Who says that only cheap goods come from China? The new DS 9 speaks a completely different language and has the ambition to annoy the German premium trio in the upper middle class at least a little. In return, the sedan has its own, but appropriately more French accents.
The DS brand, which belongs to the new Stellantis group (including Peugeot, Opel, Fiat), is further expanding its range of products with a premium claim. After the SUV / crossover models DS 3 Crossback and DS 7 Crossback, the DS 308, which is closely related to the next Opel Astra and Peugeot 4, will hit the market in late summer. The brand's flagship is now available, the DS 47.550 sedan, which can be ordered from EUR 9
optics
The 4,93 meter long five-door comes in the classic business format. The front is visually dominated by the large radiator grille in the brand-typical diamond design, flanked by two second, narrow headlight units. Particularly noticeable here is the clip running over the center of the bonnet, which ends with a colored brand emblem just before the radiator grille. The retractable door handles support the noble exterior look, even if they are not necessarily praiseworthy from a security point of view. The two position lights on the C-pillar are a small reminiscence of the unforgotten namesake Citroen DS from 1955.
On the other hand, the dome-like shape of the roof line, which flows into the trunk almost like a hatchback, and the abundant use of body seams are not very unusual. The DS 9 is fashionably imposing on its 19-inch wheels, but its proportions are also reminiscent of the shorter corporate brother 508. No wonder, both are on the EMP2 platform, the Opel Grandland or the DS on the PSA 7 Crossback builds up.
Classic modern equipment
After entering we find a lot of space at the front, very good seats and a modern, tidy-looking interior. The few, noble-looking switches around the center console are difficult to read, however; you have to know which function is hidden behind a switch while driving, in order not to be too distracted. As is common today with new models, the driver looks through the steering wheel at a 12,3-inch digital instrument cluster and has a 12-inch touchscreen in the center. Disappointing that there is no head-up display for a brand new vehicle, even for an extra charge. In the back, two people are also sitting very comfortably, but as usual not three and you have to watch your head when getting in. The DS 9 can be used well as a touring sedan: the flat trunk can hold up to 510 liters of luggage.
With the drive, however, there could be disappointments among those interested. As a pure combustion engine (Pure-tech 225), DS only offers the well-known 1,6-liter petrol engine with 165 kW / 225 PS. The driving performance to be achieved with it (236 km / h top, 0-100 km / h in 8,8 s) is okay, but if it is demanded, the small four-cylinder has to work hard. It works a little better with the alternatively available plug-in hybrid (E-tense 225), which has the same drive, but with a reduced output of 132 kW / 180 PS, with the support of an electric motor (81 kW / 110 PS ) ultimately comes to the same system performance. However, the electric drive provides what feels like more thrust in the lower speed range. With the standard sprint, however, this only makes up a tenth of a second (8,7 s) and with the Vmax it is 240 km / h. Up to 48 kilometers of electric range should be gained from the 11,9 kWh battery, but the 42-liter petrol tank is 18 liters smaller than the Pure-tech.
There is comfort at an additional cost
DS will bring two more PHV variants, in the coming year a version with 184 kW / 250 PS and a slightly larger battery (15,6 kWH) for at least 60 kilometers of electric range and, as with the other models, pure front-wheel drive and from August that already Combination known from the Peugeot 508 PSE with two electric motors, all-wheel drive and 264 kW / 360 PS output at prices from 64.250 euros.
A great strength of the sedan is the comfortably tuned chassis. The higher-quality Rivoli version (from 51.400 euros) even includes the camera-controlled active suspension system (Active Scan) as standard, which detects uneven road surfaces in advance and presets the shock absorbers accordingly. In the basic version, Performance Line, it costs 1.100 euros extra.
Price
The plug-in model has a base price of 52.810 euros, which is 5.260 euros more than the petrol engine. However, since the vehicle with this drive and in this price class is currently being promoted through the innovation bonus of 5.925 euros, it is ultimately even 665 euros cheaper. Anyone who uses this variant as a company car also benefits from 0,5 percent taxation. However, it must be clear to the driver that in practice he can only travel 35 to 40 kilometers purely on electric power and must constantly recharge if the PHV effect is to be achieved.
The bottom line is that the DS 9 proves to be a pleasant companion. The sedan's strengths lie in its comfort, the extensive PHV range of (later) three variants and, of course, not least in the fact that it is simply different from the more technical German representatives Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class. The French alternative here in their home country is unlikely to be dangerous for them. In France, of course, and not least in the huge market of China, where the DS 9 is also produced.
Technical data
Five-door, five-seat sedan in the upper middle class; Length: 4,93 meters, width: 1,93 meters (with exterior mirrors: 2,08 meters), height: 1,46 meters, wheelbase: 2,90 meters, trunk volume: 510 liters
Puretech 225: 1,6-liter turbo gasoline engine, 165 kW / 225 PS, maximum torque: 300 Nm at 3.000 rpm, eight-speed automatic, front-wheel drive, 0-100 km / h: 8,8 s, Vmax: 236 km / h, standard consumption: 5,7 liters / 100 kilometers, CO2 emissions: 158 g / km (WLTP), efficiency class: A, emissions standard: Euro 6d, price: from 47.550 euros
E-Tense 225 PHV: 1,6-liter turbo gasoline engine (132 kW / 180 PS) + electric motor (81 kW / 110 PS) = system output 165 kW / 225 PS, battery capacity: 11,9 kWh, electric range: 48 kilometers, Maximum torque: 300 Nm at 3.000 rpm, eight-speed automatic, front-wheel drive, 0-100 km / h: 8,7 s, Vmax: 240 km / h, standard consumption: 1,6 liters / 100 kilometers, CO2 emissions: 34 g / km (WLTP), efficiency class: A +, emissions standard: Euro 6d, price: from 52.810 euros