Dare to be different seems to be the mantra of French car brand DS. Here in the UK DS are a bit player in the Stellantis machine, but no one’s told them that. The DS7 is their best selling model an attractive SUV that’s accounted for half of DS sales in the past few years. A trip to Provence saw CC&V get to grips with their all-new DS No7 which is now available as an EV.
Tell me moreDS maybe left field & trying to compete with the premium brands & in fairness, UK customers currently see DS as something a bit different. The DS7 No7 E-Tense aims to change that especially in the fleet sector.
Model choiceThere’s an electric & a hybrid No 7 but we are going to focus on the latter the E-Tense which is company car friendly. Three electric drivetrains feature. A 230hp front-wheel drive version with a 337 mile range. A FWD Long-Range which comes with a 97.2kWh usable battery, 245hp & a 460 mile range & the AWD Long-Range with 375hp a 422 mile driving range.
Model options & pricesThree versions of No7 E-Tense are offered. Entry level Pallas from £49,190, Etoile at £57,190 & launch edition La Premiere at £66,690. A Business Edition is also on the cards for UK fleet customers. But as ever it’s the leasing prices that will make all the difference to fleet customers.
Driving rangeA big tick. The key here is the 460 mile Long Range versions’ driving distances which currently smash all others bar the BMW iX3, miles out of the park. Only Stellantis stablemates Peugeot e-3008 & e-5008, the Vauxhall Grandland Electric, new electric Jeep Compass & Citroen eC5 Aircross, which are all fitted with that large battery offer such attractive ranges as we write.
OutsideThe No 7 is a bit more angular than what came before & looks lower-set. It also comes with some interesting new tech, namely an illuminated front grille with DS lettering, “Light Blade” vertical daytime running lights & geometric headlights. The sides are creased rather than flat with a low & wide rear window, a rear wiper hurrah, high horizontal corner lights & a large & proud DS AUTOMOBILES & No7 adorning the boot rear.
InsideDS have really pushed date boat out here & whilst it may be too busy for some we really like it. Nappa leather with a “watchstrap” pattern, real wood trim including black ash Focal speakers integrated into the doors, with aluminium here & there, lift it above the dull, bland greys sold elsewhere.
The seats are fantastic being both heated & ventilated with on some versions a neck warmer where warm air blows onto your neck. The cross-shaped steering wheel travels over from the DS No8. whilst the large panoramic sunroof fitted to our Etoile test car make the cabin light & airy.
Quality wise all that you can see in front & to the side of you is great, with soft touch & textured surfaces galore but glance lower down at the glove box front or lower door panels & it does feel cheaper.
Goodies
All versions are well equipped coming with the 16” touchscreen, wireless CarPlay & Android Auto, 19” alloys, keyless entry & start, a reversing camera with rear parking assistance, adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go, LED headlights with automatic high-beam function, a LIGHTBLADE LED rear light signature, a 10”digital instrument cluster & heated front seats.
Etoile adds the neck warmer, electrically adjusted memory seats, pixel vision, drive assist 2.0, the active scan suspension, rear climate controls, 20” alloys & Alcantara or Nappa leather. Choose La Primera & add 21” alloys, DS Night Vision, a heated windscreen, heated steering wheel & Hi-Fi ELECTRA® 3D by FOCAL audio system with 14 speakers.
Infotainment
A 16” horizontal HD screen greets you with a familiar Steallntis set-up. It’s neither the best nor the worst at what it does & we always find it straightforward to use especially as DS has sensibly included some short-cut buttons underneath so you can keep your eyes on the road. We particularly like the wrap-around front speakers on the doors & its understated within the car rather than dominating the dashboard completely.
ChargingNo7 E-Tense Long-Range charges from 20 to 80% in 27 minutes, with power maintained at up to 160 kW between 20 and 55%, which is good . The version equipped with the 73.7 kWh battery does the same in 30 minutes. At home on a 7.4kWh charger you’e looking at 10 hours for a full charge with the smaller battery whilst it’s 13 hours with the bigger one.
Practicality & boot space
Boot space is 560 litres, expanding to 1,570 litres with the rear seats folded down. Rear passengers get plenty of leg & knee room as the No7 is larger inside than the outgoing DS7. Up-front its generous as well. The rear seats can also recline which is nice touch. Inside the cabin there are a number of useful storage spaces, along with large door bins & a centre console that hides a covered drinks holder & under armrest space. Rear passengers all get a fold down armrest with twin cup holder & real front seat storage as well.
DrivingWe’re not giving too much away here because No7 E-Tense drives & handles perfectly well with the active scan suspension lifting it above the rest of its Stellantis stablemates. Perhaps the steering lacks much feel but this is compensated by the clever on-board DS technology which enables this large, heavy SUV to glide over road imperfections & offer a surprisingly supple ride. And the cars aerodynamics of 0.26Cd see it cut through the air keeping the cabin quiet whilst increasing efficiency. The refinement is definitely the cars high point.
As far as negatives go when you come to a tight junction the large A pillar’s do come with a large blind spot & as ever with 2026 cars, too many functions go through the screen. 
ProsLooks different inside & out & drives surprisingly well for a large heavy SUV. Quality & refinement are first-class. Driving range is brilliant & 3% BIK should be tempting in the fleet sector.
ConsAll E-Tense versions are expensive when compared to other similar Stellantis products. BMW & Volvo interiors feel more substantial.
Verdict
Whilst the DS No7 E-Tense does share a familar Stellantis platform it does mange to stand out with its looks, ride quality & desirable design touches, which all lift it above the norm. If you can get over the fact that it has a shared battery with cheaper stablemates from Vauxhall, Peugeot & Citroen you’ll find the No 7 a classy motor to be in & one that will definitely stand out from the ubiquitous Germanic, grey & dull that still dominates the premium SUV sector. An Etoile Long-Range would be our choice. And of course a 460 mile range is an incredibly strong selling point.
We liked it a lot 3.75/5
