DS 7 Crossback E-Tense: long-term test review

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During the first test, DS 7 Crossback can’t quite match its German rivals in terms of cabin finish, although the kit list is impressive. Now is the time to see if our vision improves as mileage increases.

• Mileage: 12.830
• So economic: 78mpg

The launch of DS brand in 2014 as a separate entity was bid by the French partly white flag, partly pure to build some brand values ​​as the foundation for German brands. Today, high-end car buyers are doing the same calculation as they were a decade ago, and we live with DS 7 Crossback to see if Fa could finally give the correct answer.

The problem with the DS is Audi selling just under 118,000 cars in the UK by 2021, making it the country’s second most popular car brand (followed by BMW car), while the DS only sold 2,362 units.

DS 7 Crossback is a Mid-size SUV and our car has a state-of-the-art plug-in hybrid powertrain E-Tense. That sets it up against other premium plug-in hybrid SUVs of a similar size, such as Audi Q3 TFSI e, BMW X3 xDrive30e and Jaguar E-Pace P300e.

With prices starting at over £51,000 for the more powerful ‘300’ 4×4 The powertrain version of our car, the DS, does not fall below these competitors in terms of price. The cheapest 242bhp Audi is under £40,000. The 288bhp BMW starts at just over £52,000, while the 305bhp Jag is £47,500. The amortization figure is fair, but not rivaling these rivals.

So the DS 7 doesn’t trade at its price; it follows the no-nonsense French product line offering a wide range of kits. Our mid-range Rivoli trim comes only in Pearl While pearl paint selected from the options list, but its specs include heated, ventilated and power-adjustable front seats, rear seats, and rear seats. power reclining, active LED headlights, keyless entry, keyless entry, two 12-inch digital displays up front and DS Active Scan suspension.

Appoint a BMW X3 or Audi Q3 Getting close to this would put the DS 7 car into a much more favorable financial perspective.

There’s nothing groundbreaking about the DS 7 Crossback shape. It has a curved roofline and a more dynamic look than the average midsize SUV, and has a bit of chrome and intricate main lighting units.

Inside there are quilted leather and metal finishes, lots of piano black resin, and analog clocks. The DS 7 will seem bold, luxurious, and refreshingly different to some buyers. To me, it lacks the class and quality of more formulaic alternatives. The materials in the cabin aren’t quite on the level of an equivalent Audi or BMW.

The central placement of the start button and window switch seems born out of a desire to be different than user-friendly, but the DS really has neat touches. The massage chair is an unexpected benefit, while at a higher position, the split-level launch pad makes it easy to store the charging cable, out of sight.

Removing the price conundrum, the DS 7’s numbers are pretty good when compared to the model’s rivals. With a total of 296hp and 520Nm of torque from the plug-in powertrain, only the Jaguar E-Pace P300e eclipses it – and the DS is 0-62mph quicker than that car.

It doesn’t feel as lively in Comfort mode, where the steering wheel is too light and throttle response sluggishly muted, but in the Sport setting, the DS 7 Crossback is more purposeful and even surprisingly quick.

With reasonably frequent charging, I was able to get just under 80mpg from the DS 7, but in the next week or so without easy access to a charger this has dropped to around 37mpg. An electric-only drive for 30 miles seems doable. That’s compared to the official WLTP figure of 34-36 miles, beating the comparable numbers of Audi and BMW, but not the Jag.

*Insurance quote for a 42-year-old in Banbury, Oxon, for three points.