Citroen’s DS 7 Crossback the modern embodiment of French luxury?

Gallic good looks and French flair,

Say DS and everyone of a certain age immediately thinks of the original Citroen goddess - the timelessly beautiful and technologically advanced 1960s flagship.

It’s exactly the association Citroen wanted when it revived the name as a luxury spin on some of its models before hiving DS off as a standalone brand in 2015.

Until now it has been held back by some pretty mediocre cars but the DS 7 Crossback is the first of a new generation of models designed to establish the brand as a serious premium player.

Externally it make its point with a bold diamond-motif grille, chrome embellishments and sharp-edged design that give it a sense of presence and individual style. You might not see many on the roads but you’ll know what it is when you do.

Inside, DS has gone all out for unique and luxurious and has nailed it.

I can’t think of a another car in this class a price bracket that looks and feels as good inside.

The brushed-chrome effect trim isn’t real metal but it looks great contrasting with the gloss black plastic and the whole cabin is wrapped in Alcantara. This not only looks and feels great but is unlike anything rivals can offer. It’s on everything from the seats to the dash top and centre console and does a convincing job of DS’S aim to offer something totally individual.

Dedication to design reaches to the instrument display graphics. Underneath it’s the same as the configurable i-cockpit software used by Peugeot but the diamond motif and angular graphics look totally individual and fantastic.

Sadly, the DS 7 also shares its infotainment system with the rest of the PSA group. The big glossy 12-inch media screen looks great but under the stylish looks lurks a clunky, irritating operating system.

While the DS 7 excels at bringing some welcome style to a humdrum segment, its aim to be the pinnacle of comfort and refinement isn’t so successful.

The 178bhp diesel engine has plenty of pull to match rivals such as the Ford Kuga but it is relatively noisy and rough in operation. That isn’t helped by a distinctly un-luxurious amount of wind roar in the cabin at higher speeds.

The ride also isn’t as wafty and cosseting as the interior ambience might suggest. Our car lacked the clever active scan suspension, which might address the rough edge to the ride, but did feature drive mode selection. As part of the Performance Line spec this adds weight to the steering and tweaks the throttle and eight-speed gearbox. It doesn’t really add much to the driving experience, which is solid but not quite up to the level of the Kuga.

DS calls the DS 7 the first of its second generation of cars and it’s by far the best, most cohesive DS I’ve driven. It’s kept the solid switchgear and the design flourishes of the DS 5 and other earlier models but the exterior design is a big improvement and the interior layout been properly thought through. There is no stupid split sunroof, no window switches in the roof, all the windows open properly and there’s somewhere to put your coffee cup.

It doesn’t have the refinement or driving manners of an Audi or BMW but at the top end of the mainstream, it’s a genuine rival to the Ford Kuga Vignale or Vauxhall Grandland Ultimate. The DS 7 Crossback is more interesting and nicer to look at and sit in than any direct rival and offers a good, if unexceptional, driving experience. Only engine and wind noise are a weak spots jn an otherwise decent package.