DS No. 7: The Tricolor Premium SUV Shifts into Electric Gear

DS Automobiles Renews Its Best-Seller

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

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

The DS 7 Crossback was a founding strategic choice. Presented to the press on February 28, 2017 ahead of the Geneva Motor Show, it was the very first model designed to bear only the DS logo — goodbye Citroën, making way for completely autonomous status. First notable appearance: on May 14, 2017, the day of Emmanuel Macron's inauguration, who chose on the occasion a Presidential version in deep blue with a retractable roof, seven months before the first deliveries in January 2018.

Restyled in autumn 2022, the SUV dropped its "Crossback" name to become simply DS 7. But as competitors renewed themselves and switched to electric, its sales ran out of steam. In 2025, only 4,749 DS 7s were sold in France. A major blow was needed.

A Silhouette 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 in confidence and status.

In terms of dimensions, it stretches by 7 cm to reach 4.66 m, maintains a width of 1.90 m and a 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 trunk grows from 541 to 560 liters under the shelf. The designated rivals? The Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes GLC.

STLA Medium and XXL Range

The major transformation hides 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 fanfare. At Stellantis, diesel is no longer considered a future option for the premium segment.

A Profoundly European Product

DS claims 89% European-sourced components. The 97.2 kWh battery comes from the ACC Gigafactory in Billy-Berclau, in the Hauts-de-France. 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.

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

Pricing and Timeline

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

The Wager of French Premium Electric

With this DS N°7, the brand is playing for high stakes. In 2024, DS Automobiles sold 40,971 vehicles worldwide, mainly in Europe and particularly in France (half of global sales). Facing 1.6 million Audis or 2.2 million BMWs, the manufacturer remains the underdog of the segment. But with 740 km of range at its peak, predominantly European manufacturing, and finally confident design, the N°7 has solid arguments to reinvigorate the business.

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