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
Only the entry-level Elegance trim forgoes 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 night-vision technology that hasn’t been fitted before in the class.
Equipment
Even the entry-level Elegance model is well equipped, getting 18-inch alloy wheels, LED front foglights that help illuminate corners, leather trim for the steering wheel and gearknob and rear parking sensors. It’s also fitted with driver aids, including lane-departure warning.
Performance Line adds a sporting flavour, with Alcantara on the seats, door panels and even the dashboard. The front seats are heated and technology is bolstered with the large infotainment screen, digital instruments, sat nav and LED headlights. The clever Active Scan Suspension is also included (as long as you pick the top diesel engine), along with 19-inch alloy wheels and tinted windows.
If luxury is your priority, Prestige adds crystal controls dotted around the interior, LED ambient lighting, front parking sensors and a reversing camera, along with wireless charging for compatible smartphones. The B.R.M clock is added to the dash along with swathes of leather.
That’s not it though, because Ultra Prestige is even more lavish, with 20-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof, upgraded stereo system and leather seats. Functionality is also improved by 360-degree cameras, keyless entry with a powered tailgate, adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance.
Options
Polar White is the only standard colour, so you’ll need to budget £550 for metallic paint or £750 for one of the pearlescent hues. Upgrading from 18 to 19-inch alloy wheels also costs £550, while front parking sensors cost £150 and a reversing camera is £450. A Premium Safety Pack is available for the Elegance trim for just under £900, adding features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. It also includes the DS ConnectedCAM, a camera in the rear-view mirror that can record accidents. This is also available as a stand-alone option.
An ‘Alezan Brown’ Nappa leather with watchstrap design is a no-cost option on the Ultra Prestige model or £2,750 if chosen on a Prestige version of the DS7.
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.
To improve visibility, LED headlights cost £1,000, 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 Ultra Prestige model, where it’s standard.
Some optional equipment is cheaper if you’re buying a high-spec model to begin with.
