Jeremy Webb goes from ‘Poole to Pool’ in the new DS 7 Crossback.

My expectation of the car I was about to drive grew as it pulled up outside my house. The new DS 7 Crossback looked superb; I was eager to get in it. Handed the keys to DS Automobiles’ new compact SUV, I looked around for the standard round start/stop button.

Not in this car, where every piece of the interior has been thought through with real design planning. I found a lovely-looking rectangular button blended into the centre console. I pushed it, and my journey began.

Asked to review the car, I drove it from Poole in Dorset via the Eurotunnel to attend the DS 7 launch party in Paris. Guest of DS Automobiles and DS Performance, who hosted me and five other specially chosen journalists for a long weekend in Paris.

Looking at the DS7, you immediately see the thought that has been put into designing the car, with touches of real creativity.

The headlights and rear lights are not just functional; they are designed to look good. I was told by Yves Bonnefont at the launch party that the DS staff all share a passion for the automobile and driving.

The team behind creating and designing the new models take cues from nature, art, and even poetry. They want their cars to both drive well and look beautiful.

The Brand has always put a lot of effort into lighting. The front LED modules resemble cut jewels, emitting purple light when the car is unlocked. The headlights then rotate 180 degrees prepared to switch on. The rear lights are full LEDs made up of illuminated scales made by advanced laser engraving.

DS Automobiles relaunched in 2014, born in Paris on the 1st of June. The original DS brand started in 1955 with the yearning to produce Premium vehicles. This spirit is shared by the new DS company who want to perpetuate the values of innovation and distinction the founding brand had.

DS launched its first electric car in 2016, the DS E-Tense, showcasing the path it wants to continue on.

This was reflected when Yves announced that the brand would produce an electrified version in each of its ranges. Also, by 2025, the company will no longer manufacture internal combustion-powered cars.

Back to my trip, the journey down to Paris was shared with another journalist so we could both experience the DS 7 for as long as possible over the three days.

I found, as a passenger, the car was delightful, cossetting me in a very comfortable seat—lots of leg room and space all around me, along with plenty of entertainment options. The DS  7 has been filled with technology both for occupants’ enjoyment and their safety.

I linked my phone up to the car’s Bluetooth so I could play my music through the entertainment system, avoiding French radio channels.  DS has linked with France’s best acoustics specialists, Focal Electra and positioned fourteen Focal Electra loudspeakers in precise locations around the cabin. Delivering superlative sound via the in-car audio system.

After three hours, we arrived in Paris at the world-famous Hotel Molitor, which has an outdoor pool featured in many films. The pool connection becomes apparent now. All the hotel rooms are built around the pool, so they all have a view of it.

The DS 7 has four models within the range with prices starting at £28000, for the entry level Elegance, rising to £48k for the top of the range, Ultra Prestige with the Blue HDi 180Hp Automatic. In between these two are the Performance Line, which I drove and the Prestige.

DS then allow customers to choose their own interior styling from four Inspirations, reflecting levels of luxury. All named after parts of Paris, they all offer superior fabrics and elegance.

In the DS 7, you can see the brand’s Savoir-faire throughout, with a combination of French craftsmanship techniques. The company has been inspired by the world of Haute Couture incorporating this into their materials.

The entry-level Inspiration choice is Bastille, inspired by the famous Place de la Bastille. This Parisian monument is represented by combining bronze textiles and textured motifs and creates a warm ambience throughout.

A more sporty choice comes in Performance Line, a sporting style combined with comfort and refinement. Bringing out the spirit of Grand Touring, Alcantara® is a perfect choice, adorning both the seats and dashboard.

RIVOLI is inspired by the famous shopping street, lined with high-end boutiques selling luxury items.  Walk along and see the famed Tuileries Gardens, finally taking in the Louvre Palace—noble materials, including authentic grained leather, with a diamond-themed design, express style, and sophistication.

The most luxurious interior is the Opera, inspired by the Palais Garnier opera house. One of the most renowned venues in the world. It has a facade decorated with gold and elaborate marble friezes.

It invokes opulence, which DS wants inside its cars. Nappa leather is included in the top-of-the-range trim.

From my time talking to the design team and the CEO of DS Automobiles, it is apparent they want people to love driving their cars.

They want the cars to be luxurious, beautiful, safe and above all, great to drive. Autonomy and AI are becoming standard features in most new cars; this is true of all new DS vehicles. But the designers want the driver to feel the pleasure of driving still and the self-control car lovers want.

The DS 7 Crossback allows this with various options of safety technology above the already huge list of standard features.

The transmission is the EAT8, Efficient Automatic Transmission with 8 speeds, it keeps engine speeds low providing fuel savings and has quick gear-changing keeping the ride smooth at all times. Totally compatible with autonomous functions of the car, Park Assist, and Connected Pilot.

As I mentioned, the DS 7 has so much technology as standard, so I will touch on a few of the key features that stand out. DS and Citroen have always been linked to innovative suspension with their use of air to cushion vehicles; they even showed off early cars in the 1960s being driven on three wheels.

