DS Automobiles was one of the first manufacturers to commit to Formula E and to date they have accomplished 73 races with four titles, 14 wins and 37 podiums. You may not think it looking at a family SUV, but the DS7 is actually based on a very sophisticated electric architecture. During the development of the DSV-02, the team of engineers and technicians developed many ways to optimise the electric motor efficiency and transfer, the results of which were used in the PHEV drivetrain of the DS 7.
Special mention : Quirky French design stands out with runabout hybrid electric range. Plush interior adds to premium feel. The rear bench has a neat trick, you can move the back of the 60/40 split rear bench with a button located oddly beside the window button on the rear passenger door.
Needs work : If they could incorporate some driver dynamism into the chassis without loosing the comfort, it would up the premium SUV ante. Seats are comfortable, could do with more ways to adjust.
| BHP 225 HP | Petrol / Electric / Auto |
| 0-100 km/h in 8.9 seconds | Road Tax €140 |
| Price: €54,990.00 Prestige 225 : €56,790 | Boot space 555 / 1,750 litres Range <50 km |
By competing in Formula E the amount of information learned for electrification is invaluable, not only for racing but for the everyday family run vehicles too. DS have released details of powerful concepts showcasing the technology, most recently the E-Tense Performance, an all-electric coupe that makes use of a body made entirely out of carbon fibre with a powertrain lifted directly from the electric racing series. It consists of a dual electric motor setup, providing drive to all four wheels. Maximum power is up around 804bhp, while the system’s maximum torque output reaches an incredible 8,000Nm. Inside the concept are a pair of bucket seats and the steering wheel is the same as in the Formula E racer.
And so to the DS7, a well-equipped, reasonably comfortable and practical large SUV which won’t be used for racing but will be used for a multitude of daily family requirements. It’s priced closely to the establishment and has its work cut out to make it against the Lexus UX, Jaguar’s F-Pace and BMW’s X2. There’s a huge amount of standard kit and even entry-level Performance Line trim gets rear parking sensors, cruise control, keyless start, 12in infotainment screen, 12.3in driver display, LED interior lighting and a few other nice bits and pieces.
The 1.6 petrol engine is pleasantly quiet at idle and at low revs, it feels responsive and zingy in a way that the diesel isn’t. The Active Scan suspension uses a camera to read the road’s surface and adjust the suspension to suit. The system absorbs the bumps on the worst of what Dublin City Council has to offer. Unlike the Formula-E racers, the DS7’s soft ride comes with some body lean that you’ll recognise from most French cars. Visibility is good if a little restricted out the back, but rear parking sensors come as standard on every version, and front sensors and a reversing camera will help out too.
When it comes to space and practicality the DS7 has loads of room in the front and the rear seats offer decent leg room which even six-footers will find themselves comfortable, especially with the tiniest of transmission tunnels to straddle. You’ll find yourself using every available litre of space on family trips but the DS7 is surprising in its storage capability. Up front you get a cubby with wireless phone-charger and between the front seats there’s a cavernous cubby underneath the armrest. The only caveat is the glovebox, where the French took the translation literally.
The DS7 is one of the few hybrids where the battery technology doesn’t impede the available boot space. There’s around 555 litres with the rear seats up, they split 60/40 and when they’re folded, they leave about 1,752 litres to play with.
The infotainment is a combination of a 12.0in infotainment touchscreen and a 12.3in customisable digital instrument display. Adjustments to the temperature can be done using the screen which is slightly fiddly when on the move. The dash is surrounded by exotic materials and a rakish centre console which is extremely pleasant to be encompassed in.
Counterintuitive to most cars, the buttons to open the window are not on the door as you would expect, but on the centre console. It’s not the end of the world but it does take some re-adjustment, similar to Mercedes stalk position where normally you’d find wipers in Mercs you change the gears, you may keep reaching for the wrong area to open windows at first. There are fixed buttons underneath the infotainment to switch between menus, they’re small and touch-sensitive which require accurate finger pushing. The digital instrument display is clear and can be configured in a number of ways to show the information most useful to you, including a large sat-nav map.
With a striking and plush cabin style, a relaxed driving nature and a somewhat different option to the norm all making the DS7 a distinctive proposition, the French manufacturer has a little work for the incoming next generation to pile on the heat and get the competition sweating.