Citroen has arguably been the quirkiest of the French producers, however how precisely do you utilize that Gallic attraction to make an upmarket rival to the stoic Germans who’ve cornered the manager saloon phase for the reason that ’80s?

Properly, if the DS 9 is something to go on, by embracing what makes it totally different. Eager to seek out out if it’s a match for the likes of BMW and Mercedes, Autocar’s Rory Reid provides us his tackle the French sedan.

Though the title has been round for a while, due to the revolutionary Citroen DS of the ’50s, DS as a model remains to be a comparatively new providing. However with its youth comes a freshness to a phase that has nearly seen all of it.

The DS 9 options pleasant thrives that make it stand out, like headlights that pirouette into motion. Fairly than being only a design gimmick, they’ve three totally different modes, altering the beam sample to go well with the street they’re on. There’s an embossed strip on the bonnet, impressed by one of many best watchmakers in Paris, and the leather-based steering wheel is hand-stitched.

Learn: New DS 9 Crossback Luxurious Coupe-Crossover: Right here’s What We Know, And What It’s Obtained To Beat

The DS 9 E-Tense 360 claims to be intently associated to the model’s Method E automotive. Nevertheless it isn’t a pure EV as its drivetrain consists of two electrical motors and a four-cylinder engine that ship a mixed 360 hp. And, though it shares its chassis with the Peugeot 508, it has been re-engineered by the Method E techs, making it surprisingly playful, says Reid. However the gearbox holds it again, and total the posh automotive is unlikely to be a match for a real sports activities sedan.

However the DS 9’s strengths primarily lie in the way it can do all this whereas nonetheless difficult BMW and Mercedes by way of consolation. It options acoustic glass on the entrance and facet home windows and performs to Citroen’s heritage of constructing exceedingly comfy automobiles through the use of a digicam to scan the street floor forward earlier than making changes to the damping.

In conclusion, Reid says that the DS 9 E-Tense 360 is a snug, plush, and fun-to-drive luxurious automotive and that if he had been available in the market, he’d take into account one over the standard choices.