It’s official: SUVs and crossovers are here to stay, and everyone is getting in on the act. Thus, Aston Martin throws its hat into the ring with the 2021 DBX crossover.

While it may sit high up and wear a two-box shape, the DBX is instantly recognizable as an Aston Martin. The giant grille, large wheels, muscular haunches, and arching roofline combine for an athletic, powerful look to rival competitors like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and Lamborghini Urus. The duckbill lower spoiler at the rear is an Aston Martin exclusive and echoes the automaker’s other cars, past and present. Meanwhile, the interior is a stylish and serene place to be, especially in lighter shades. And, lest you think the DBX is an impractical toy, it boasts 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats and a maximum of 54 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats down.

Under the hood of every DBX is a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with start-stop and cylinder deactivation that makes 542 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. The only transmission is a nine-speed automatic, which pairs with all-wheel drive (AWD), an active center differential, and an electronic rear limited-slip differential. While Aston Martin worked to keep the weight off, the DBX is inevitably much heavier than most sports cars, so to keep everything in line, there are an advanced air suspension setup and a 48-volt electric anti-roll system. All of this contributes to a zero to 60 mph time of 4.3 seconds and a maximum speed of 181 mph. Better still, the DBX boasts a 5,940-pound towing capacity.

Befitting a car at this price range, the DBX comes with standard features aplenty, including LED lights, 22-inch wheels, keyless access and start, a 10.25-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3-inch LCD instrument cluster, a 64-color ambient lighting system, full-grain leather upholstery, four-zone automatic climate control, heated and cooled seats, and a panoramic sunroof. From there, Aston Martin offers a bevy of color, trim, and appearance packages and the services of its custom works house for bespoke orders.

Safety-wise, the DBX comes standard with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic warning, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, traffic sign recognition, and door exit warning. Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released crash-testing data on the DBX, but that’s not abnormal for such a high-end vehicle.

The Aston Martin DBX is an exciting new type of car for the brand and is absolutely worthy of the storied winged badge.