious Hardknott Pass, provided a crucible for their capabilities. Imagine this: near midnight, with an oppressive, starless sky offering zero assistance, and a critical puncture plaguing the Ferrari Purosangue’s otherwise impeccable 23-inch rear tire. This wasn’t a minor inconvenience; it was a stark reminder of the inherent vulnerabilities, even in the most sophisticated of machines. With no spare tire and the sealant ineffective against the sizable gash, civilization felt an agonizing 15 to 20 minutes away. My companions, admirably resourceful, had ventured ahead to secure aid and, perhaps, a much-needed meal, leaving me to contemplate the nocturnal inhabitants of the valley and the surprisingly unsatisfying crunch of wilted crisps.
Yet, this rather dramatic predicament, while inconvenient, served as a potent prelude to the core of our investigation. We were evaluating two of the most compelling super utility vehicles to grace the market, each meticulously engineered by its legendary manufacturer to achieve peak performance. Ferrari’s Purosangue, a vehicle born from initial debate about its market positioning, boasts a bespoke, high-riding four-seater configuration powered by a colossal 6.5-liter V12 engine. This is no diluted offering; it’s a genuine supercar powerplant, sharing more DNA with Ferrari’s celebrated sports cars than any vehicle with a traditional, utilitarian lineage.
Conversely, the Aston Martin DBX S emerges as the latest iteration of Aston’s formidable presence in the Super SUV segment. The foundational 550bhp DBX has been superseded, with the potent 707 model now establishing the baseline. The ‘S’ designation signifies an even sharper focus: quicker steering, more resolute suspension tuning, a marginal increase in power, and the distinctive quad-stacked exhaust tips – all delivered at the same price point as the 707. Rather than a mere upgrade, it represents a refined preference for those seeking the absolute sharpest edge in Aston’s Super SUV offering.
On paper, the performance metrics are remarkably aligned. Both vehicles achieve a blistering 0-60 mph sprint in a mere 3.3 seconds and boast a top speed of 193 mph. Their all-wheel-drive systems, though fundamentally different in their execution, provide immense grip. Intriguingly, their kerb weights are virtually identical. The standard DBX tips the scales 45kg heavier than the Ferrari, but with the inclusion of lightweight options such as 23-inch magnesium wheels and a carbon fiber roof, the Aston Martin actually sheds 2kg, weighing in at a remarkable 2kg less than the Purosangue. Therefore, when considering the raw speed for your high-performance vehicle investment, the specifications suggest parity. However, as seasoned enthusiasts know, mere numbers rarely tell the full story of a car’s character and its true capabilities.
To truly unravel their distinct personalities, we embarked on an extensive road trip. Covering several hundred miles across varied terrains – from sweeping A-roads and challenging B-roads to utilitarian motorways and confined urban car parks – we subjected them to the rigors of daily life. We loaded them with excessive luggage, accommodated multiple passengers, and critically assessed their usability, long-term comfort, the sophistication of their infotainment systems, and, inevitably, their fuel economy.
While straying from purely objective consumer reporting, the Aston Martin DBX S unequivocally demonstrates superior practicality. It offers seating for five occupants, a stark contrast to the Ferrari’s four. Its boot space is substantially larger, boasting a 632-liter capacity compared to the Purosangue’s 473 liters, and the cargo area remains more accommodating when the rear seats are folded flat. Furthermore, the Aston Martin exhibits better fuel efficiency, achieving close to 23 mpg on the motorway, whereas the Ferrari mustered only around 18 mpg. Both vehicles, however, saw their fuel gauges plummet into the low single digits when pushed to their limits. It felt as though the premium unleaded was being transmuted directly into audible drama and kinetic energy with the slightest flex of the accelerator pedal.
For everyday driving, the Aston Martin offers a more pliant and comfortable experience. Its GT mode delivers a sensation akin to gliding in an armchair, prioritizing occupant comfort. While the Ferrari’s damping system is nothing short of superlative – a topic we’ll revisit – it generally presents a more athletic and immediate response to virtually every input. If the Ferrari Purosangue is an agile, high-energy Border Collie, the Aston Martin DBX S is undoubtedly its powerful, brawny Rottweiler counterpart – the former characterized by its nimble energy, the latter by its imposing strength.
