DS 7 review

The interior of the DS 7 is where the designers have really gone to town. 

Expect plush materials all around and look out for the tell-tale diamond motif that is repeated throughout.

The seats are well-padded and very adjustable to achieve the perfect, commanding SUV driving position. 

Tech and features

Admittedly, rear visibility could be better, but cars with an optional 360-degree reversing camera will always come to your rescue. 

The dashboard is dominated by a pair of 12-inch screens, one with the instrument panel and the other featuring an infotainment centre that controls many features of the car.

It might be large, but the latter isn’t always that easy or intuitive to use, with better ones in BMW and Mercedes SUVs. 

But thanks to full connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, many users won’t venture outside their phone’s menus anyway. 

Higher-spec models also get an analogue clock from BRM that pops up on the dashboard when the car starts, adding a very neat designer touch. 

There’s plenty of room in the back, and the cabin feels airy when an optional panoramic sunroof is fitted.

Handling and ride comfort

The original DS, which Citroen stopped making in 1975, was legendary for its comfort and handling – thanks mainly to the hydropneumatic suspension that was unique at the time.

The brand has tried to capture this in the DS 7, albeit with a more conventional setup, by giving higher specification cars suspension that actively adjusts according to the road ahead, using a front-facing camera for sight. 

The technology is especially effective on motorways and country roads, where it smooths out potholes and bumps effectively, but it’s less effective in the city at lower speeds.

Still, even the most basic DS 7 is honest in its approach and never attempts to mimic the sportiness of other offerings.

The DS doesn’t need to.

Boot space

The DS 7 boot is large enough to swallow a family’s suitcases for a weekend getaway or trip to the airport.

The floor isn’t flat, but it’s pretty shallow, making loading and unloading easier.  

Rear seats

Fold the rear seats down and there is a serious amount of space and, in cars that have been fitted with the Modularity Pack, there’s a variable boot floor, side storage spaces and a 12-volt socket too. 

Storage solutions

Inside the car, there are deep door pockets that are even lined with carpet to stop those bits and bobs from rattling around as well as a large centre console between the front seats that can hold plenty too.

Fuel economy

Choose the popular DS 7 Blue HDi 130 diesel engine and you could squeeze around 68mpg out of the SUV.

If you go for the E-Tense hybrid engine this could go up to around 128mpg on shorter journeys.

On a fully-charged battery, it will even do 31 miles on electric power only – although you should also be aware that the extra 300kg weight of the batteries makes the fuel consumption rise steeply when you’re driving the car on petrol-power alone. 

Reliability

Citroen hasn’t always been known for its reliability, but it seems like they’ve upped their game with the DS range – so there shouldn’t be any issues on this score.