All mod cons in posh and powerful package

Citroën’s premium brand comes up with the goods, says Fred Manby

The updated DS7 has DS Automobiles written boldly across the tailgate. “Yeah. But what’s that?” demands the bystander who doesn’t follow cars. It is a posh offshoot from Citroën.

The entry model £36,785 Performance Line 128bhp 1.5 litre diesel should give you 50 miles a gallon and a range of well over 500 miles. The 0-62mph time is 10.7 seconds, enlivened by lashings of torque and it will tow a 1.5 ton braked trailer so no trouble taking your horse or boat on manoeuvres.

The 222bhp front wheel drive DS7 petrol/electric PHEV is rated at up to 250mpg with an electric range of 43 miles. The 0-62mph time is 8.9 seconds. Its CO2 emissions in that state are 26g/km compared with 139g for the rather dirtier diesel. It costs £44,190 which makes the diesel look a bargain at face value but if you keep the PHEV’s battery charged on a domestic plug or favourable commercial charger tariff it will be cheaper to run than the diesel though forget about getting 250 miles a gallon.

We had the more powerful 300 model with 4x4 traction.

Running on self-mixing electric and petrol hybrid power we got 122mpg on our regular test route. This fell to 54mpg on the return run with an empty battery but the hybrid self-charges itself and showed around 40 per cent of the return trip had been with zero emissions. Set it against your payroll taxation and a 20 per cent tax payer will save around £140 a month, or for 40pc earners £280 a month. It’s an interesting tax giveaway.

The entry Performance Line has 19-inch alloys, navigation, keyless operation, The + version adds black roof rails, parking bleepers, rear camera and heating tor the screen and front seats. The Rivoli includes leather and the cute oversized watch which flips out of the fascia when you press the ignition button. The Opera model is PHEV-only and brings a full length sunroof, power tailgate and more USB ports. La Premiers is on 21-inch wheels, which I imagine disrupt ride comfort in favour of showing off, night vision and so on and has the 355bhp power unit.

We were sent an interbhp mediate 300 4x4 specification called Esprit de Voyage, based on the Rivoli. It had 296 with 4x4 for £50,090. The 355bhp model would be an additional £5,000. Diesel is not offered. Tasty details (vegans look away) include light grey quilted, diamond patterned soft Nappa leather with ventilation, a black trim pack for the arches, window frames and rack rails, dark alloys, a power lift back, and bespoke sills in the front doors. The monthly, four year, rental deal is £677 a month.

There is plenty of tech stuff, including a camera which reads the road surface and readies the suspension. It does ride well until you meet unseen things which make the back end thwack loudly. The cushioned dampers on Citroëns give a softer experience. Tyre noise is impressively quiet as is the mechanical refinement and general niceness of this smart car.