DRIVEN
DS 7 CROSSBACK E-TENSE
I’ll be honest, I’m not overly excited about the electric car revolution.
It’s not that I don’t care about what happens to the world — of course I do, it’s my home — but I guess it’s more the cynic in me that wonders exactly how we’re planning on generating that much electricity with causing further damage.
When you consider that I come from a generation that was advised not to leave our television on standby, but rather turn them completely off to help conserve electricity, perhaps you can understand my cynicism. Also, if I’m being completely honest, there’s an element of “spoiled brat” mentality at being forced to do something I don’t feel ready to do yet, like a child whose parents tell them to tidy their room “immediately”, but already had their mind set on cleaning it the following week.
So it was with an air of caution I travelled to Paris for the DS E-Tense Week, celebrating their new electric models and their 2019 Formula-E winning team, DS TECHEETAH.
My focus would be on the DS 7 Crossback E-Tense, the electrified version of the DS 7 Crossback, the first vehicle to be developed entirely by DS Automobiles. The DS 7 Crossback is a car I had a lot of time for when it debuted back in 2017 as it surprised me at just how technologically capable the car was for the money.
Stylishly textured lights sat in a polished curvaceous shell, with door handles that literally present themselves to you as you approach. The drive itself was attentive and comfortable, aided by the concaved leather seats, visually resembling the bracelet of a luxury timepiece, holding me in place as I slalomed through the French countryside.
I’m glad to report to my surprise, the DS 7 Crossback E-Tense experience wasn’t markedly different. Yes, the drive at lower speeds was greeted by the gentle futuristic whine of an electric motor, coupled with an unfamiliar gait as the battery recharges under breaking. But when you needed it, the power from the Hybrid engine kicked in and with that comes added explosive power.
That’s right, the DS 7 Crossback E-Tense is actually a plugin Hybrid electric engine (PHEV) so you get the best of both worlds; power when you need it (0-62 mph in 5.9 seconds), and a fully electric mode (~36 mile range).
One clever thing that DS Automobiles have done is simply added electrification as another engine option to their popular petrol-powered models, so you don’t have to make any compromises in styling.
Aside from the advanced technology as seen in the petrol version, another feature that jumps out to me is not actually in the car itself, but with their My DS App that allows you to control features of your car from wherever you are. For example, you can adjust the climate control while the car is parked (and charging) to ensure the car is the perfect temperature when you step in, without wasting any charge. It also helps you locate your car in a car park, or you can use the DS Trip Planner to plan a journey with charging stations along the route.