Getting Up Close & Personal with the Highly-Anticipated DS 7 CROSSBACK SUV in Paris

Sabi Phagura heads to Paris to learn about the DS 7 CROSSBACK SUV from DS Automobiles and gets some hands-on experience on the Parisian streets

It’s finally here. Drivers can now place orders for the much-awaited and much-anticipated DS 7 CROSSBACK – the new SUV from DS Automobiles. The first deliveries start at the end of January and are expected to meet the needs of motorists looking for a new automotive experience and unique sensations.

The DS7 CROSSBACK will be available to order in Europe first – before being up for grabs worldwide – customers will have the choice of five different interior styles, four high-performance punchy engines and no less than 15 high-tech features.

Our roving reporter, Sabi Phagura was invited by DS Automobiles to the heart of Paris for a sneak preview of the collection, and in doing so, became one of the fortunate few to get behind the wheel to road test it.

Getting personal

The interior of the DS 7 CROSSBACK is chic and contemporary and reflects the philosophy behind DS design – personalisation. It is available in a choice of different trims and subtle finishes with the emphasis strongly placed on the materials that are used with textured patterns and padded upholstery.

The interiors, called DS Inspirations, take their style cues from Paris, the birthplace of the brand since June 2014.

The DS 7 CROSSBACK collection

Kicking off with the DS Inspiration Rivoli, its interior is like the ultimate in Parisian elegance. Premium materials such as leather, combined with high-end diamond-shaped decoration, allows the customer to express their personality with an air of sophistication. In contrast, the DS Inspiration Opéra, echoes the eclectic architecture of opera houses in the world. It was the gold and marble materials used in this car that I was totally wowed over. So much so, it became the car I road-tested through Paris’s busy city centre, motorways and rural villages.

The Eponymous DS Inspiration follows suit. Its high-end finish in Nappa leather – basalt black or chestnut brown – is bold and captivating. Sporty types, like myself, will be drawn to the DS Inspiration PERFORMANCE Line. The interior is ideal for drivers who believe sport and performance are not extravagant modes of expression, but an everyday state of mind. Finally, the Faubourg completes the range of DS 7 CROSSBACK interiors, with the launch of the hybrid E-Tense 4×4. The pinnacle of luxury and art in Paris, this one is aimed at those who particularly appreciate travel and luxury. This DS Inspiration features the finest materials such as leather and ebony wood.

The lowdown on the engines

While the DS 7 CROSSBACK will ultimately have five powerful and efficient engines, at its launch in Europe, the DS SUV will offer four engines compliant with the Euro 6.2 emission control standard: two turbo petrol engines: the 4 PureTech 180 and PureTech 225. These will be coupled with the state-of-the-art 8-speed (EAT8) automatic transmission gearbox as standard.

With these two engines, the vehicle offers 250 and 300 Nm of torque at 1,900 rpm and a consumption of 5.8 litres per 100 km, two turbocharged diesel engines: BlueHDi 130 with a manual gearbox or BlueHDi 180 with an automatic gearbox, with 300 Nm of torque at 1,750 rpm and 400 Nm of torque at 2,000 rpm respectively. And of course, fuel consumption of less than five litres per 100 km (4 and 4.9 litres per 100 km respectively).

These different engines are equipped with the injection pressure of 200 bars for PureTech petrol engines, Stop & Start system, and freewheeling with BlueHDi180. The fifth engine will complete the powerplant line-up in 2019, with the arrival of the high-performance plug-in hybrid drive chain, E-Tense 4×4.