DS 7 Crossback Spotted In India; Will Rival BMW X1, Audi Q3

• DS is a luxury brand from the PSA Groupe, which also owns Citroen and Peugot
• DS Automobiles’ flagship, the DS 7, is a luxury SUV that debuted in 2017
• It’s larger than all its rivals, including the BMW X1 and Audi Q3
• If launched, it will come to India in 2020
• Will be priced between Rs 30 lakh - Rs 40 lakh.

Want another luxury SUV in India? Why not! Our cameras have caught another SUV testing on Indian soil, but this time it comes from a lesser-known brand in the country called DS Automobiles. DS Automobiles is a luxury brand from PSA Groupe. The DS was originally a popular luxury car that was built by Citroen between 1955 and 1975. The DS name was made into a premium sub-brand of Citroen in 2009 and a standalone marquee in 2014. The DS 7 Crossback is a compact luxury crossover which made its public debut back in 2017 as the official car of the French president. It is also the brand's flagship model. It has now begun testing on Indian roads and could be a part of Groupe PSA’s plans to enter India in 2020. Previously, we’ve spotted Peugeot and Citroën hatchbacks undergoing tests in the country, but this is the first time a DS has been caught testing, which implies that Groupe PSA might also target the country’s luxury car market.

Based on the PSA’s EMP2 platform, the SUV is larger in all dimensions than its German rivals. And with the sharp lines on the body, it has much better road presence as well. What's also important here is the fact that both Peugeot and Citroen and have SUVs based on this platform. So expect less expensive SUVs from these brands, including the Peugeot 5008 and the Citroen C5 Aircross. Currently, the DS 7 is produced at Groupe PSA’s Chengdu facility in China.

Apart from the looks, what the DS 7 has going for it are its radical interiors. It gets a FOCAL Electra sound system with 14 speakers, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12-inch central HD touchscreen and safety tech like night vision, driver attention monitoring and DS Active LED Vision which lets you customise the spread of the all-LED headlamps. All of this comes wrapped in a sharp design, which fits the claim of a premium SUV.

Powering the DS 7 in international markets is a 1.2-litre petrol with a 6-speed manual, 1.6-litre petrol with an 8-speed automatic, a 1.5-litre diesel engine with either a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic and a 2.0-litre diesel with an 8-speed automatic. In India, however, it’s likely to be equipped with the 2.0-litre diesel engine, which produces 174PS of power and 400Nm of torque, and the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol that makes 178PS of power and 250Nm of torque. Both engines are likely to be offered with the 8-speed automatic transmission. Expect the same powertrains to feature on the Citroen C5 Aircross and Peugeot 5008 too. The DS 7 also has a hybrid cousin, but chances of it coming to India look bleak.

Expect the DS 7 to be priced between Rs 30 lakh - Rs 40 lakh, if launched in the country. It will rival the likes of the BMW X1, Audi Q3, Mercedes-Benz GLA and the Volvo XC40.

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