DS n.7 2026 | Meglio DIMENTICARE la generazione precedente!

The new DS N°7 isn't a redesign of the old DS 7: it's a completely different car, built from the ground up on Stellantis' STLA Medium platform and produced in Melfi, Italy. In this first experience, I drive it extensively, both in the electric and hybrid versions, to understand just how much Stellantis truly knows how to make premium cars. Let's start with the dimensions: 4.66 m long, with a 2.79 m wheelbase, and a truncated tail designed using CFD to reduce drag and limit rear turbulence. At the front, the new DS identity debuts with the V-shaped Light Blades and the illuminated DS Luminascreen grille. Wheels up to 21", with the option of a contrasting two-tone hood and roof. The aesthetic impact works, regardless of whether you like the brand or not. Inside, there's a real generational leap. Soft-touch materials almost everywhere, visible stitching, heated and ventilated seats with curious but extremely comfortable shapes, and plastic only in the areas least exposed to touch. The 10-inch digital instrument panel and 16-inch central touchscreen are well integrated, with an extended head-up display projected onto the windshield. The only real complaint: the X-shaped steering wheel, aesthetically original but with thumb recesses that become uncomfortable on the highway, when your grip naturally loosens and your hand slides downward. The panel framing the Focal ELECTRA 3D audio system (14 speakers, 690W amplifier) ​​is a bit flashy, but the rest of the dashboard is meticulously finished. The rear space is surprising given the exterior dimensions, with a panoramic roof that adds up to 50 mm of headroom. The trunk extends up to 560 liters, dropping to 500 in the AWD configuration with subwoofer, with an electrically actuated loading threshold. The powertrain range is extensive. Three 100% electric engines: 230 hp FWD with a 73.7 kWh battery and a WLTP range of 543 km, 245 hp FWD Long Range (280 hp in boost) with a 97.2 kWh battery and up to 740 km of range, and 350 hp AWD Long Range (375 hp in boost) with dual motors and a 0-100 km time of 5.4 seconds. Fast charging from 20 to 80% takes 27 minutes for the large battery and 31 minutes for the small one, with peak power of 160 kW maintained for a long time. The architecture is still 400V, not 800V: the only real technical flaw. An 11 kW AC on-board charger is standard on the Pallas, Étoile. and La Première, with an option of up to 22 kW. The 145 hp Hybrid version is powered by a new-generation 1.2-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, the same base as the Turbo 100 we've already covered on the Lancia Ypsilon and Citroën C5 Aircross: a timing chain, not a belt, combined with a 48V mild hybrid system with a 0.43 kWh battery and a 21 kW (28 hp) electric motor integrated into the dual-clutch automatic transmission. Despite its mild hybrid certification, it performs almost like a full hybrid, with electric driving up to 50% of the time in the city. 0-100 km/h in about 10 seconds, a top speed of 201 km/h, higher than the 190 km/h of the electric model. On the road, balance is the biggest surprise: DS Active Scan Suspension that reads the road with a camera and adjusts the shock absorbers in real time, total silence thanks to acoustic glass and sound-absorbing materials, zero Creaks despite its Italian production. The turning circle is surprisingly tight for a front-wheel drive car. The ADAS are comprehensive and smooth, even on the highway. Between the two, my choice remains the electric FWD Long Range: it goes further, is more balanced, and the hybrid lacks nothing, but the difference is noticeable. Prices start at €42,400 for the base Hybrid, rising to over €76,000 for the La Première E-TENSE AWD Long Range. A significant price, but those looking for a DS aren't looking for a sports car: they're looking for comfort, quietness, and perceived quality, and in this respect, the N°7 beats several German premium models that are currently declining in quality. Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Real-world and extra-urban fuel consumption in a more complete test with Pietro. I'm reading! VIDEO CHAPTERS 00:00 - DS N°7: a completely new platform 01:49 - Dimensions, CFD aerodynamics, and design Exterior 2:53 AM - Interior: Materials, X-shaped steering wheel, and its limitations 7:52 AM - Rear space and panoramic roof 9:06 AM - Charging, trunk, and features 10:11 AM - The three electric engines: 230, 245, and 350 HP 11:33 AM - 145 HP Hybrid engine: same base as the Turbo 100 5:02 PM - Driving: hybrid vs. electric 7:05 PM - ADAS, record-breaking steering, and suspension 10:38 PM - Prices and final considerations #DSN7 #DSAutomobiles #STLAMedium