Aston Martin · UK buying guide
DB12 S: what the reviewers say
Independent UK verdicts highlight the engineering beneath Aston Martin’s sharper Super Tourer.
The story in brief
- UK reviews: Top Gear and evo highlight the DB12 S’s more focused driving character.
- Engineering changes: 700 PS, standard carbon-ceramic brakes and revised chassis calibration.
- Your next step: explore the current DB12 range and discuss DB12 S with Grange’s Aston Martin teams.
The verdicts
More than a power increase
The Aston Martin DB12 S is easy to recognise from its more assertive styling. The independent reviews are more interested in what has changed underneath: the way its engine, transmission, steering and chassis work together.
That is a useful distinction when you are choosing a grand tourer. A small change to a headline power figure says less about a car’s character than a reviewer’s account of how it rides, responds and settles into a long journey.
Top Gear and evo published their first drives in May 2026. Their verdicts, linked below, help put the manufacturer’s confirmed engineering changes into the context of a real drive.
Top Gear · 5 May 2026
A sharper sense of purpose
Top Gear’s Rowan Horncastle sees the S as a collection of changes, rather than a badge added to an otherwise familiar car. His review highlights quicker shifts, revised damping and steering, and the standard carbon-ceramic brakes.
The opening description is concise: “More power, more aggression, more noise, more intent”. That captures the more expressive side of the DB12 S, while the full review goes on to discuss how the chassis changes affect the driving experience.
Read Top Gear’s DB12 S first drive for the complete verdict. For your own viewing, the useful follow-up is to explore the driving-mode controls and ask how the S differs from the DB12 you may already know.
evo · 6 May 2026
Grand touring and driver engagement
In evo, Stuart Gallagher focuses on the depth of the dynamic changes. His review describes greater composure and more consistent steering, and praises the car’s ability to retain its grand-touring role while becoming more engaging.
His conclusion that it is “a far better performance car” sits alongside the discussion of its motorway manners. It is a useful reminder that the S treatment is not simply about making the car firmer or louder.
The full evo review also covers the cabin and infotainment. Read it alongside the Top Gear verdict to see the individual viewpoints; the publications’ opinions have not been combined into an invented average score.
The confirmed specification
What Aston Martin changed
Aston Martin quotes 700 PS from the DB12 S’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 and a 3.4-second 0–60 mph time. Its announcement also describes gearshift times reduced by more than 50%, alongside revised throttle and launch-control calibration.
Carbon-ceramic brakes are standard. Changes to damping, steering, rear roll stiffness and the electronic differential are designed to sharpen its response while preserving touring refinement. The stacked exhaust outlets and revised aerodynamic details make the mechanical changes visible from outside.
Use the Grange DB12 model page as your starting point, then ask our team about the exact DB12 S specification, current availability and personalisation options. A quotation should reflect the car you want, including its options, rather than a price taken from a first drive published earlier in the year.
Your questions answered
Aston Martin questions answered
Which UK reviews are included here?
This article links to Top Gear’s first drive by Rowan Horncastle, published on 5 May 2026, and evo’s review by Stuart Gallagher, published on 6 May 2026.
How much power does DB12 S have?
Aston Martin quotes 700 PS from its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. The manufacturer’s 0–60 mph figure is 3.4 seconds.
Are carbon-ceramic brakes standard on DB12 S?
Yes. Aston Martin lists carbon-ceramic brakes as standard, alongside a series of powertrain and chassis changes.
How can I recognise DB12 S?
Its styling changes include vertically stacked exhaust outlets, revised aerodynamic details and S badging. The manufacturer’s announcement explains the exterior changes.
Can I personalise DB12 S?
Aston Martin offers configuration and Q by Aston Martin personalisation. Speak to the Grange team about the current choices and your preferred specification.
Where can I discuss DB12 S with Grange?
Contact Grange Aston Martin in Birmingham, Brentwood, Edinburgh or Hatfield. The team can confirm current model availability, specifications and a suitable appointment.
Aston Martin at Grange
Explore our Aston Martin offers, then speak to Birmingham, Brentwood, Edinburgh or Hatfield about DB12 S and a specification tailored to you.
Explore DB12 S with Grange
Grange Aston Martin
Aston Martin news from Grange’s official retailers in Birmingham, Brentwood, Edinburgh and Hatfield. Contact the local team for current specifications and a personal appointment.
Sources: Aston Martin DB12 S engineering announcement; Aston Martin media-drive roundup; Top Gear first drive; evo review; DB12 at Grange.
Details checked 12 October 2026. Manufacturer imagery is illustrative; confirm your chosen vehicle’s equipment with the retailer.