Performance
Aston's venerable 6.0-litre V12 has been tuned for effortless performance rather than raw power in the Rapide, and it's mated to a rear-mounted six-speed automatic gearbox. It's an ideal combination for a four-seater GT, which is what the Rapide really is, making for fast, effortless travel.Ride & Handling
Some Astons can be physical things to drive, but not the Rapide, and for a car that's more than five metres long it feels nimble and compact when you're driving. Thanks to the adaptive suspension system it also provides an outstandingly supple ride over poor road surfaces – even with 20-inch wheels.Refinement
There's some road noise on grainy surfaces, but otherwise you have to be travelling very fast to create much of a disturbance – and the sound of its V12 isn't going to annoy many owners. Laminated glass helps keep wind noise at bay at motorway speeds, even though the side windows are frameless at the top and where they meet.Behind The Wheel
The Rapide is a big car that seems to shrink when you get it out on the road. If you've owned an Aston before it will all seem familiar, but even if you haven't it's all pretty intuitive. The centre console is like the Great Wall of China, so the driving position is snug, but there's an electronic parking brake to make life easier – a first for Aston – and the seats suit the GT character of the car.Space & Practicality
Yes, four people can travel comfortably – even four six-footers at a pinch. The difficult part is getting in and out with any degree of elegance. All the doors open to an angle of 74 degrees, but there's a high, wide sill to negotiate. The boot isn't flat, but it passes the golf clubs test and has a divider to help secure luggage. You can even fold down the rear seats.Equipment
Cooled seats and a rear entertainment system are options, and you can specify just about any colour of paint and trim you like. The rest is standard, right down to a Bang & Olufsen hi-fi system with MP3-player connectivity, front and rear climate control, and heated seatsBuying & Owning
Aston has priced the Rapide against the Bentley Continental GT rather than, as expected, the Porsche Panamera, so you're looking at a price that's well into six figures. You do get a lot for it, though. What will be interesting, considering this is the first four-door Aston, is how well it holds its value.Quality & Reliability
The Rapide's cabin is enticing the instant you open the door, with lovely materials stylishly used. Aston is even phasing out the Ford switches bit-by-bit, although one or two still remain. Reader reviews on our website of other Astons suggest that reliability troubles aren't entirely things of the past, even though things are improving.Safety & Security
The Rapide is built around an extensively revised version of the aluminium, magnesium and composites architecture used in the DB9 and Vantage models. The changes are mainly to improve crashworthiness. Naturally, you get all the safety features you'd expect in an expensive and rapid sporting GT.
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