2026 Aston Martin Vantage

This is Aston Martin's compact grand tourer, the one that goes up against the Porsche 911 and the Mercedes-AMG GT. It's a front-engine car that loves a fast, flowing road, with steering that feels alive and a chassis that's happy to rotate. The cabin is snug but beautifully finished, with real metal and leather everywhere you look, and the hatchback body adds a bit of practicality. Expect the usual premium running costs, but the Vantage holds its value well for a low-volume sports car. More power and standard lightweight seats define the S, the step up from the base Vantage that rewards drivers who spend track days in their grand tourer. Its 4.0L V8 makes 670 horsepower and goes through an automatic transmission to rear-wheel drive, which gives it a way more urgent feel than the standard car when you're hard on the throttle. The S gets its own adaptive dampers and a louder exhaust standard, so it sounds sharper and stays flatter through corners without punishing you on the highway.