DS 7 Crossback SUV - Interior & comfort
The DS 7 Crossback is the most lavish French SUV to date, but some of the materials feel cheaper than they should
No matter how hard you try, you’ll struggle to find a Citroen badge inside the DS 7, as this SUV was designed from the ground up by the fledgling luxury brand. In fact, DS wants to become a French luxury brand uttered in the same breath as names like Louis Vuitton and Chanel and the interior is intended to evoke thoughts of French couture.
There are soft-touch materials almost everywhere you look, with upper trims like Performance Line liberally covering surfaces with leather and Alcantara. Build quality appears excellent, too, with small but noticeable touches like soft linings inside the door pockets instead of scratchy plastic. Shut the door behind you and it slams home with a pleasing thud and no rattles.
DS 7 Crossback dashboard
Even the entry-level Performance Line gets an attractive 12-inch touchscreen mounted in the centre of the dashboard. It’s closely related to the system in the Peugeot 3008 and 5008, and that’s no bad thing: it works well and gets bespoke graphics to complement the DS brand. Instead of analogue gauges, you’ll also find a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, again with new fonts and graphics that look sharp and distinctive.
Another few highlights include the B.R.M clock that takes pride of place in the middle of the dashboard and rotates into place when you start the engine, along with optional night-vision technology that hasn’t been fitted before in the class.
Equipment
The entry-level Performance Line model is well equipped, getting 19-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, a 12-inch touchscreen with DS Connect Nav, a digital instrument display and keyless start. It’s also fitted with driver aids including lane-departure warning, and has climate control and wipers.
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Performance Line+ adds Active LED headlights, electric adjustment for heated front seats, a reversing camera and front parking sensors, and features wireless phone charging and a retro B.R.M. analogue clock on the dash, along with an electric tailgate and black roof rails.
The more fashion-focused Rivoli trim adds crystal controls dotted around the interior, LED ambient lighting, heated massaging seats and swathes of leather on the dash.
Opera is even more lavish, with 20-inch wheels, an upgraded stereo system and Nappa leather seats with an eye-catching watch-strap design. Functionality is also improved by 360-degree cameras, keyless entry with a powered tailgate, adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance.
Sitting above Opera is a limited-edition Le Louvre model that celebrates the French museum of the same name. It gets a smattering of Louvre badges and black exterior trim, plus a highly unusual feature that lets you see 182 of the Louvre’s artworks on the car’s touchscreen (a different image each day) with audio commentary about the art.
Options
Polar White is the only standard colour, so you’ll need to budget £595 for metallic paint or £795 for one of the pearlescent finishes. Front parking sensors cost £150, if they’re not already included, and a reversing camera is £450. A Premium Safety Pack is available for between £750 and £1,300 depending on trim, adding features such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. You can also get Advanced Traction Control with modes for mud, sand and snow, and is good value at £150 if you live in rural areas and encounter slippery roads.
Technology
Coming as standard from Performance Line and above, the infotainment and instrument cluster displays both impress with their sharp displays and snappy interfaces. Smartphone fans will be pleased they’re also compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with Mirrorlink, allowing you to use some of your favourite apps like Google Maps and Spotify.
There are some unique features too, including DS Night Vision, which hasn’t been seen in the class before. Here, distant people or even large animals are highlighted in the instrument cluster, alerting you to their presence. Usually reserved for very high-end models, this feature is a £1,400 option.
DS Park Pilot self parking costs £600, while £1,200 lets more light into the interior courtesy of an opening panoramic sunroof. A remote, smartphone controlled, interior heater is £500 and a fitted tow bar costs £600. Extended bi-zone automatic air-conditioning is £200, while an electronic remote tailgate and keyless go is optional on anything other than the top-spec Opera model, where it’s standard.
Some optional equipment is cheaper if you’re buying a high-spec model to begin with.
