The DS 7 has in its catalog mainly electrified mechanics. Today we have been able to test the 300 hp plug-in hybrid and all-wheel drive. The reason: the premiere of its new finish 'Esprit de Voyage'. Is it up to this model? We check it.
The DS 7 made an appearance in the company in the already distant year 2018. Since then, its sales have numbered in the thousands and its position is well-known in the sector. A car that is characterized, among other things, by belonging to the C-SUV segment but that can fight face-to-face with other rivals from higher echelons.
This is demonstrated in its dimensions, which fully compete with the well-known German SUV trio (BMW X1, Mercedes GLA, and Audi Q3), as well as with alternatives such as the Volvo XC40. However, far from specific measures, due to full specifications and features, in reality, it is closer to the older brothers of the aforementioned models, such as the BMW X3, Audi Q5, or Mercedes GLC. This is something that few cars on the market can boast of.
Now, with all this, the French company has opened a new front within its SUV range, now adding a new finish called "Esprit de Voyage". Let's remember that the DS 7 has two families of well-differentiated finishes; one focused on luxury and comfort, and another with a more sporty orientation. Well, the new level would be located within the first line and, more specifically, one step above the Opera and one below the Rivoli, although it takes most of the latter's sections.
This new alternative has characteristic differentiating elements. First of all, in terms of the exterior, it makes use of the so-called Black Pack, which modifies the chrome elements in favor of others decorated in glossy black, which are inserted into the grille, the glazing contour, the interior of the headlights themselves or roof bars. In addition to this, it also adopts new 19-inch Oyama wheels (exclusive to this finish), the monogram with the name of the finish on the outer panels of the doors, as well as some mirror housings decorated with the emblem of the model.
For those of you who are wondering, the aforementioned emblem of the Esprit de Voyage is a characteristic icon with the profile of Europe but drawn with lines that come from a central point, which is Paris; more specifically, it focuses on the location of the company's DS Design Studio.
Opening its doors we will find ourselves face to face with an already familiar interior but with some completely new elements. In the first place, we will see a passage of the doors with the name of the finish, some exclusive mats, as well as an engraving on the dashboard (very striking, by the way) with the aforementioned emblem of the Esprit de Voyage of the French SUV.
In addition to this, it also has outstanding standard equipment, such as heated, ventilated, and massaged front seats, the central infotainment system with a 12-inch touch screen, automatically opening and closing trunk lid, moons tinted taillights or Pixel LED 3.0 headlights. To this can be added even more generous equipment through the catalog of extras, such as the DS driving assistant, the night vision system, 360-degree camera, practicable panoramic roof, or the Focal Electra HiFi sound system.
Entering the mechanical section, the DS 7 Esprit de Voyage has great acquaintances within the range of the French SUV. This variant only has two plug-in hybrid variants of 225 or 300 hp, the latter also with permanent all-wheel drive. In both cases, the transmission will be the so-called e-EAT8. The electric autonomy will be up to 65 kilometers in the mixed cycle and more than 80 kilometers in urban.
In the case of the 225 CV variant, it has a 180 CV PureTech engine, an electric motor located on the front axle and that delivers 110 CV. The latter is powered by a 14.2 kWh capacity battery and has the ability to recharge up to 7.4 kW of power. As a differentiating point, in addition to the maximum power itself, the 300 CV adopts an additional 112 CV electric motor (which gives it all-wheel drive), as well as more power in the gasoline block, which here reaches 200 CV. With all this, the DS 7 has an average consumption approved in the WLTP cycle of just 1.3 liters per 100 km.
We tested the DS 7 Esprit de Voyage
The DS 7 is not a new SUV for us. In fact, a few months ago we
were already able to test this renewal in its plug-in hybrid mechanics. In the
case that we are dealing with today, nothing of what has been said previously
has changed, so everything can be extrapolated to this test, so we will go
a little more to the point of the finish that we have today.
In terms of interior quality, the DS 7 never disappoints. The Esprit de Voyage has very good quality interior upholstery and a really outstanding touch. This one is lined in Pearl Gray NappaGalet leather. Specifically, the upper area of the doors and dashboard is finished in a lighter color, while the rest is black. But as I say, the perceived quality is more than outstanding.
In the rest of the sections, everything has a good finish and a feeling of quality, except for the areas finished in piano black, which, as you know, gets dirty very easily and tends to have scratches.
The engine that we have been able to test today is the 300-hp plug-in hybrid and all-wheel drive, as we have said before, the same one that we were able to test a few months ago. In general terms, the DS 7 Esprit de Voyage has very good dynamics, but it does not appear to have the dimensions that it has or count on the weight that it has. The direction is very direct and it's a high driving position. All this generates enormous confidence behind the wheel, as well as great visibility to the outside.
Its cushioning is designed to be really comfortable on any route, being able to "eat" any type of bump just without flinching, something more than convenient on certain more complicated routes. Likewise, the rest of the mechanical elements, despite having the power they have, have a very smooth and light set-up. No startles or crazy starts. Here everything is smooth and harmonious, thus achieving a calm and comfortable dynamic.
In any case, the model has different driving modes, among which is the Sport variant. In this, the DS 7 will take full advantage of its potential and will make the accelerations at specific moments really high. In the consumption section, the DS 7 E-Tense will tend to pull, in general, from the electrical system. Once the battery charge of this runs out, it will automatically go into hybrid mode and will slightly recharge your system for specific moments in which you need it. Likewise, its figures in the mixed cycle will be around 6 liters with the hybrid mode activated, while for the urban cycle, it will be normal to see the number 'zero' on the counter.
In other term of things, the model has plenty of interior space in all its spaces, both in front and behind. The trunk, for its part, although the model has all-wheel drive and an electrical system, does not lose space compared to other variants, with a volume of 555 liters in its natural position.
Conclusion and prices
The DS 7 E-Tense Esprit de Voyage seemed to me one of the best
alternatives in the French SUV catalog, especially for its good equipment, as
well as for the mechanical options it presents. In terms of prices, this finish
has a starting cost of 58,500 euros. A total of 3,000 euros above the Rivoli
and 1,250 euros less than the Opera. In the 300 CV variant, this finish has a
starting invoice of 63,500 euros.
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