Used DS 7 for sale: everything you need to know

The DS Automobiles DS 7 - we’ll just be calling it DS 7 from now on, if that’s okay with you - was introduced in 2017 as the DS 7 Crossback, and renamed simply DS 7 from 2022. Aside from a few visual differences and engine options it’s the same car though, and a stylish entrant into the premium family SUV class.

Given DS has sprung from Citroen its premium push is a brave one, but the stylish exterior, upmarket cabin and high levels of standard equipment all go some way to justifying these aspirations. As a new car, the price did too - though that’s one of the benefits of buying used.

The DS 7 has some touch competition for your upmarket SUV affections, including the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC, though if you want something with an upmarket feel but a slightly more down-to-earth badge, the Mazda CX-60 is a stylish alternative to the DS 7 too.

Should you buy a DS 7?

When you consider the kind of brands that DS is aiming at with the DS 7 - including the big German three, plus the likes of Lexus and Jaguar - the DS 7 might seem like a hard sell. But if you’re even considering a DS 7 then you may have already discounted some of the more obvious choices.

The reward you get for not following the herd is a pretty decent car in its own right, with a stylish design inside and out, a plush and roomy cabin that has a genuine quality feel, and although DS has recently slimmed down the model’s engine options, there’s still plenty of choice between petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid variants on the used market.

Most DS 7s ride well though models with larger wheels start to feel a little firm, despite some clever technology aimed at delivering a smooth ride. You’ll find the steering light and direct and there’s decent grip too, while some models are pretty brisk - especially the E-Tense plug-in hybrids.

The DS 7’s touchscreen system has improved over time, so later models feel easier to use than earlier ones, but having to adjust the climate control through the screen can still be a bit frustrating. You probably won’t want for equipment though - all DS 7s are well-equipped. There’s plenty of safety tech too, and even if DS’s long-term reliability is a relative unknown, some of its premium rivals can be a mixed bag too.

Those rivals include models like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC. The first step away from those German brands includes cars like the Lexus NX, Volvo XC60 and Jaguar F-Pace, while premium-feeling if not premium-badged alternatives include the Mazda CX-60 and Volkswagen Tiguan. The DS 7 is an interesting option even in this company, though.

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What’s the best used DS 7 model to buy?

If you’re looking at a post-2022 DS 7 then you only have the choice of diesel and E-Tense plug-in hybrid models. The tax benefits and electric running of the E-Tense made it a compelling buy new but it’s closer on the used market, not least as there’s still a reasonable gap in price between the two - though the E-Tense is likely to be more future-proofed when it comes to changes in taxation further down the line.

The engine lineup prior to 2022 was larger with a range of petrol models, and while the entry-level three-cylinder is pleasant enough, most buyers would no doubt welcome the extra performance of the 180 and 225 variants. That said, the diesel and E-Tense are still worth a look. All trim lines are well equipped but the higher-spec versions really do feel quite special - surely one of the reasons you’d buy a DS.

Used DS 7 fuel economy and performance

• DS 7 Puretech 130: A familiar 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol powers the entry-level DS 7, making 131PS and attached to an automatic gearbox as standard. 0-62mph comes up in 9.9 seconds and combined economy is quoted at up to 43.5mpg.
• DS 7 Puretech 180: The more powerful Puretech petrol gets a larger 1.6-litre engine and develops 181PS, for 0-62mph a second quicker than the 131PS model. Economy drops slightly to 40.9mpg.
• DS 7 Puretech 225: In its most potent form the 1.6 petrol produces 225PS. Again with an automatic gearbox, it can get from 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds, and do up to 39.8mpg combined.
• DS 7 BlueHDi 130: The sole diesel model uses a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine and is again automatic as standard. 0-62mph takes 10.7 seconds, and DS claims up to 53.3mpg combined.
• DS 7 E-Tense 4x4 300: The plug-in hybrid DS 7 is the most powerful and on paper, the most economical too. With a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine and electric assistance, as well as all-wheel drive, it makes 300PS combined and sprints from 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds. Aided by up to 36 miles of electric range, combined economy is quoted at up to 188.3mpg.

What used DS 7 trim levels are available?

The DS 7 trim level lineup can be broadly split into two - the first being the trio of luxury-focused models including the Elegance, Prestige, and Ultra Prestige, and then the Performance Line and Performance Line+. The two Performance Line models are roughly equivalent to the Elegance and Prestige, but have a sportier appearance both inside and out.

• The DS 7 Elegance features 19-inch alloy wheels, a 12-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, bronze-coloured cloth seats, a leather steering wheel, air conditioning, and keyless start.
• The DS 7 Prestige is the lowest trim line available with the E-Tense plug-in hybrid drivetrain. Standard kit builds on the Elegance with patterned leather trim, LED headlights, an electric tailgate, keyless entry and start, a reversing camera, front parking sensors, heated and massaging front seats, an electric rear seat backrest, chrome roof rails, wireless smartphone charging, and a B.R.M. timepiece on the dash.
• The DS 7 Ultra Prestige gets watchstrap-style Nappa leather seat trim, 20-inch alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control with some semi-autonomous functions, and a crystal finish to some interior switches.
• The DS 7 Performance Line goes off in a different direction, with a specification similar to the Elegance but with a different 19-inch wheel design, Performance Line badging, artificial suede interior trim, and a dark exterior finish theme.
• The DS 7 Performance Line+ is to the Performance Line as the Prestige is to the Elegance, so has similar equipment to the Prestige but with the Performance Line’s sportier appearance.

Used DS 7 dimensions and boot size

The DS 7’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4573mm
• Width: 1895mm (without mirrors), 2098mm (with mirrors)
• Height: 1625mm

The DS 7’s boot size is:

• 555 litres
• 1752 litres with the rear seats folded

Used DS 7 road tax

While new buyers pay tax based on the DS 7’s CO2 emissions, as a used buyer you’ll instead find a flat rate based on what powers the car. For the petrol and diesel versions that means a bill of £180 a year.

In theory, the hybrid should be £10 less, but in practice many DS 7s cost more than £40,000 new, meaning they attract a surcharge - lifting petrol and diesel models to £570 per year in the second to sixth years of registration, and the E-Tense hybrids to £560 per year. When they reach seven years old, this drops back down to the lower rate.

How much is it to insure a DS 7?

The earliest DS 7 Crossback variants can be found in insurance groups 19-41 depending on the variant (with E-Tense hybrids towards the upper end), while post-2022 models badged simply DS 7 are between 26 and 42, the hybrids again occupying the higher end of the scale.

Read our full DS 7 review