The BMW 5-Collection, Audi A6 and Mercedes E-Class have, between them, an entire stranglehold on the European massive luxurious automotive market, their mixed gross sales accounting for 71 p.c of the phase within the first quarter of 2022.

The Lexus ES that tops the U.S chart is manner down at 1.9 p.c of market share within the European tables, and DS Vehicles’ DS 9 grabs simply 0.4 p.c of consumers. Solely 410 DS 9s have been registered throughout the entire continent within the first 4 months of the 12 months, and fewer than 750 in China, its solely different main market, and the place the place what’s shaping as much as be a French folly is constructed. Are luxurious drivers lacking a trick, or is the DS 9 actually that dangerous?

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Delicate strains, sturdy particulars

The DS 9 has acquired a little bit of a kicking from European reviewers who criticized it for wanting too boring. However within the steel it’s fairly a good-looking form with a particular face because of the LED lights that revolve to greet you as you stroll in direction of it, elegant flush-fit door handles, and a a lot sportier roofline than its German rivals.

Associated: DS 9 Flagship Makes European Debut, Priced From €47,700

The place issues develop into extra controversial is within the detailing. You’ll both love or hate the central chrome strip that stretches from the bottom of the windshield to the entrance grille, and the unusual snakeskin-like tail lamp design that seems to bleed pink mild from between the serpenty scales. There’s additionally a delicate nod to the unique Citroen DS of 1955 within the small lights mounted on the high of every C-pillar.

Measurement-wise, it comes up barely in need of its German rivals for wheelbase, driving on a 2,895 mm (114-inch) platform it shares with the long-wheelbase Chinese language-market Peugeot 508L, however matching the A6 and 5-Collection for total footprint with a toe-to-tail measurement of slightly below 5 meters (197-inches).

Inside design

In case you just like the 9’s barely flamboyant exterior detailing, you’ll most likely love the inside design, which we’ve seen earlier than on different DS autos, together with the DS 7 SUV. A revolving BRM clock sits on the high of the sprint, under which lies a large 12.3-inch touchscreen that homes virtually all the automotive’s controls, although there are at the least a couple of arduous keys on the base of the show.

It’s a fairly gradual system (as is the digital instrument cluster) and it may be irritating having to dive into the display screen to make easy adjustments to one thing just like the fan velocity when conventional rotary controls would work so a lot better. Dropping all 4 home windows, as you may when returning to a scorching automotive, can be a gradual affair as a result of the switches are mounted both aspect of the highs-set central tunnel. Seems to be cool, works badly.

One bit of fashion that basically does work although, is the chronograph strap-style leather-based upholstery that replaces the plain inventory upholstery when your order the flamboyant Opera trim pack. In truth the general atmosphere is nice. The DS 9’s inside design is likely to be overcomplicated, nevertheless it actually seems and feels distinctive.

Easy lineup

The DS 9’s vary construction is extremely easy, at the least within the UK, the place consumers get to determine between the bottom Efficiency Line+, which begins at £48,300 ($57,123) and comes customary with keyless entry, LED lights and 19-inch wheels, and the higher-spec Rivoli+ that prices £51,400 ($60,789) and provides wi-fi charging, managing leather-covered seats and adaptive suspension that reads the highway forward of it, a trick Merc pioneered on the S-Class years in the past. If you would like the cool watch-strap inside and a beneficiant masking of cow on the dashboard and door panels, the Opera inside prices one other £3,000 ($3,548).

Solely the Rivoli+ may be ordered with the Opera pack, however each fashions get the selection between E-Tense 250 and E-Tense 4×4 360 drivetrains. Each are plug-in hybrids powered by an electrically assisted model of the turbocharged 1.6-liter Peugeot-Citroen petrol engine hooked as much as an eight-speed automated transmission. However whereas the the front-wheel drive 250 will get a 197 hp (200 PS) engine and single electrical motor for a 247 hp (250 PS) complete, the 360’s 355 hp (360 PS) output comes courtesy of the identical combustion engine and two electrical motors. It’s the second of these motors, mounted on the again axle, that makes the 360 all-wheel drive.

