DS No. 7: The French Premium SUV Shifts Into Electric Speed

DS Automobiles Renews Its Best-Seller

DS Automobiles has just turned a major page in its young history. On March 17, 2026, the premium French brand officially unveiled the DS N°7 and opened orders to professional fleets. The first model to be completely redesigned since the brand's inception in 2014, this compact SUV succeeds the DS 7 — the range's best-seller — with a clear ambition: to regain the upper hand against German premium segment benchmarks by fully playing the electrification card.

From DS 7 Crossback to DS N°7: Eight Years of Service

The DS 7 Crossback was a foundational strategic choice. Presented to the press on February 28, 2017 ahead of the Geneva Motor Show, it was the very first model designed to carry only the DS logo — goodbye Citroën, hello total independence. A remarkable debut: on May 14, 2017, the day of Emmanuel Macron's inauguration, who chose for the occasion a Presidential version in ink blue with a retractable roof, seven months before first deliveries in January 2018.

Restyled in autumn 2022, the SUV dropped its "Crossback" name to become simply DS 7. But as competitors renewed their lineups and went electric, its sales slowed. In 2025, only 4,749 DS 7s were sold in France. It was time to make a bold statement.

Styling Inspired by the N°8

The DS N°7 directly inherits the styling language introduced in 2025 by the N°8 sedan-crossover, the brand's flagship. Smooth surfaces, an almost flat hood crossed by a central ridge, a full and luminous DS LUMINASCREEN grille, a complex visual signature with its eight LED points evoking the "Clous de Paris" guilloché pattern… The SUV gains confidence and stature.

In terms of dimensions, it stretches 7 cm to reach 4.66 m, retains a width of 1.90 m and height of 1.63 m identical to the outgoing model. The wheelbase increases by 5 cm to 2.79 m, directly benefiting interior space. The boot expands from 541 to 560 liters under the parcel shelf. The designated rivals? The Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes GLC.

STLA Medium and XXL Range

The major upheaval lies beneath the skin. The DS N°7 abandons the venerable EMP2 platform inherited from PSA Group to adopt the multi-energy STLA Medium 400 V base, already used by the DS N°8, the third-generation Peugeot 3008, and the Citroën C5 Aircross. This architecture allows four variants:

• DS N°7 Hybrid 145: three-cylinder 1.2 turbo petrol coupled with 48 V assistance, 145 hp, 121 g/km CO₂.
• DS N°7 E-Tense FWD: 230 hp (boost 260 hp), 73.7 kWh battery, 543 km WLTP range, 0 to 100 km/h in 7.7 s.
• DS N°7 E-Tense FWD Long Range: 245 hp (boost 280 hp), 97.2 kWh battery, 740 km range — a record in the premium compact SUV category.
• DS N°7 E-Tense AWD Long Range: 350 hp, 509 Nm, 0 to 100 km/h in 5.4 s, 679 km range.

Fast charging accepts a peak of 160 kW: 20 to 80% in 27 minutes, 190 km recovered in just ten minutes. And diesel? Gone without a word. At Stellantis, diesel is no longer considered a future option for the premium segment.

A Deeply European Product

DS claims 89% of components are of European origin. The 97.2 kWh battery comes from the ACC Gigafactory in Billy-Berclau, in the Hauts-de-France region. The electric motor is manufactured in Trémery, Moselle. Final assembly, however, takes place at the Stellantis plant in Melfi, southern Italy, alongside the N°8 and the upcoming Lancia Gamma. A location that breaks with the previous generation, assembled in Mulhouse.

Inside, the "first class" spirit championed by the brand is embodied in a 16-inch central touchscreen (DS IRIS 2.0 system with ChatGPT integration), a camera-piloted DS Active Scan suspension, the DS NIGHT VISION that detects pedestrians and animals up to 300 m away, and the DS PIXELVISION whose range reaches 520 m.

Pricing and Timeline

Orders opened on March 17, 2026 on a single professional version, the N°7 E-Tense FWD Étoile Ligne Business at €64,200, designed for company fleets thanks to favorable eco-scores. Opening to private customers is scheduled for May 2026, with first deliveries expected in October 2026. The range will be built around three finishes — Aura, Pallas, and Étoile — complemented by a "La Première" launch series limited to 1,000 units. Six paint colors on the catalog, including the new Silky Green and Topaz Blue.

The French Premium Electric Gamble

With this DS N°7, the brand is playing for high stakes. In 2024, DS Automobiles sold 40,971 vehicles worldwide, primarily in Europe and especially in France (half of global sales). Against 1.6 million Audis or 2.2 million BMWs, the manufacturer remains the underdog in the segment. But with 740 km of top-end range, predominantly European manufacturing, and finally assertive design, the N°7 has solid arguments to reignite the machine.

Want to dive into the details of the DS N°7's equipment and finishes? On Brochure Auto, find the official brochure for the new SUV as well as user manuals for DS Automobiles models to prepare for your first drive. Let's get into those catalogs!