Aston Martin DBX vs Kia Stonic
What's the difference?

Aston Martin DBX

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2022 price

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Kia Stonic

$28,180 - $36,040

2026 price

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Land Rover Discovery Sport

Mercedes-Benz EQ-Class

Mercedes-Benz Eqe53

Mercedes-Benz Eqs450

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Mercedes-Benz G580

Mercedes-Benz G63

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLE400

Mercedes-Benz GLE450

Mercedes-Benz GLS

Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

Mercedes-Benz Gls450

Mercedes-Benz Gls600

Mini Countryman

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Summary

2022 Aston Martin DBX

2026 Kia Stonic

By Laura Berry

By Andrew Chesterton

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Twin Turbo V8, 4.0L

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Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

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Fuel Efficiency

12.4L/100km (combined)

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Seating

Likes

Stunning exterior syling
V8 engine is magnificent
Practical and spacious

Nice ride and handling balance
Frugal fuel use
Spacious backseat

Dislikes

Busy, cluttered interior
Not as good to drive as the Lambo Urus
Shifting buttons almost out of reach

Sparse cabin trimmings
Little engine can feel wheezy
Feels old in places

2022 Aston Martin DBX Summary

The world was ready for an Aston Martin SUV. Yes, by the time the Aston Martin DBX debuted Bentley had given birth to the Bentayga, Lamborghini had sired the Urus and even Rolls Royce had realised its Cullinan.

Still, the arrival of another ‘super SUV’ is always a bit exciting. Would it be a true Aston Martin, how would it compare to its rivals and is it even a good SUV?

Well, that's what I wanted to know about Aston Martin's DBX anyway, and I found out, along with everything else you should know: from its performance to practicality in this review.

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2026 Kia Stonic Summary

This might be Kia's best defence yet against the wave of cheap Chinese SUVs currently crashing against our shores.

It's the Kia Stonic, and this update brings mild hybrid technology, which lowers your fuel bill while upping your power. There's also some new tech stuff and some new safety stuff, as well as a refreshed front-end look.

Critically, though, it's not actually new. The Stonic launched globally back in 2017, before an updated version arrived in Australia around 2021. This is yet another update, albeit a significant one, which means the Stonic has been given dual-cab ute levels of longevity in the market.

All of that should be helping Kia to keep the pencil sharp, with the new range kicking off at $28,180, plus on-road costs.

Not quite China cheap, but not too far off it.

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Deep dive comparison

2022 Aston Martin DBX 2026 Kia Stonic

Verdict

As with all Aston Martins the DBX is a seriously beautiful car with that high-end exotic but restrained exterior styling for which the brand is known. As with all Astons, too, the busy interior design may put some minimalism fans off and those high-placed shifting buttons pose a functionality problem.

As an SUV the DBX is spacious and practical. You could use this daily as a family car. I did and found it easy to adapt to.

The driving experience left me disappointed. I didn’t feel the same close connection with the DBX while driving that I have had with other super SUVs, such as the Lamborghini Urus and more affordable models offered by Porsche and Mercedes-AMG.

But then, you see those other cars everywhere, unlike the DBX which is a rare and beautiful creature, despite the flaws.

Verdict

Unlike a lot of rivals in this segment, the Stonic's actually quite a bit of fun to drive, and that alone earns it a tick from me.

Yes, it can feel underpowered in places, especially when you're trying to do high-speed overtakes or if you're on a really engaging road and on and off the accelerator. But just cruising around, the little powertrain gives you plenty to get around the city.

And I guess that is the point. This does feel like a very city-friendly vehicle, even if it is undeniably showing its age in places.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer with meals provided.

Note: The author, Andrew Chesterton, is a co-owner of Smart As Media, a content agency and media distribution service with a number automotive brands among its clients. When producing content for CarsGuide, he does so in accordance with the CarsGuide Editorial Guidelines and Code of Ethics (https://www.carsguide.com.au/ethics), and the views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

Aston Martin DBX vs Kia Stonic What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Aston Martin DBX vs Kia Stonic
What's the difference?