Compare the2025 BMW M8VS 2025 Aston Martin DB12

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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The M8’s 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 BMW M8 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The DB12 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The M8 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 M8 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 M8 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The DB12 doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The M8 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 M8 and the DB12 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Warranty

The M8 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 M8’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the DB12’s (12 vs. 10 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M8 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 M8’s warranty.

Engine

The M8’s 4.4 turbo V8 produces 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 513) than the DB12’s 4.0 turbo V8.

Fuel Economy and Range

Regenerative brakes improve the M8’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The DB12 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Brakes and Stopping

The M8 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The DB12 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the M8 Coupe/Convertible’s wheelbase is .9 inches longer than on the DB12 Coupe (111.3 inches vs. 110.4 inches). The M8 Gran Coupe’s wheelbase is 8.8 inches longer than on the DB12 Coupe (119.2 inches vs. 110.4 inches).

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the M8 Coupe a Subcompact car, while the DB12 is rated a Minicompact.

The M8 Gran Coupe has standard seating for 5 passengers; the DB12 can only carry 4.

The M8 Coupe has 9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the DB12 (81 vs. 72).

The M8 Coupe has .3 inches more front headroom and 2.9 inches more front shoulder room than the DB12 Coupe.

Cargo Capacity

The M8 Coupe has a much larger trunk than the DB12 Coupe (14.8 vs. 9.3 cubic feet).

The M8’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The DB12 doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

With its coupe, convertible or sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release in the glovebox, the M8 offers cargo security. The DB12’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the M8. The DB12 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the M8 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.

Ergonomics

The M8 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 M8 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 M8’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower all of them with the lock engaged. Aston Martin does not offer a locking feature on the DB12’s standard power windows.

The M8’s 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.

Laser headlights, standard on the M8, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the DB12’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

The M8’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The DB12’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the M8 Gran Coupe to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The DB12 doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The M8’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 DB12 has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the M8 and the DB12 have standard heated front seats. The M8 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the DB12.

The M8 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 M8 has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The DB12 doesn’t offer rear vents.

The BMW M8 has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Aston Martin charges extra for Homelink® on the DB12.

The M8’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The DB12’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Model Availability

The BMW M8 comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Aston Martin DB12 isn’t available as a sedan.