DS 4, DS 7 Crossback

DS 4, DS 7 Crossback sits in the premium compact and midsize-SUV space, where style matters as much as everyday transport. By our assessment, what stands out is the way DS cars lean into a more distinct, design-led cabin and a more image-conscious feel than many mainstream rivals. The honest downside is that this sort of car can lean more on flair than on simple value, so buyers usually pay for brand character as much as for the basics of getting around. In practice it is a road car that tries to feel a little more special from the driver’s seat and from the outside. Compared with ordinary family hatchbacks and crossovers, it is less plain and more deliberately styled. The name itself signals that these are not bare utility vehicles, and that matters in daily use when the cabin mood is part of the appeal.