Imperfect Tense
A wafty, sophisticated SUV is even more wafty and sophisticated in hybrid form. But also more expensive
De Gaulle dodged bullets in a Citroën DS in ’62. Macron stuck his head through a DS 7 Crossback’s panoramic roof in 2018. Arguably this tenuous presidential link is all that connects these upmarket French automobiles, given the understandable lack of shared components.
But in spirit? DS – PSA with a posh accent – says the original’s serenity and state-of-the-art innovation lives on, especially with this new DS7 Crossback E-Tense, an electrified SUV that slots between Peugeot 3008 and 5008 in size.
The plug-in-hybrid drivetrain is pretty whizzy, though both it and the EMP2 platform are shared with 3008 Hybrid4. Hence a 1.6-litre turbo petrol and one electric motor per axle, giving 296bhp, pure electric running for up to 31 miles at up to 83mph, and a WLTP-certified 129mpg and 33g/km of CO2. The 13.2kWh lithium-ion battery takes two hours to charge from a 6.6kW charger, eight hours on a domestic socket.
Fully charged, the E-Tense is relaxing on les autoroutes: plush ride, low wind and road noise, super-comfy seats and the glide of pure electric running. When the four-cylinder petrol awakes it’s still far from harsh. There’s also a suitably smart interior with nappa leather and alcantara offered, and it’s no less spacious as a hybrid, though the fuel tank is 20 litres stingier.
Not all perfect, mind: there’s the occasional thunk as power sources switch, a lumpy lowspeed ride, and the DS 7 is best not hustled. Its steering flicks between vague and sticky, electrification adds 300kg (1825kg total) to the detriment of dynamics and performance, and there’s no locking the eight-speed auto in manual, making quick progress on a back road less fluid than it could be. But view it as a leftfield wafter and you might just click.
It’s pricey at £47,725 minimum, though – £9.5k more than the top diesel. Benefit-in-kind savings will help offset the cost for some.
First verdict
Comfy, pricey DS best at shrugging o stressy commutes. Falls short on longer trips (you’re lugging 300kg of batteries) and twisty roads (ditto)