Built in Melfi, the electric DS N°7 offers two- and four-wheel drive versions, over 700 km of range and suspension capable of anticipating road irregularities.
The debut of a new electric car — in this case the DS N°7 — is always good news, as it broadens the options for those who want to switch to more sustainable mobility. Before getting into the details, however, let's look at what Italians chose in the month of September. According to Unrae data, in terms of powertrains, pure electric vehicles recorded a market share of 7.6 per cent in September, recovering from 6.4 per cent in August and up from 5.6 per cent in September 2025. Hybrid vehicles (and the DS N°7 is also available in this version) confirmed their position as market leaders in September, accounting for more than half of all registrations, with 18.5 per cent for full hybrids and 32.2 per cent for mild hybrids. Two pieces of good news that confirm the — albeit slow — ecological transition of the car market in Italy.
It is against this backdrop that the debut of the DS N°7 must be read — the French electric car (built in Italy, at the Stellantis plant in Melfi) that takes the place of the previous DS 7, launched in 2022. The task, as we shall see, is no simple one. Following the N°8 flagship and the N°4 saloon, the N°7 is set to play a central role in the manufacturer's plans at the heart of the market — the medium-sized SUV segment, currently one of the most popular car types among Italian buyers. The DS N°7 shares a great deal with two other Stellantis group electrics, the Peugeot E-3008 and the Opel Grandland.
Let's start with a quick overview: the DS N°7 measures 4.66 metres in length, 1.90 metres in width and 1.63 metres in height. These dimensions (not exactly city-friendly) remain unchanged compared to the previous model, though the wheelbase has grown, bringing a first benefit that is particularly noticeable on board, where legroom is generous — even in the electric versions, where the battery is mounted beneath the floor.
The boot is generous (though with these external dimensions, some rivals do better…), featuring a handy double floor and the option of a flat load surface when the 40/20/40 split rear seats are folded. The charging cable is stored beneath the boot floor, without encroaching on luggage space.
The design has been updated with elements such as an illuminated front grille. But it is above all efficiency that has improved, to the benefit of energy consumption, range and overall efficiency: a vertical blade at the rear helps guide airflow, the roof (which can be glazed) slopes low towards the back and ends with a spoiler on the tailgate. The result is a very good aerodynamic drag coefficient (Cx) for an SUV: 0.26.
Among the notable features, the DS N°7 offers a V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) function which, thanks to a special adapter connected to the charging socket, allows external electrical devices to be powered directly from the car. The system delivers up to 230 V, making it useful for running or charging equipment such as computers, scooters, e-bikes or drones.
But on the DS N°7, as with all electric cars, the number that matters (and that influences purchasing decisions) is range. The E-Tense FWD Long Range version has a claimed range of up to 740 kilometres on the combined cycle; realistically, expect a range of between 500 and 600 kilometres, which is still very good. Credit goes to the 97.2 kWh battery and the carefully honed aerodynamics mentioned above. Worried about long journeys? We didn't get the chance to verify this during our test drive, but official figures promise more than 450 kilometres of motorway range at an average speed of 120 km/h.
The electric versions? Three in total: E-Tense FWD, with a 73.7 kWh battery, 230 hp and up to 543 kilometres of range; E-Tense FWD Long Range, with a 97.2 kWh battery, 245 hp and up to 740 kilometres of range; and E-Tense AWD (all-wheel drive) Long Range, with the same battery but two electric motors, 350 hp and up to 679 kilometres of range. Prices start from €50,900.
Another key figure for electric drivers is charging time: to charge the battery from 20 to 80 per cent, DS claims 27 minutes, rising to 31 minutes with the smaller battery and active pre-conditioning. To put it plainly, if you charge at a fast DC charging station, the 400-volt architecture means longer charging times compared to models offering 800-volt architectures, such as the recent BMW iX3. Maximum charging power reaches 160 kW, meaning around 190 kilometres of range can be recovered in ten minutes. The on-board charger is rated at 11 kW, with an optional 22 kW upgrade.
Rounding out the package are the Plug&charge function (connect to the latest-generation fast chargers without needing an app or card — simply plug in the cable and charging starts automatically) and access to the Free2Move charge network, with over 800,000 charging points across Europe. The mild hybrid version is equipped with a three-cylinder 1.2 turbocharged petrol engine paired with a 21 kW electric motor.
Inside, the dashboard is dominated by a 16-inch touchscreen incorporating a ChatGPT-based voice assistant. In front of the driver sits a 10-inch instrument cluster. Materials are of a high quality throughout, and the DS N°7 offers Level 2 semi-autonomous driving with assisted lane changing, an infrared camera that detects the presence of cyclists, pedestrians and animals on the road up to 300 metres ahead even at night, and an "extended" head-up display — a system that projects key information directly onto the windscreen in the driver's line of sight: speed, navigation and road signs.
If you are among those drivers who prioritise driving serenity over outright performance (which is nonetheless impressive) when choosing a car, the DS N°7 has a great deal to offer on the comfort front. Quietness comes first (aided in part by double-glazed windows), but above all there are active suspension systems (available only on the more expensive versions) capable of "reading" the road ahead via a camera that scans the surface and adjusts the dampers in real time. The various levels of energy regeneration — four in total — are easy to adjust via the paddles behind the steering wheel, while a dashboard button activates the one-pedal-driving system, which effectively eliminates the need for the brakes in almost all situations, especially in the city.
Comfort is further enhanced by seats with heating (rear seats included), ventilation and massage functions (depending on the version), and even a neck warmer — a flow of warm air directed at the back of the neck. Music lovers will be pleased to know that the available equipment includes a 14-speaker system with 690 watts of power, capable of optimising the listening experience for front or rear passengers depending on their preferences. As for materials (the brushed aluminium or real wood trim is particularly appealing), they are of a high standard throughout.
Even in a car's interior, the choice of materials at the design stage is important for selecting ecological fibres and fabrics capable of reducing the environmental impact of the entire production cycle. In the case of the DS N°7, there are lights and shadows: the manufacturer limits itself to stating that the "Alcantara upholstery in the Étoile versions contains 68 per cent recycled material", and that the leather (natural in this case; a more sustainable choice would be to use excellent vegan leather alternatives such as Muskin, Piñatex, Wineleather and Pellemela, derived respectively from mushrooms, pineapple, grape marc and apple), while "recovered materials at the end of their service life are also present in fabrics (60 per cent), carpeting (75 per cent) and floor mats (96 per cent)".