The sleek and glamorous DS7 plug-in hybrid will have you in SUV heaven

The DS7 Crossback is by far my favorite DS model.

It’s a gorgeous-looking SUV that can easily hold its ground against a host of luxury rivals.

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And the DS7 has a lot of blinking of its own, like the front and rear LEDs that look like jewels.

And the front has three sections of LED lights that spin around and dance when you start the car.

Also inside the cabin, when you push the aluminum start button, a fancy BRN Chronographs clock integrated on the dashboard will flip around to greet you.

The DS7 really shines inside, the dashboard and door trim on my Performance Line model is covered in suede and the majority of the buttons and switches are aluminum, some of them knurled, so so it really feels a special and luxurious place.

The heated and power-operated seats are also upholstered in suede with a quilted pattern and this ties into the DS and its diamond obsession.

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You’ll find them all over the cabin, and some of the infotainment network icons are even diamonds, but unlike some other DS models, these diamonds haven’t been made to death.

And speaking of infotainment, a large 12.3-inch touchscreen dominates the dashboard.

It has the usual Bluetooth and Apple and Android connectivity, and the driver also has a large 12-inch display with really smart customizable graphics.

There are three trim levels, Performance Series, Performance+ Series and Prestige.

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And even though my test car was an entry-level car, it was fully loaded and that included a comprehensive safety package as well.

DS Connected Pilot brings you closer to autonomous driving, maintaining a certain distance from the vehicle in front, accelerating and decelerating the DS7 from 0-180 km/h.

Plus, it helps you stay in the right lane by controlling the steering wheel.

It will park parallel to an empty space or to the curb and let you know if you fit into a suitable space.

The DS7 will also monitor your focus so you don’t get lost, and will give you visual and audible warnings if you do.

But the best set of safety the DS7 has is night vision, which can see in the dark up to 100m ahead and will project hazards onto the screen.

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In terms of engines, the DS7 is available with a 130-hp, 1.2-liter turbocharged petrol engine, and a 1.5-liter, 130-hp BlueHDi diesel, and both come with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

But the main reason I’m back at the wheel of the DS7 again is the addition of the plug-in hybrid, or as DS likes to call it the E-Tense.

And it comes in front- or all-wheel drive versions.

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Power comes from a turbocharged, 1.6-litre petrol engine that works in conjunction with an 80kW motor and a 13.2kWh lithium-ion battery to produce a combined 225bhp and 360Nm of torque.

The 1,760kg DS7 is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100kph in 8.9 seconds with a top speed of 225kph so it performs really well.

And only during heavy acceleration does the engine become noisy and intrusive.

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It’s super comfortable, but more of a cruiser than a cruise missile.

And it also comes with an intelligent system called Active Scan Suspension that uses a windshield-mounted camera to monitor the road ahead for collisions and imperfections.

It then adjusts the suspension accordingly to firm or soften the vehicle.

As a hybrid it’s very frugal, DS says it can do 200mpg, with a full battery in a possibly short journey.

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But driving often and without needing to charge it every day, the 70mpg average is more accurate.

However, it has a very useful electric range of only about 50 km.

Smart charging, the E-Tense DS7 takes an hour and 45 minutes to charge from 0 to 100% using a 7kW home charger.

So if you’re in the market for an SUV, and let’s face it, everyone seems to be, then be sure to check out the DS7.