Compare the2024 BMW 8 SeriesVS 2024 Aston Martin DB12

The 8 Series’ pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The DB12 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The 8 Series has standard City Collision Mitigation, 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 DB12 doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

The 8 Series has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The DB12 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The 8 Series offers an optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The DB12 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The 8 Series offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The DB12 doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The 8 Series has standard BMW Assist, 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 DB12 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 8 Series and the DB12 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The 8 Series comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The DB12’s 3-year basic warranty expires 1 year sooner.

The 8 Series’ corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the DB12’s (12 vs. 10 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 8 Series for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Aston Martin doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the DB12.

There are almost 10 times as many BMW dealers as there are Aston Martin dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 8 Series’ warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 8 Series first among large premium cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The DB12 isn’t in the top three in its category.

On the EPA test cycle the 8 Series Coupe gets better mileage than the DB12:

On the EPA test cycle the 8 Series Convertible gets better mileage than the DB12:

Regenerative brakes improve the 8 Series’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The DB12 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

All wheel drive, available in the 8 Series, 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 DB12 is not available with all wheel drive.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 8 Series can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The DB12 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The 8 Series M850i has 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 DB12 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The M850i offers an available active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Aston Martin doesn’t offer an active suspension on the DB12.

For better maneuverability, the 8 Series’ turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the DB12’s (38.2 feet vs. 40.7 feet). The 8 Series xDrive’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the DB12’s (39 feet vs. 40.7 feet).

The front grille of the 8 Series uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The DB12 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the 8 Series Coupe a Subcompact car, while the DB12 is rated a Minicompact.

The 8 Series has 9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the DB12 (81 vs. 72).

The 8 Series Coupe has .3 inches more front headroom and 2.9 inches more front shoulder room than the DB12 Coupe.

The 8 Series Coupe has a much larger trunk than the DB12 Coupe (14.8 vs. 9.3 cubic feet).

The 8 Series’ standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The DB12 doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

With its coupe body style, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 8 Series offers cargo security. The DB12’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the 8 Series. The DB12 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the 8 Series has a standard power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The DB12 doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

The 8 Series has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The DB12 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The 8 Series has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The DB12 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The 8 Series’ power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The DB12’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The 8 Series’ sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The DB12’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

The 8 Series’ 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 DB12 has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The 8 Series has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the DB12.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the 8 Series has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The DB12 doesn’t offer rear vents.

The 8 Series’ optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The DB12’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The BMW 8 Series comes in coupe, convertible and sedan body styles; the Aston Martin DB12 isn’t available as a sedan.