Our ultimate objective, however, was to push both these exceptional vehicles beyond their comfort zones. And let’s be candid, the true ‘comfort zone’ for these machines is likely more aligned with polished urban boulevards than the rugged, unforgiving terrain of the UK’s Lake District, particularly on England’s steepest and most demanding public road. The Hardknott Pass, near Ambleside, is a testament to automotive challenge. Warning signs at its base signal the severity of what lies ahead: potholes capable of swallowing smaller vehicles whole, hairpin bends with gradients that would pop your ears, and road widths so narrow they barely accommodate these Super SUVs. If they can conquer this formidable pass, they can surely navigate any urban thoroughfare with aplomb.
The Ferrari Purosangue demonstrates an astonishing aptitude for managing adverse conditions. Its damping system, featuring Multimatic spool valves – essentially miniature, electrically controlled gearboxes within the dampers – offers unparalleled precision. These valves effectively render traditional anti-roll bars obsolete, providing an enormous variability between plush comfort and track-focused rigidity. This technological marvel allows for an exceptional degree of wheel control, ensuring tires remain firmly planted regardless of surface imperfections. Within the Purosangue, drivers can meticulously tailor these systems to suit the prevailing conditions. A subtle rotation of the manettino dial, just shy of the ‘all off’ setting, allows for a forward click to re-engage a softer damping profile. This enables the driver to retain the sharp throttle response and direct steering inputs while the suspension gracefully absorbs cambers and undulations, rather than being violently unsettled by them.
It is precisely in these challenging scenarios that the Purosangue’s dynamic and responsive nature truly shines. It eschews the typical SUV demeanor, presenting a decidedly rear-biased driving experience, with the front axle engaging only under significantly slippery conditions. The steering is nothing short of immaculate for a vehicle of its size, allowing it to carve through even the tightest bends with a dexterity that belies its considerable dimensions. Its eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox shifts with the lightning-fast precision characteristic of the Ferrari 296.
And then there is the sheer sonic drama. This is a 6.5-liter V12 engine, shoehorned into an all-road chassis, performing at its absolute best. This isn’t an off-roader in the conventional sense, but its capability on rough UK B-roads far surpasses that of a traditional sports car. Its abundant low-end torque, delivering a formidable 528 lb-ft, ensures effortless propulsion. The V12’s intoxicating wail reverberates off the surrounding hillsides, a glorious symphony that seems almost to provoke the landscape itself. However, the Ferrari is an intensely engaging machine. It is undeniably joyful and exhilarating, but sustained spirited driving can be demanding. On smoother A-roads, however, it is in its element, capable of challenging even dedicated low-slung sports cars as it races towards its exhilarating 8,250rpm redline.
The Hardknott and adjoining Wrynose Pass are anything but smooth A-roads. They are angry, forgotten tracts of tarmac, more akin to rugged trails than established routes. Space is at a premium, with large, jagged rocks encroaching on the verges mere inches from the road’s edge. To momentarily avert one’s gaze from the breathtaking, albeit intimidating, scenery would be a reckless act. Driving these roads isn’t so much about enjoyment as it is a visceral, teeth-clenching, breath-holding challenge.
One might assume that such treacherous conditions would be the ultimate undoing of a vehicle as substantial and powerful as the DBX S. Its width, its height, its sheer presence seem ill-suited to such claustrophobic confines. Yet, what we witnessed was nothing short of a revelation. The DBX S transcends the standard DBX 707’s brutish sledgehammer approach, offering a more nuanced and exhilarating experience. While the leisurely commuting comfort can be dialed back with judicious use of buttons, reconfiguring the suspension for optimal road engagement, the transformation is remarkable.
The steering boasts a four percent increase in reactivity compared to the standard model, a seemingly small figure that, when combined with more aggressive air spring settings and active ride control, imbues this large vehicle with an unexpected degree of body control. It doesn’t possess the razor-sharp, insect-like reflexes of the Ferrari, but it exhibits a fluid and communicative connection to the road. This subtle suspension movement allows the driver to explore the limits of grip with confidence, delivering stable, predictable reactions from front to rear.
