Thanks to our very close dealer associate, we recently had the chance to spend time with something quite special—the 2024 Aston Martin DBX 707, arguably the boldest SUV on South Africa’s roads right now. We were handed the keys to this beast for a few days of proper Joburg testing, and let’s just say, we weren’t disappointed. Whether we were weaving through Sandton traffic or opening it up on the N14 towards the Cradle, the DBX 707 proved to be more than just a pretty face with a luxurious badge.

Aston Martin calls this the most powerful luxury SUV in the world, and they’re not bluffing. Beneath its sculpted bonnet sits a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, tuned to deliver a colossal 520 kW and 900 Nm of torque. Those figures don’t just sit there looking impressive—they translate into real-world performance that’s hard to wrap your head around. The DBX 707 charges from 0 to 100 km/h in a staggering 3.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 310 km/h. That’s sports car territory, wrapped up in SUV practicality. And we felt every bit of that power when merging onto highways or darting out of tight suburban intersections with almost absurd ease.

Joburg’s roads don’t always make life easy for luxury cars, but the DBX 707 was unfazed. Its adaptive triple-chamber air suspension ironed out the city’s usual bumps, potholes and unpredictable paving. The ride feels firm yet forgiving, sharp when it needs to be, and always reassuring. When we pushed it a little on a stretch past Lanseria, the precision in the steering gave us the kind of confidence usually reserved for grand tourers, not tall, all-wheel-drive SUVs. There’s a sense that everything is tightly engineered—no float, no lag—just consistent, capable road manners.

Inside, the DBX 707 doesn’t scream for attention. Instead, it offers the kind of understated elegance we appreciate on longer drives. The cabin is a plush sanctuary of hand-stitched leather, satin carbon fibre, and polished metals. Every surface feels considered, and every detail feels like it was created for people who notice things. We appreciated how intuitive the controls were—something often overlooked in high-end vehicles that tend to lean too heavily into overdesigned touchscreens. The DBX still respects tactile buttons and proper switches, which means less fiddling and more driving.

As food lovers, we always like to test a car’s comfort and practicality by taking it out for a proper day trip. We made our way to The Northcliff for a sunset cocktail, and then down to Marble in Rosebank for dinner—two venues that match the DBX 707’s style, if not its power. Pulling up at Marble, valet attendants looked genuinely impressed, and we can’t say we blamed them. The DBX 707 has presence—unmistakable, magnetic, and utterly commanding without being shouty. It doesn’t try too hard, and that’s precisely what makes it so desirable.

Boot space was more than generous, even with a wine box from Gerakaris Family Wines tucked in beside our weekender bag. You can easily imagine using the DBX for a spontaneous escape to the Cape Winelands, or a long meander to the Midlands with no compromise on luggage, legroom or luxury. Rear passengers don’t get short-changed either—there’s plenty of space, plenty of air, and the ride remains superb no matter where you sit.

As we wound through the leafy bends of Houghton and cruised down Oxford Road, we kept returning to the same question: who exactly is the DBX 707 for? It’s for someone who wants the athleticism of a supercar with the daily comfort of a premium SUV. Someone who values elegance over ostentation, and precision over gimmicks. It’s not trying to be the loudest in the room, but it is certainly one of the most capable. And in a city like Joburg—where altitude, heat, traffic, and terrain can all change within minutes—that balance becomes everything.

What really left an impression was how seamlessly the DBX 707 can shift character. One moment, it’s a quiet, poised companion for city errands and boutique grocery runs. The next, it’s launching itself forward with the kind of ferocity that would humble many a sports coupe. We won’t pretend it’s not an indulgence—it absolutely is. But it’s the kind that’s backed by engineering brilliance, design integrity, and the sort of versatility that actually makes it usable every day.

Driving the 2024 Aston Martin DBX 707 in Johannesburg was a reminder of what real luxury feels like when it’s done without compromise. It’s fast, it’s refined, and above all, it’s genuinely thrilling. Whether you’re a petrolhead, a design aficionado, or simply someone who believes that life’s pleasures are meant to be savoured—this SUV makes a compelling case for itself, kilometre after kilometre.