By Andrea Hargraves 
It exudes design, elegance and good taste, without neglecting some avant-garde details mixed with clear classic visual elements, such as the analog clock located in the center of the dashboard. But here we go.
It is true that tastes cannot be discussed, but in this case, I agree to enter into this discussion, as I believe that the DS7 E-Tense gives us all the arguments and even a few so that we can support the argument in its form.
I don’t know if this is the best product produced in the entire French automobile industry, but the fact that it is President Emmanuel Macron’s choice to receive and transport other heads of state whom he welcomes on official visits, he might want to point out. Yes, it’s a car that’s really worth it.
One of his last public appearances was on board DS7, when President Macron received King Charles III of England on French soil, just over a month ago.
The President and the King paraded down the Champs-Élysées, right in the center of Paris, and a few days later, I was the one “parading” along the Avenida da Liberdade, right in the center of Lisbon in the new DS7 E-Tense. , the hybrid which is scheduled to be launched nationally this month. It was wonderful to look at Lisbon from the driver’s seat in this DS7, which has an excellent driving position.
Walking back a little, and even before getting into the car, if there’s an exterior detail that’s impossible to ignore, it’s the design of the headlights that extend down the sides of the bumper below in a succession of small light strips aligned vertically, with the rough shape of a boomerang. Or maybe it’s not quite that, but just a stroke of genius from the French brand’s designers, whose team at DS Design Studio Paris works closely with their production colleagues based in Mellows Factory (The largest municipality in the French department of Haute-Rhin, in the eastern region of that country).
Brand officials say:“The light signature has evolved into an expressive look,” with which I completely agree. “The combination of the slimmer DS PIXEL LED VISION 3.0 headlights and the DS LIGHT VEIL daytime running lights is ideal and was created in the spirit of “High Fashion Design”. Which is like saying: French “couture” is abundant in the new DS models.
So be it. Technical details aside, the fact is that it works very well, imposes its character on the front of the car, and leaves no one indifferent.
The LED taillights, which are subtly slim, have also been redesigned with a swirl effect, according to the brand, and in a dark metallic finish. The tailgate and brand symbol have been redesigned, with sharper lines, while the name “DS AUTOMOBILES” now refers to the visually enlarged rear of the new DS 7, replacing the phrase “CROSSBACK”, which referred to previous versions.
It didn’t take long for me to succumb to the elegance and boldness of the renewed DS7.
Now on the plane again, Obviously, the first impression we are left with is positive. Comfort dominates, well anchored by excellent sound insulation, a good driving position and adequate space in the front and rear seats.
The seats and seat backs are inspired by the metal straps of a luxury watch, and are made from several pieces fitted together, from a single unit of leather, avoiding stitching. The brand notes that nappa leather “comes from cows, raised specifically for their meat, and which graze in fields without barbed wire fences.” In other words, without any kind of unwanted cuts or wrinkles.
I didn’t notice many details, but the seats are very comfortable, that’s all. There is no way to ignore it.
But what’s really surprising is that I left the Stellantis Group’s press centre, in Sacavem, with the dashboard telling me I had 470 kilometers of autonomous driving, and arrived in central Lisbon with just over 500 kilometers of autonomous driving. That’s the beauty of regenerative systems, both in electric cars and, in this case, in the very well-realized DS hybrid.
A truly original and unexpected wristwatch, located almost in the middle of the dashboard, which turns and faces us whenever we start the car engine.
These kinds of small details are what ultimately distinguish one car from another. It’s just that some have it and some don’t.
But, as with everything, here too, on board the new DS7, I found something I didn’t connect with easily. I’m talking about where and how they are arranged to place the buttons that are used to open and close the window panes.
Instead of being mounted on the inside of the door, next to the handle – which is where our left hand instinctively goes – it’s placed along the center console. Although they are large in size, it is not easy to get them immediately when necessary.
This is probably a matter of habit, but in the four or five days I’ve had the privilege of holding the DS7 E-Tense, I haven’t gotten it right the first time.
In fact, these are just another detail. It remains to mention here that the national range of the new DS 7 is divided, according to information received from the brand, into six levels of equipment “which may be linked, depending on the levels, to a thermal diesel engine or one of them.” The three DS E-TENSE hybrid engines, all mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The top version in the range, and also the most powerful, is equipped with all-wheel drive.
Last but not least, prices: starting from 50,530 euros and reaching 76,230 euros, with all-wheel drive and 360 hp.
Whatever the choice, believe me, it will be very well served. It’s an excellent family SUV, great for travel, and is also very agile and economical for the city, especially in hybrid versions.