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DS7 plug-in hybrid (2020-)

Available new
Medium/Large SUV
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV)

£50,028Typical price

Test score

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Citroën’s upmarket brand DS offers the DS 7 as a prestige medium-size SUV. As of 2019, it’s also sold as a plug-in hybrid, badged E-Tense. How do its exceptional fuel economy claims play out in the real world? And can it beat plug-in rivals like the Volvo XC60 Recharge and BMW X3 xDrive30e? Find out in our DS 7 E-Tense Plug-In Hybrid review.

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cons

What's included?

What is it?
What's it great at?
What’s it like to drive?
How reliable are DS cars?
How comfortable and spacious is it?
How economical is it to run?
How safe is it?
Is there anything I should look out for?
Should I buy it?

KEY TEST RESULTS
Comfort and practicality

Nov 2024Last checked by Which?
Dec 2020First reviewed by Which?
Nov 2019Released

The overall Which? test score is made up of the following star ratings, all determined by our rigorous lab tests.

How we test cars

20 May 2025

Ease of driving

Overall
Visibility
Smoothness of power delivery
Driving stability
Cabin layout

How we test ease of driving

To find out how easy a car is to drive, we assess cars across a number of areas from visibility and handling to the layout of the cabin and how smoothly the engine delivers its power.

Performance

Overall
In-gear acceleration
Brakes

How we test performance

We test braking distances and whether the effectivess of the brakes fade with repeat use. Performanc is based on in-gear acceleration.

Comfort and practicality

Overall
Entry and exit
Seat comfort
Ride quality
Quietness
Seat space
Boot space (large cars, SUVs and MPVs)

How we test comfort and practicality

Comfort and practicality includes how easy it is, or not, to get in and out of the car and the maximum height of occupants. We also measure road, wind and engine noise and assess how well the car deals with bumps from large potholes to jittery surfaces like cobble stones.

Euro NCAP

How we test euro ncap

Any car that receives a rating of two stars or less from Euro NCAP is made a Don't Buy. Any car that receives three stars can't be a Best Buy. If a car has been available for more than four years and has not been tested by Euro NCAP, it cannot be a Best Buy.

Safety kit

How we test safety kit

We factor in the safety equipment that’s factory-fitted or optional, along with how well the car protects its occupants and pedestrians in the event of an accident. We also test how easy it is to fit a variety of child car seats.

General
Class	Medium/Large SUV
Luxury	Yes
Convertible	No
Availability	Available new
New price	£50,028 - £50,028
Fuel type	Plug-in hybrid (PHEV)
Tested fuel efficiency	65.1mpg
Length	4,573mm
Width (excluding wing mirrors)	1,895mm
Width (including wing mirrors)	2,100mm
Height	1,618mm
Driver max height
Second-row passenger max height
Boot space with seats up
Boot space with seats down
Number of seats	5
Folding rear seats	Yes
Isofix attachments	Yes
Turning circle	10.95 m
On sale date	14 November 2019
Lowest pence-per-mile cost	£19.83

Latest tested engine
Engine and trim name	E-Tense 300 4x4 Automatic
Fuel type	Plug-in-Petrol-Hybrid
Capacity and power	1.6-litre (300hp)
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Driven wheels	Four-wheel-drive (4WD)
Fuel tank capacity	43 litres
Tested fuel economy: City / Out of town / Motorway (mpg)
Tested fuel efficiency (mi/kWh)
Tested fuel economy: Combined (mpg)
Cost per mile	19.83p per mile
Cost of filling tank	£58
Monthly fuel cost
Annual fuel cost
NOx level	Extremely Low (trace)
CO level	Medium
CO2 at tailpipe/tank-to-wheel (TTW) (g/km)	102
Tested electric-only range (miles)
Official fuel economy: WLTP	166.2 to 235.4
Official Euro emission level	Euro 6d
Braked tow load (KG)	1200kg
Unbraked tow load (KG)	750kg
Engine test date	22 October 2020
Test programme	2017

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