Aston Martin Vantage Facelift Review: Fulfilling A Young Man’s Fantasies

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The facelifted Aston Martin Vantage does what a supercar should: make the people within it feel totally and utterly special.

So a little while ago, Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur had rather graciously extended an invitation to Automacha for a quick spin in their newly facelifted Vantage. And given that you are reading these words here, it should be in no doubt that this writer jumped at this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity faster than how fast this supercar could actually go down the road!

Now unfortunately however, given that this writer had only an hour to spend with the Vantage, this review here will not be the most detailed look into this particular Aston Martin… But come now, who actually wants to read consumer advice when it comes to buying this car.

Those who can afford it, after all, certainly won’t need the advice. And to those who can’t afford it, well…

So here instead then is pretty much just a written expression of youthful joy, from this writer having the opportunity of a lifetime to drive his first-ever supercar!

And really, the joy actually already starts well before even getting to drive it. Such is because just looking at it in the metal as it sits there glistening in its Lunar White paint was already more than a treat for the eyes…

While this writer does harbour his own personal opinion that this latest facelift has given the Vantage a somewhat bug-eyed face, he does nevertheless still wholeheartedly admit that this Aston Martin still oozes pure sex appeal. From that long and low bonnet to those immensely shapely hips, this supercar’s sleek silhouette just effortlessly projects the cool Britannia vibe that only an Aston Martin can provide.

On a personal side note here too, this writer totally felt wholly underdressed when getting into the Vantage while wearing just a T-shirt and a pair of jeans. It does, after all, feel like a car that warrants a suave suit… and preferably on a person that also looks infinitely more dashing than this scrawny Asian kid of a writer.

And while conveniently on the subject of stepping into the Vantage, those who have the privilege to do so might find the cabin somewhat more conventional than the exterior’s dramatic statement. Though while it may lack the initial wow factor of its sculpted bodywork, this Aston’s cabin nevertheless is still oh so sumptuously appointed with quality materials throughout, and features too all the modern tech (and ergonomics) that one might desire in their modern supercar.

Both the fully digital driver’s display and central infotainment screen are crisp to the eye, with the latter also being rather responsive to the touch as well. Also, in speaking of touches, there are mercifully a bunch of physical knobs and switches on the centre console that its occupants can easily use to adjust most of the major vehicle controls.

Now finally moving onto the main event of the day, pressing the start button (that is proud of the centre console for that added sense of occasion) instantly awakens the AMG-sourced twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8. And just indulging in this writer’s pleasure for a second here, the loudness of that burble is to be rivalled only by the width of his grin as that beast under the bonnet initially roars into life.

Returning to provide some semi-professional journalistic impressions on the other hand and discussing how it drives, give this Vantage even a small squirt on an empty stretch of highway and it will undoubtedly fly down it faster than anything else around. It should go without saying too that this Aston Martin handles beautifully, with steering so well weighted and quick to respond that it this somewhat sizeable supercar (the Vantage is actually longer and wider than a Honda HR-V, but of course much lower) as agile and manoeuvrable as something half its actual size.

Though if being entirely candid here… even as this facelift has added even more power and torque to the whole Vantage package (for a total of 665 PS and 800 Nm of torque), this writer does unfortunately have to admit that the oft-hallowed supercar surge when the pedal is put to the metal was not all that impressive anymore. This is especially after having driven some EVs in recent time, which pretty much has rewritten the rulebook on how violently explosive a motor vehicle can shoot off into the sunset.

But then again, all these silent EVs do not make the almighty visceral howl that this Aston Martin bellows at full chat. And honestly, there are few greater petrolhead pleasures than experiencing this honest-to-goodness baritone V8 burble.

What’s more is that nothing really beats sitting with one’s arse six inches off the ground for feeling special in an automobile, not to mention too when there is an Aston Martin badge staring back at you from the steering wheel. And really, the overall takeaway this writer had from his short drive in this Vantage is just how special he felt when behind the wheel of a supercar.

While there are now faster cars for a lot less money, not to mention also a raft of more practical and premium cars that the dear millionaire can choose from, supercars like this Vantage however are still capable of justifying their frankly exorbitant price tag because of how they make anyone who gets in feel like they’re just born/built different from the rest. It just so happens too that Aston Martins in particular further offer that special feeling with a healthy dose of cool Britannia, or if we’re being honest, Bond, which in an emotionally charged purchase could pretty much tilt the odds in its favour over its contemporary competition.