At first sight, the DS 7 Crossback shows off the conservative, rather than cool, characteristics. Yes, yes, I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But this is my opinion, and someone needs to have one.
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On the move, body lean is kept to a minimum, even though the steering is spongy and dead - and it isn’t perked up by changing the DS into its Sport mode.
Don’t let me rain on the DS7 Crossback’s parade too much, though. The French motor is best kept in its Comfort setting so that you can make the most of its respectable ride quality. This car isn’t all about the zero to 62mph sprint, it’s far happier as a laid-back cruiser. But it can still pull okay, with the 2.0-litre diesel model doing the 0-62mph in just under 10 seconds.
The DS marque is launching the Crossback with four different trim levels, and the Performance Line DS 7, as driven here, is likely to be the model to please the masses. This car gets 19-inch alloys, a gloss black grille, and LED lights. In the cabin, leather and Alcantara abound, while a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment screen hogs the limelight. Playing second fiddle to the big display is a large analogue clock, perched above the ignition button.
Don’t let me rain on the DS7 Crossback’s parade too much, though. The French motor is best kept in its Comfort setting so that you can make the most of its respectable ride quality. This car isn’t all about the zero to 62mph sprint, it’s far happier as a laid-back cruiser. But it can still pull okay, with the 2.0-litre diesel model doing the 0-62mph in just under 10 seconds.
The DS marque is launching the Crossback with four different trim levels, and the Performance Line DS 7, as driven here, is likely to be the model to please the masses. This car gets 19-inch alloys, a gloss black grille, and LED lights. In the cabin, leather and Alcantara abound, while a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment screen hogs the limelight. Playing second fiddle to the big display is a large analogue clock, perched above the ignition button.
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The infotainment system itself is intuitive and responsive and is supported by a bunch of touch-sensitive switches for the cabin controls. But more remarkable in this car segment is the adding of an infrared night vision camera that projects a vivid picture onto the driver’s display. It picks out pedestrians and animals ahead of you, and, as I found out driving around Berkshire’s unlit backroads, it works! The only drawback is that the clever driver aid is an option costing £1600.Room in the cabin is good for five-up and it’s a very comfortable car fore and aft. Indeed, the DS 7 Crossback’s flat floor means that a rear seat occupant sitting in the middle will still have space. What’s more, the car’s boot is generously proportioned with 555 litres of cargo capacity.
The all-new DS’ weak point is its price-tag. With it being £36,335, other more established premium brands may seem more attractive. The BMW X3 and Volvo XC40 are examples of the stiff competition the up-to-the-minute French machine is up against.
Still, being different is quite appealing, so it’ll be interesting to see what 2018 holds for the DS 7 Crossback. Watch this space!
Pros ‘n’ Cons
- Looks √
- Comfortable √
- Space √
- Expensive X
Fast Facts (DS 7 Crossback Performance Line BlueHDi 180 – as tested)
- Max speed: 134 mph
- 0-62 mph: 9.9 secs
- Combined mpg: 57.6
- Engine layout: 1997cc four-cylinder turbo diesel
- Max. power (PS): 180
- CO2: 128 g/km
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