Once known as a premium sub-brand of Citroën, DS Automobiles has come a long way since its inauguration in 2009. The automaker is now its own brand under the Groupe PSA umbrella.
For numerous years now, the automaker has been prolific in Formula E – the all-electric racing series. Under the DS Techeetah brand, the team achieved 5th in the 2016-17 season, 2nd in the 17-18 season and took the Constructors Championship in 2018-19 with Jean-Éric Vergne becoming the first and only two-time Formula E Drivers’ Champion.
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It’s no surprise then, that the automaker has been pushing toward an electrified line up in its consumer products. Alongside the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense (100% electric) and the DS 7 Crossback E-Tense 4×4 (4-wheel drive, 223 kW/300 hp plug-in hybrid), DS has now added another model to its fleet – the DS 7 Crossback E-Tense 225.
The new SUV has a 134 kW (180 hp) petrol engine (Euro 6.3 emissions standard) that delivers 300 Nm of torque; it’s backed by an 82 kW (110 hp) electric motor fitted straight to the eight-speed automatic gearbox.
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Much like other hybrids in its space, the electric motor is used to start-up the vehicle and allows for a pure electric drive up to a speed of 84 mph. If one wants to enable hybrid mode, the DS 7 Crossback E-Tense 225 will dispatch a combined 168 kW (225 hp) of power and 360 Nm of torque. Be warned, however, its small 13.2 kWh battery only has a 34-mile range.
On the plus side, the battery does charge while you drive – as with Formula E, regenerative braking sends electrical energy back into the battery pack. Another function, DS label as ‘E-Save’ enables the driver to keep enough energy for a purely electric drive in the final 12 miles of your journey.
When it comes to charging, the vehicle comes with a traditional domestic charging cable (3-pin) and a 7.4 kW Type 2, which allows it to charge from 0 to 100% in 1hr 45mins.
As for the CO2 emissions, these sit in-between 31 and 36g/km, whereby fuel consumption is between 176.6 – 201.8 mpg (as per the WLTP test cycle). Using the petrol engine only, fuel consumption goes drastically down to 43.5 – 46.3 mpg.
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Finally, when it comes to ride comfort, DS has gone above and beyond to ensure the DS 7 Crossback E-Tense 225 is a smooth as possible. The intelligent suspension system, which the manufacturer labels as ‘DS Active Scan Suspension’.
Here, a camera behind the windscreen, as well as four attitude sensors and three accelerometers analyse the kind of road and conditions (speed, steering wheel angle, braking etc), and transmit data instantly to a computer which controls each wheel independently. Using this information, the vehicle continuously makes the suspension firmer or softer to provide a unique, smooth driving experience.
Furthermore, DS has sound-proofed the cabin to help make the driving experience all that more serene. It’s also aided by the fact that the electric motor runs silently and the vehicle’s glasses are laminated, further reducing ambient noise.
What do you make of the new DS 7 Crossback E-Tense 225 plug-in hybrid? Let us in the comments below or via social media; we’re on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
