New DS 7 SUV starts from £36,760

• Almost exclusively plug-in hybrid
• New range-topping model
• Upgraded infotainment

The new DS 7 is an updated version of the previously named DS 7 Crossback, with refreshed technology, styling, and a simpler name. Prices start at £36,760 for the entry Performance Line model, and climb to £62,940 for the top of the line Opera Premiere. A new plug-in hybrid powertrain will be offered across the range to intensify competition against premium offerings like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3.

Five separate trim levels will be available for the new DS 7: Performance Line, Performance Line+, Rivoli, Opera, and Opera Premiere. The entry trim is the only one that’s exclusively front-wheel drive, while a diesel engine can be picked for the first three trim specs, but not the top two.

The new model has a slimmer set of LED lights than before to give it a more aggressive look, plus there’s a larger front grille and different rear lights, plus the boot lid and badge are updated as well. The Crossback logo is gone - the car’s name has changed, after all - and there’s more emphasis on the DS Automobiles logo instead.

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New wheels, including aerodynamic 19-inch alloys and 21-inch items on the top-spec plug-in hybrid model, will be available too. The new LED lights have extra functions and are more powerful and, according to the car maker, more useful.

New leather upholstery is available inside the new DS 7, plus there’s ambient lighting and some other features that are available for the first time on this new model. The interior hasn’t changed too much, although there are new materials, including white leather (‘Pearl Grey’), plus the infotainment set-up has also been refreshed.

There’s a new 12-inch touchscreen with revised menus that DS claims is easier to use. The system is made up of customisable widgets to allow you to quickly access your commonly used features. There are higher-resolution cameras to help with parking, plus wi-fi phone connectivity. The 12-inch digital instrument display behind the steering wheel has refreshed graphics too, while the plug-in hybrid models get a unique display that shows how the car’s energy is being used.

Order books are open for the new DS 7, and buyers are able to make their purchase either in showrooms or via Citroen’s online store, with the first deliveries to be made in November.

New DS 7 engines

The DS 7 is available with a range of plug-in hybrid powertrains, and these models are identified by E-Tense badging. A new E-Tense 360 version has been added to the range, and the petrol-only PureTech 180 will no longer be available.

The DS 7 E-Tense 225 is the least powerful, but still has 222bhp in total thanks to a 178bhp petrol engine and a 108bhp electric motor. This version has an eight-speed automatic gearbox and is front-wheel drive only.

Then there are 296bhp and 355bhp versions of the E-Tense as well. These models are both four-wheel drive and use a 197bhp petrol engine with two electric motors (108bhp and 110bhp respectively).

Tuned by DS Performance, the most powerful version should offer a sportier driving experience as well as greater straight-line speed. It sits 15mm lower, has a wider track (the distance between each wheel) and gets huge front brakes with upgraded callipers. The powertrain, which is very similar to the one fitted in the closely related Peugeot 508 PSE, enables a 0-62mph time of just 5.6 seconds. This makes it a large, heavy SUV that can outsprint many hot hatchbacks and sports cars. 

The plug-in hybrid models have also been updated with a new 14.2 kWh battery that brings around 40 miles of driving range on electric power alone. Using a home wallbox charger it takes about two hours to charge up.

There are some pure petrol models available outside Europe, although the only other version available here will be a 128bhp diesel called the 130 BlueHDi. This engine is carried over from the pre-facelift model, but isn’t a highlight of the line-up; it should be the least expensive option, though.

Read our guide to the best hybrid SUVs and check out the cars with the best interiors.