At the wheel of the DS N°7: the compact SUV that bets on luxury, comfort and refinement

With a length of 4.66 metres, a brand-new design identity and a range combining hybrid and electric versions with up to 740 km of WLTP range, the French SUV represents an important technological leap for the brand.

While many manufacturers focus their strategy on sportiness, DS takes a different approach. The N°7 is conceived as a vehicle for travelling with the highest possible level of isolation. It is already on sale from EUR 46,000 to EUR 74,000.

It is built on Stellantis’ STLA Medium platform, which increases structural rigidity without compromising comfort, while the DS Active Scan suspension remains one of the brand’s most distinctive features. Thanks to a camera that continuously analyses the condition of the road surface, it adjusts the stiffness of each damper before the vehicle reaches the irregularity, reducing vibrations and improving stability.

Added to this is a significant effort in soundproofing using laminated glass and sound-absorbing materials, together with a 690 W, 14-speaker Focal sound system that turns the cabin into an auditorium.

An interior with its own personality

One of the main characteristics of the DS N°7 is that it avoids looking like a copy of its competitors. The interior design retains elements characteristic of the French brand, such as the Clous de Paris engraving, pearl-style stitching and upholstery inspired by luxury watch straps.

The 10-inch digital instrument cluster and the 16-inch central screen are integrated into the dashboard, while available materials include Alcantara, Nappa leather and natural wood trim, a novelty within the range.

The front seats, in addition to heating, ventilation and massage, can incorporate the DS Neck Warmer system, which directs warm air onto the neck and nape to increase the sense of well-being without excessively raising the cabin temperature.

Rear-seat space has also been reworked, with longer doors, a panoramic roof and up to 25 mm of additional headroom for rear passengers. The boot reaches 560 litres in its maximum-capacity version (500 litres in the all-wheel-drive variant with the large battery and subwoofer sound system), a figure that is quite competitive even against SUVs from a higher segment.

Three electric options and one hybrid

The range is structured around electrified versions, although there is no plug-in hybrid variant. The hybrid versions, with 145 CV of power, are offered in four trim levels, with prices ranging from EUR 46,000 to EUR 53,200.

For their part, the pure electric variants offer three power levels, of 230 CV, 245 CV and 350 CV, with two battery capacities, 73.7 kWh and a larger 97.2 kWh usable capacity.

The electric range is structured into three variants: E-TENSE with 230 CV and a 73.7 kWh battery; E-TENSE Long Range with 245 CV and a 97.2 kWh battery; and E-TENSE AWD Long Range with 350 CV and all-wheel drive, also with the largest battery.

The trim levels are based on the standard, Pallas, Pallas Edition, Etoile and La Première finishes, with prices ranging from EUR 49,400 up to EUR 74,000 for the La Première AWD Long Range 350 CV version.

Range, one of its main selling points

The DS N°7 aims to become a benchmark among premium electric SUVs, announcing a maximum range of 740 km WLTP, achieved by the front-wheel-drive version equipped with the 97.2 kWh battery.

One of the main arguments for the model’s range is its low aerodynamic drag coefficient Cx of 0.26, as well as its weight, which, in the most equipped and powerful variant, barely exceeds 2,300 kg. It can be fitted with wheels up to 21 inches in diameter.

The maximum AC charging power is 11 kW on both battery capacities, with 22 kW optional. DC charging also improves on the higher-capacity battery version, which accepts peaks of up to 160 kW, promising to recharge from 20 to 80% in 27 minutes and roughly 200 km of range in ten minutes of charging.

It features regenerative braking via paddles, with three levels of intensity, as well as a One Pedal function.

Although 160 kW allows competitive charging times, some latest-generation rivals already use 800-volt architectures with power above 250 kW, reducing stops during long journeys even further.

Ease of driving

DS has concentrated virtually its entire technological arsenal in this model, incorporating all the latest safety devices and systems. Among the available systems, the following stand out: DS Drive Assist 2.0 with level 2 semi-autonomous driving, DS Night Vision with infrared pedestrian and animal detection, DS PixelVision with adaptive lighting reaching up to 520 metres, an extended Head-Up Display, an intelligent navigation system with automatic charging planning and battery preconditioning, Plug & Charge, or the V2L function to power external devices from the vehicle’s battery.

All of this is complemented by the Free2move Charge ecosystem, which provides access to more than 800,000 charging points in Europe.

The 145 CV Hybrid version combines a three-cylinder petrol engine with a small 29 CV electric motor integrated into the six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Although it promises to run up to 50% of the time in electric mode in town and officially rates only 5.3 l/100 km, its power is clearly below that offered by many premium SUVs of similar size, where hybrid versions of between 180 and 250 CV are common.

The absence of a plug-in hybrid variant stands out. While many manufacturers keep this technology as a transitional solution, DS bets exclusively on a full hybrid and fully electric versions.

We really liked the electric variant. Not only is it smoother, quieter and more refined, it also has much more power, greater acceleration and better regeneration, which translates into a more enjoyable and safer driving experience, especially on secondary roads and in town.

Both the suspension, very comfortable and highly capable of absorbing irregularities, and the steering, smooth and precise, as well as the brakes, strong and easy to modulate, help improve the driving experience and convey a great sense of safety and ease of driving.

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