Hope you’re not in a rush

DS quotes a reasonably wholesome 5.6-second zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) time for the recent one, however a much more leisurely 8.1 seconds for the 250. We’re really driving the older 225 that predates it, and which takes 8.3 seconds to do the identical run, however the expertise is broadly the identical. It accelerates fairly rapidly as soon as into its stride, however takes some time to get going, sounds barely strained underneath load, and sometimes lurches clumsily right into a downchange if you’d quite it depend on its torque.

And also you do wish to depend on the torque, as a result of DS is pitching the DS 9 as a luxurious antidote to sport-obsessed German vehicles. Even with its fancy road-scanning suspension I don’t assume the 9 rides in addition to a 5-Collection, whose double-wishbone suspension setup has an unbelievable capacity to isolate you from highway imperfections. However it’s actually clean at motorway speeds, and impressively quiet.

Throw the console swap into Dynamic mode to alter the dampers up and it does corners too, however once more, it has to provide second greatest to that BMW for enjoyable and agility, and what you achieve in roll-resistance and extra steering heft, you lose in experience consolation.

Economic system and driving vary

Like all PHEVs the DS 9 boasts the type of mpg and electrical driving vary numbers that make Sixties Detroit gross horsepower figures look plausible. Within the case of the E-Tense 250 meaning as much as 256.8 mpg (Imperial, WLTP; equal to 214 mpg U.S.), and 43 miles (69 km) of zero emissions driving. Although pure fantasy, that 43-mile ranking represents a theoretically helpful enchancment over the 33 miles (53 km) quoted for the sooner 225, and comes courtesy of a battery pack enlarged from 11.9 kWh to fifteen.6 kWh. For reference, a BMW 530e is rated at solely 37 miles (50 km) on the WLTP cycle, however you’ll want the DS 9 E-Tense 360 to beat the BMW’s 5.9-second 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) time.

Smaller cabin, greater cargo bay than rivals

There’s loads of room up entrance within the DS 9 however a barely smaller wheelbase in contrast with the 5-Collection means it offers away a bit in rear seat house, whereas the sloping roofline sacrifices a bit rear headroom. It’s nonetheless a roomy automotive, and the rear seats additionally recline, except you may have the therapeutic massage seat choice fitted.

Associated: Sorry, Wagon Lovers, A DS9 Property Isn’t Going To Occur

If BMW wins the inside house battle, DS fights again within the cargo conflict. It’s rated at 510 liters (18 cu-ft), which is 30 liters (0.7 cu-ft) lower than a combustion 5-Collection, however the hybrid model’s battery pack placement drops quantity to simply 410 liters (14.5 cu-ft). Nevertheless our check DS 9 had the elective Focal Electra sound system, and the subwoofer on the rear shelf hangs annoyingly low, making it tough to load what’s already a shallow baggage bay.

Verdict

In case you’re a long-time fan of smart, well-executed German four-door luxurious vehicles, you’re unlikely to be persuaded to alter your habits by the DS 9. However for those who’re the type of purchaser who finds the plain German selections with their glorious infotainment methods a bit too, properly, apparent and glorious, and have been contemplating a Jaguar XF or Volvo S90, then perhaps there’s sufficient right here to seize your consideration.

The DS 9 is properly outfitted, quiet, snug and whereas the bottom mannequin isn’t any supercar relating to acceleration, it’ll be virtually as uncommon a sight. Possibly it’s a automotive that can develop on you over time. Whether it is, we’ll discover out. I’m now working this one for Automotive Journal’s long run check fleet and can be posting some updates on Carscoops that dig into what it’s prefer to dwell with a DS 9. Obtained something you wish to find out about it? Drop a remark under.