Compare the2023 Porsche 911VS 2023 Aston Martin DBS

The 911 (except GT3) has standard Warn and Brake Assist, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The DBS doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

The 911 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The DBS doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the 911 helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The DBS doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The 911’s optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The DBS doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the 911’s optional rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The DBS doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The 911 has standard Porsche Connect, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The DBS doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the 911 and the DBS have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

The 911 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The DBS’ 3-year basic warranty expires 1 year sooner.

The 911’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the DBS’ (12 vs. 10 years).

There are almost 6 times as many Porsche dealers as there are Aston Martin dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 911’s warranty.

As tested in Motor Trend the Porsche 911 is faster than the Aston Martin DBS (automatics tested):

As tested in Motor Trend the 911 GT3 4.0 DOHC 6-cylinder is faster than the Aston Martin DBS (base engine) (automatics tested):

As tested in Motor Trend the 911 GT3 4.0 DOHC 6-cylinder is faster than the Aston Martin DBS 5.2 (automatics tested):

In a Motor Trend race course test, the Porsche 911 S Coupe was clocked 2.75 seconds faster than the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Coupe (95.52 sec. vs. 98.27 sec.).

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the 911 lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability. The DBS doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the 911 Coupe gets better mileage than the DBS:

On the EPA test cycle the 911 Cabriolet gets better mileage than the DBS:

The 911’s optional fuel tank has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the DBS (23.7 vs. 21.1 gallons).

The 911 offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and fuel economy. The DBS doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The 911 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The DBS doesn’t offer an SMG.

All wheel drive, available in the 911, provides the best traction for acceleration in wet, dry, and icy conditions. In corners, all wheel drive allows both outside wheels to provide power, balancing the car. This allows for better handling. The Aston Martin DBS is not available with all wheel drive.

The 911’s optional launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The DBS doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the 911 Turbo S/Sport Classic’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the DBS:

The 911 stops much shorter than the DBS:

The 911 (except Base/GT3) offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The DBS doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The 911 GT3 handles at 1.15 G’s, while the DBS Superleggera Coupe pulls only 1.02 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The 911 GT3 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the DBS Superleggera Coupe (22.3 seconds @ .95 average G’s vs. 23.6 seconds @ .89 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the 911 GT3’s turning circle is 6.6 feet tighter than the DBS’ (34.1 feet vs. 40.7 feet). The 911’s turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the DBS’ (36.8 feet vs. 40.7 feet).

The Porsche 911 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 950 pounds less than the Aston Martin DBS.

The 911 is 7.6 inches shorter than the DBS, making the 911 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the 911 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The DBS doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The 911 Cabriolet has a much larger trunk with its top up than the DBS Volante with its top up (10.4 vs. 9.2 cubic feet).

The 911’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The DBS doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the 911. The DBS doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the 911 (except Cabriolet/GT3) offers an optional rear wiper. The DBS doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the 911 detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The DBS doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

The 911’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The DBS’ visors are fixed into the windshield header.

The 911’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The DBS has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the 911 (except Manual) offers an optional Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The DBS doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The 911 (except Manual/GT3)’s optional Active Parking Support can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote ParkAssist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The DBS’ automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its December 2019 issue and they ranked the Porsche 911 S Coupe first. They ranked the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Coupe seventh.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 911 first among premium sporty cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The DBS isn’t in the top three.

The Porsche 911 outsold the Aston Martin DBS by almost 56 to one during 2022.