Aston Martin Rapide S: What the critics say

Jalopnik.com

Three-plus years after its unveiling, the Rapide remains “the most beautiful four-door sedan you can buy.” Having failed so far to win the sales it deserves, it’s returned already from a fast-tracked refresh sporting a new grille that answers a safety-compliance worry and barely troubles the car’s “roughly perfect” silhouette. Besides the “S” added to its name, two other changes merit mention: Ride quality is “considerably improved,” and the tweaked 12-valve engine now churns out 550 horsepower.

Motor Trend

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“Those 550 horses make the Rapide S righteously quick,” and handling continues to be a huge asset: “There’s an elegance to the way that the Rapide S turns in that simply isn’t present in most other large, fast four-door cars.” Sure, the six-speed transmission rates as “just average” for this price level and the navigation system is subpar, but don’t sweat such details. With its toothy new kisser, this “utterly beautiful” car has only gotten sexier.

Road & Track

But not more practical. Once again, the only passengers who’ll fit comfortably in the Rapide’s luxe but notoriously snug back seats will be young children. At the end of the day, though, anyone who buys an Aston Martin does so to feel like James Bond. “This is the only car in the world that can give you that feeling even while taking the kids to soccer practice.”