The suspension adapts to hold the car’s body level. 2018 and DS ACTIVE SCAN SUSPENSION arrives.

The system uses cameras and analyses the road ahead, adjusting the suspension automatically and ironing out unevenness on the road. The front and rear axles are connected to a camera located behind the windscreen; this works in combination with four height sensors and three accelerometers to calculate the car’s speed, steering input, and braking.

An Electronic control unit takes the data and governs each wheel independently, adjusting for firmer or softer suspension.

This function is available between 8mph and 70mph and has three different modes:

  • Sports
  • Normal (this is the default mode)
  • Comfort Camera

I certainly felt the benefit of the superb suspension over the course of hundreds of miles of motorway and Autoroute surfaces. The car glided over the rough concrete and tarmac keeping myself and Co-Driver very comfortable.

DS Connected Pilot allows degrees of autonomy, and you can choose various options in your car. Full hands-off driving can be experienced with Pilot linked to Stop and Go active cruise control, allowing the car to control speed according to the vehicle in front, and positioning the DS in the centre of the road lane.

The camera within the car continuously analyses the road ahead so it knows the vehicle’s position within the boundaries of the road markings. Any deviation from the course across the markings and the steering is adjusted slightly to bring the car back online. If you mean to cross the lines when indicating to change lanes, the steering is not affected.

The DS system appears a lot more subtle than other manufacturers’ systems, which tend to heavily apply steering inputs, which is particularly unnerving when you are pushing a car through some twisty sections and meaning to cut a straight line on some bends. In these makes, I always choose to turn off the lane departure controls. Not so in the DS 7.

When it comes to parking cars, I always prefer to use my built-in technology. My brain and eyes calculate the space, angle of entry, etc. The DS 7 has Park Pilot, using sensors to calculate what my brain has to. It can completely park the car with no input from the driver.

A parking space can be driven past at up to 18 mph, and the dimensions can be calculated to guarantee the car can be parked. As the driver, I can take back control at any time during the procedure. Once you have allowed the system to park a few times, you get more relaxed.

I touched briefly on the lights on the DS 7, but they do need a special mention.

It features full LED headlights with three rotating modules, an animated “Magic 3D” function and a main LED projector. The AFS  Adaptive Front System fitted is designed to adapt the lighting to the type of road.

Three different selections are available for road types, then there is an Adverse Weather mode which activates when the windscreen wipers are automatically engaged.  Very clever and helpful technology that is not just there for show, it is very functional.

At night, the Adaptive Front System function manages different lighting modes for each driving situation. For each one, the angle and intensity of the main headlights and modules vary in order to increase or reduce the range of the beam.

The modules swivel and dip to widen or direct the beam to light up the roadside to a greater or lesser extent. This function is active only if the lighting is in automatic mode and can be deactivated via the central touchscreen.

The three selections are Town, which is medium intensity and a wide beam enabling the driver to see a lot more in front of the car, such as people on pavements.

A motorway is a cone of light with a raised beam suitable for fast roads. When driving at 70mph for more than five seconds, this beam is automatically engaged. High Beam can be activated at any time and is very intense, with a range of 520 metres.

Mentioning all the specifications of the car and the technology included would take a long time, and it really is best sampled by driving it, as I was fortunate to do for three days.

I loved my short time in the DS 7, both as a driver and a passenger. It really is a driver’s car that is great to drive, enjoyable and practical. As a Passenger, it offers the luxury we all want, in comfort and specifications, with an array of technology to hand. Prices are competitive with other manufacturers’ compact SUVs, but in the DS, you do get a lot more elegance and specs as standard.

The car performs well, with enough power to move you along briskly and a very smooth transmission, so changes are not felt. Handling is fine, no body roll when cornering at speed and the car soaks up the bumps (superbly), of which there are plenty on the roads down to the Eurotunnel.

The DS 7 is spacious both for driver and passengers, allowing plenty of room for luggage and to spread out within the car. The great sound system allows your music of choice to be played as it is meant to be.

I would be happy to hand over 40k for the Prestige model I tested, but my bank manager would have something to say. Sadly, it would not be. Can I have a lift in it?

DS 7 Crossback Specifications:

Model-driven: DS 7 CROSSBACK – PERFORMANCE Line BlueHDi 180 EAT8 (8-Speed Auto) in Platinum Grey

  • Cost of Test Car: £38,285
  • Warranty: 3 years, 60,000 miles
  • Max speed: 134 mph
  • 0-62mph: 9.9 seconds
  • Extra-urban: 64.2mpg
  • Urban cycle: 50.4mpg
  • Combined: 57.6mpg
  • Fuel Tank Capacity: 55 litres (14.53 gallons)
  • Length: 4.57m
  • Height: 1.62m
  • Width: 1.89m
  • Boot: 628 Litres

For more information on the DS 7 Crossback, click here.