France’s new posh SUV: The DS No7 could sound like a magnificence product but it surely’s an opulent household automotive costing £50,000

France’s premium car-maker DS Automobiles has unveiled its new top of the range compact SUV – just don’t mistake it for Boots’ best-selling beauty range.

The new DS No7 will sit alongside the brand’s flagship saloon – the fastback crossover DS No.8 which is on sale now ahead of first UK deliveries in April – and has passed on much of its design and tech DNA.

As part of a major regeneration of its line-up, it marks the first time since June 2014 – when DS Automobiles was set up as a standalone premium car brand spun off from Citroen – that the company has renewed one of its models, with the new DS No7 replacing the earlier DS7, its biggest seller.

Available as both a self-charging hybrid and as three pure electric variants, prices are expected to be between £45,000 and £50,000.

With its bold face, strong styling and craftsmanship, attention to detail, and shooting-brake style rear it aims to stand out in a highly competitive but expanding SUV market. 

It is pitched against the Tesla Model Y, BMW iX3, Audi Q4 and Q6 e-trons, the Volvo EX40. Mercedes-Benz GLB EQ and a host of Chinese newcomers.

The entry pure-EV option is the 230hp standard front-wheel drive DS No7 E-Tense with a 73.7kWh battery. This provides a claimed range of up to 337 miles (543km) and can accelerate from 0 to 62mph in 7.7 seconds.

There too is a 245hp front-wheel drive ‘long-range’ version with a more powerful 97.2kWh battery.

It has a claimed record range for a compact SUV in its sector of up to 460 miles (740 km). It will do 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds.

The priciest of all will be the 350hp all-wheel drive long-range, which adds a second electric motor with power generated from the larger 97.2kWh battery.

Maximum range between charges is slightly shorter 421 miles (679km) but it will get off the line quicker with an acceleration time from rest to 62mph in 5.4 seconds.

The three EV powertrains also have a boost function which provides a brief increase in power adding 30hp, 35hp, and 25hp respectively.

Top speed for the EVs is electronically governed at 118mph.

DS Automobiles says the larger battery can be charged to 80 per cent in 27 minutes while the smaller 73.7kWh pack takes just over half an hour with thermal pre-conditioning of the battery.

A clever ‘plug and play’ function allows a charging cycle to be triggered automatically when the car is plugged into a DC fast charging station and also helps to optimise downtime.

The driver can also increase the energy regeneration to the battery by adjusting the brake settings with the paddles behind the steering wheel and too can choose one-pedal driving, which maximises energy recovery by releasing pressure on the accelerator pedal: ‘ In this mode, the brake pedal is only used under hard braking’.

But with electric car demand seemingly waning, it will be the self-charging hybrid that’s likely to attract the most UK customers.

It combines a 1.2 litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine with a 28hp (21kW) electric motor integrated directly into the dual-clutch six-speed automatic gearbox. 

This results in frugal ‘official’ fuel consumption of around 53mpg and low CO2 emissions of between 119g and 128g/km. 

Fully charged and fully fuelled, it promises a combined range of 646 miles – more than enough to drive from London to Stuttgart in one sitting.

It covers 0 to 62mph in 10.6 seconds up to a top speed of 125mph.

The company notes: ‘In urban or suburban use, this allows motorists to drive up to 50per cent of the total time in 100per cent electric mode.

‘The self-charging hybrid system recovers the energy generated during deceleration and braking phases to power the battery, without the need for external charging.’

Although the new DS No7 is broadly the same width and height as its predecessor (1.90m wide and 1.63m hight) it is 7cm longer at 4.66m following a 5cm extension to the wheelbase at 2.79m.

So while this enhances passenger space and comfort, it will attract the ire of controversial London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan who, as part of his latest ‘war on the motorist’ is looking to impose a new charge – dubbed a family tax’ – on owners of larger SUVs.

Boot space is between 500 litres and 560 litres depending on model and space taken with batteries and audio equipment.

Luxury French ride famed by DS

Citroen’s DS cars from its heritage are famed for the quirky suspension and supple ride manner. And the No7 will be no different. 

It features active-scan suspension, which uses a camera at the top of the windscreen to monitor the road ahead looking for potholes and ruts. It then alerts the car’s controlled damping system to take evasive action to mitigate any bumps.

The company said: ‘In a few milliseconds, the road surface is analysed and the information transmitted to a computer that individually adjusts each shock absorber.

‘The suspension can therefore anticipate road irregularities to offer a remarkable balance between handling and comfort.’

To help maintain quiet and calm and reduce noise, the No7 can be fitted with acoustic laminated glass in the front and rear doors to complement the acoustic laminated windscreen and damping materials arranged around the passenger compartment.

Driver and passengers can enjoy generous space at the front and back contributing to what DS Automobiles describes as ‘First Class comfort.’

Front seats with integrated headrests feature high-density foams and width-adjustable side bolsters to boost support and posture.

Heated, cooled, and massage seats are joined by a neck warner function which diffuses gentle heat to the back of the neck.

Rear passengers can also enjoy heated seats with separate control.

An optional panoramic glass roof provides up to 50mm more headroom than the normal roof.

Its layered laminated glass includes anti-UV and other tints and finishes to help keep occupants cool in summer and warm in winter.

Lovers of hi-fi will be attracted to the optional 690W Electra 14-speaker 3D sound system specially developed for DS Automobiles by premium French audio specialists Focal.

The cockpit has a 10-inch digital instrument cluster, 16-inch central touchscreen, and X-shaped steering wheel, as well as hi-tech that includes head-up display, night vision and drive assist.

Soft to the touch materials are enhanced by contrasting stitching or embossed patterns and can also be combined with brushed aluminium or real wood trim.

Five interior options complement the six exterior shades including the new silk green, alongside palladium grey, topaz blue, alabaster white, crystal pearl and perla nera black.

There are three standard trim levels – Aura, Pallas and Etoile – plus a special launch ‘La Premiere’ edition.

However, exact specifications may change by the time the DS No7 arrives in UK showrooms later this year.