TEST DRIVE: Aston Martin Vantage Roadster

Sports car buyers choosing between coupe and convertible models almost always have to compromise. If you choose a coupe you give up being able to have the wind in your hair and the sky over your head, but if you choose a convertible you usually give up some performance due to added weight and reduced chassis stiffness.

With the new Vantage Roadster, Aston Martin closes the performance gap between coupe and convertible models.

The Vantage is Aston Martin’s most popular car model, positioned below the DB12 and Vanquish in the lineup. It’s also the model that they race, with Vantage GT4 and GT3-spec models racing around the world.

The standard Vantage model comes in both Coupe and Roadster configurations, as do the Vantage S models, which have the same engine as the standard Vantage but are more performance oriented and track focused.

Aston Martin’s have always been beautiful to look at, and the new Vantage is no exception. It has a nearly perfect blend of gracefulness and aggression, with beautiful lines and proportions.

From my viewpoint, it’s hard to find fault anywhere in this cars design. If I had to nitpick, I’d say the rear is a little too busy with all the different lines and angles around the rear valence. I’m also not sure I would choose the yellow trim on our test car, but others liked it.

Convertible models often look a little awkward with the top up, but the fabric top on the Vantage Roadster doesn’t detract from its attractiveness.

If you compare the two side by side, you could even make the argument that the Roadster is better looking than the Coupe with the top up, and it looks even more fetching with the top down. Aston Martin says the Vantage Roadster has the quickest operating top on the market, opening or closing in 6.8 seconds at speeds up to 31 mph.

Inside the cockpit, the Vantage Roadster has the typical leather and carbon fiber trim that is common in an expensive sports or GT car, but there’s nothing about the interior that really stands out.

Aston Martin really needs to work on making the fonts on their electronic display behind the steering wheel larger. As it is, the text is difficult to see and there’s too much glare on the glass.

The tachometer needs to be larger, especially when you’re in a sportier driving mode and are using the paddles for shifting. The charging tray for your phone is also difficult to get at.

On the plus side, I like that Aston Martin kept some analog buttons and dials for controls, rather than putting everything in the screen interface. The seats are also supportive and comfortable.

Under the hood of all Vantage models is a 4.0-liter Twin Turbo V8 that’s sourced from Mercedes-AMG. In the standard Vantage models, it produces 656 hp and 590 lb.-ft. of torque, increases of 30 percent and 15 percent, respectively, over the previous Vantage model.

If you opt for a Vantage S model, horsepower increases to 671 hp, though the top speed difference is only a few tenths of a second.

The Roadster is plenty quick in standard form, hitting 60mph in 3.5 seconds, just a tenth of a second behind the Coupe.

The Roadster also has the same 202 mph top speed as the Coupe, though you probably wouldn’t want to do that with the top down.

An electronic rear differential and Dynamic Torque Vectoring help to manage that power, along with big brakes to rein it in. There are also five driving modes to tailor your driving experience.

The true nature of the Vantage Roadster reveals itself on twisty back roads rather than the more sedate drives that are often more associated with convertibles.

The Roadster feels more like a sports car than a GT or convertible, with responsive reflexes and playful handling.

There’s a lot of grip from the front end with good steering feel, and you can get the rear end to dance around a bit with the right throttle application at the right time, though the traction control keeps everything under control.

The engine feels strong and charismatic, with good power on tap at nearly any engine speed after an initial touch of turbo lag when starting off.

The transmission works well with the motor, but it was more enjoyable and involving to use the paddle shifters for shifting on dynamic roads. The brakes are also strong with good pedal feel, which on our test car were the optional carbon brakes.

The ride quality is also very well damped, even in Sport mode, with good control over bumps.

Aside from the impressive performance that is akin to the Coupe, the Vantage Roadster does show its convertible roots in some ways.

Driving at highway speeds with the top down can get pretty gusty, so it’s best to leave the top-down driving for lower speed roads where you can enjoy it more.

The trunk volume is also scant, with only 7.1 cubic feet of volume, so it may not be the best choice if you want a convertible to take on long trips.

The Vantage Roadster starts at an MSRP of $212,900 USD and if you’re generous with options you can easily top $300,000.

That price puts it in the same league as the Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet and the Ferrari Roma Spider.

The Porsche may be a safer bet, but the Aston Martin is just as much fun to drive and is on the same level as the Ferrari when it comes to exclusivity. It’s also the most attractive car of the bunch.