The steering, too, is remarkably precise. Like the Purosangue, the extremities of the Aston Martin can be challenging to gauge, but its placement on the road can be meticulously controlled through its advanced systems. The all-wheel-drive system actively manages traction, smoothly compensating for changes in grip as cornering forces fluctuate. Propelling this considerable mass forward is the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, delivering its power with a guttural surge that perfectly complements the car’s imposing aesthetic. It produces a deep, resonant bass note that resonates through your chest, seamlessly shifting through its nine-speed automatic transmission with unrestrained enthusiasm.
The S model incorporates turbochargers derived from the Valhalla supercar, which enhance the surge of power at higher rev ranges. However, a key differentiator lies in its superior low-end torque compared to the Purosangue, a palpable advantage. While both vehicles excel on more expansive roads where their immense straight-line speed can be fully unleashed, the DBX S remarkably belies its physical dimensions with impressive agility. The only minor critique concerns the throttle response, which can feel slightly lethargic when the turbos are not actively boosting. This is largely inconsequential on typical roads but becomes more noticeable when navigating tight, demanding tracks, exacerbating any perceived delay.
Paradoxically, our initial assumption was that neither of these vehicles would truly excel in such demanding environments. Their size, power, and sheer presence seemed antithetical to the constricted nature of these challenging roads. However, both performed exceptionally. They have evolved beyond being mere SUV cousins to supercar lineages, emerging as fully realized, potent entities. And yet, they remain profoundly, and brilliantly, different. While their specifications might occupy similar cells on a spreadsheet, their characters inhabit entirely separate dimensions.
This brings us to the crucial question: which reigns supreme? A scorecard draw is a disservice to the distinct philosophies embodied by these machines. Our quest was for the ultimate best super SUV – a vehicle that marries practicality and utility with the performance and prestige synonymous with the supercar moniker. Both contenders undeniably deliver on prestige and performance, albeit through vastly different approaches. I am genuinely convinced that on a mixed driving route, neither vehicle would be significantly outpaced by the other.
The interiors of both are equally luxurious. The Ferrari, however, still clings to a perplexing array of non-essential haptic controls, while the Aston Martin’s CarPlay Ultra occasionally suffers from connectivity issues. Nevertheless, the Purosangue cannot match the DBX S’s inherent practicality – a paramount consideration for any SUV. Then there is the matter of price. The Aston Martin DBX S starts at a base price of £210,000, with our specific test car, as optioned, retailing for £255,390. The Ferrari Purosangue commences at a substantial £313,120, with the pictured example commanding an astonishing £487,548 – a staggering £175,000 attributed to optional extras. While press cars are invariably adorned with numerous enhancements, the sheer ability to spend such a colossal sum on additional features suggests an aggressive, albeit sophisticated, profit-maximizing strategy by Ferrari. While not the sole deciding factor, it is certainly a noteworthy consideration.
Ultimately, a verdict must be rendered. The Ferrari Purosangue stands as a truly unique proposition. Ferrari has long engaged in a strategic public relations effort to distance itself from the ‘SUV’ label, and in this instance, their stance is largely justifiable. Its engine is unequivocally a supercar powerplant, its roofline is elegantly low, and its practicality, while present, is decidedly constrained. It operates within a considerably narrower performance envelope than the Aston Martin. While it operates brilliantly within that defined window, it remains, by its very nature, something distinct.
The Aston Martin DBX S, conversely, embodies a more archetypal Super SUV. With subtle yet impactful adjustments, the ‘S’ variant injects a visceral edge that the more generalized 707 model, while immensely capable, lacked. It is at once feral, sonorous, and brutally powerful, yet possesses an astonishing degree of precision and, crucially, is perfectly practical. And it achieves this for approximately 50% of the Ferrari’s price point. For these compelling reasons, the Aston Martin DBX S emerges as the victor in this rigorous comparison. It is not necessarily a better car in an absolute sense than the Ferrari Purosangue, but it is unequivocally the better super SUV.
The world of high-performance automotive engineering is constantly evolving, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. If you’re intrigued by the pinnacle of Super SUV technology and luxury, and wish to explore how these exceptional machines can elevate your driving experience, we invite you to connect with our team of specialists. Discover the perfect blend of power, practicality, and unparalleled prestige to suit your individual needs and desires.
