Car Statistics: Aston Martin - DB9 Series 04 (3 stars)

Styling (4 stars)

Still a handsome car and every inch an Aston - more elegant than the Vantage, and loses little to the pricier DBS.

Handling (4 stars)

Massive grip and safe on-the-limit manners, though more GT than supercar. Bumpy roads sometimes trouble its poise despite new-for-2011 adaptive dampers.

Comfort (3 stars)

Sumptuous cabin still appeals and it's comfortable for two. Ride sometimes choppy, while background road and wind roar make high-speed cruising a little noisy in the coupe. Body shake spoils the Volante roadster.

Quality (3 stars)

Well constructed, but cabin detailing betrays the DB9's age. Early buyers reported lots of irritating faults.

Performance (4 stars)

Lacks the electrifying, instant pace of some rivals, even if 190mph is more than enough for most. But the V12 has muscle and a brilliant soundtrack to go with it.

Roominess (3 stars)

Front seat occupants enjoy decent space for a car in this class, and the driving position is very adjustable. Rear seats no good for anything more than squashy bags.

Costs (1 star)

A V12, pricey servicing and steepish depreciation promise some financial pain.

Value (3 stars)

Value looking better as Ferrari prices rise, and it's more sensibly priced than the DBS too.

Stereo (2 stars)

Optional Bang and Olufsen audio system sounds great, but the sat nav belongs to last century