What is the DS N°7?
The N°7 replaces the DS 7 as a 4.66-metre premium SUV on Stellantis’ STLA Medium platform. DS offers three electric versions, all with NMC battery cells. The entry car pairs a 73.7 kWh battery with a front motor making 169 kW and costs €56,300 in Pallas trim. The Long Range version tested here gets a 97.2 kWh battery and 180 kW for €61,700. A dual-motor AWD Long Range with 257 kW starts at €66,600.
If €56,300 is above your family budget, the upcoming Smart #2 is a much smaller city car expected under €25,000.
Real range and what it costs at home
During a press test around Nice, the onboard computer recorded between 16.8 and just over 20 kWh/100 km over 163 km of mountain roads, stop-and-go traffic and about ten per cent motorway. With the 97.2 kWh battery, that suggests a practical range of 500 to 600 km. WLTP says up to 740 km, but that is ideal-conditions territory.
Let’s translate that into family money. At a typical EU home tariff of €0.29/kWh, a full charge costs €28.19. Depending on driving style, fuel works out to €4.87–5.80 per 100 km. Use our EV charging cost calculator to plug in your own tariff. We did a similar cost breakdown for the Mercedes-AMG GT 53 EV earlier.
Charging curve: solid, but not class-leading
The N°7 uses a 400-volt architecture, so peak DC charging is limited to 160 kW. The curve is well controlled: from 20% state of charge it quickly reaches 160 kW, holds a plateau until about 55%, then steps down to 125 kW and declines almost linearly. The result is 20–80% in 27 minutes.
That is respectable for a 97 kWh battery, but 800-volt rivals such as the Kia EV6 or Hyundai Ioniq 5 are noticeably quicker. For a family motorway stop, that could mean an extra ten to fifteen minutes waiting. AC charging is 11 kW as standard, with a 22 kW onboard charger available for €700.
When planning a long trip, our supercharger map lists 483 locations across Europe, and you can filter the cheapest ones here.
Family check: good boot, compromised rear seats
The boot is genuinely useful: 560 litres with the seats up and 1,570 litres folded, enough for a folded buggy and a dog crate. The interior materials are lovely, and the 14-speaker Focal sound system is first-class.
But the ergonomic flaws matter for families. There is only one cup holder in the centre console. The front seats are mounted so low that most adults in the back cannot tuck their feet underneath them, even with a 2.79-metre wheelbase. There is no sliding rear bench. If you regularly carry a tall teenager or adult in the back, take a test drive first. We noted similar rear packaging compromises in our Ford Mustang Mach-E test.
What you should check before ordering
The FWD Long Range is the pick for frequent drivers: the 97.2 kWh battery gives real-world range of 500–600 km, and the predictive suspension makes long days comfortable. Before signing, test the rear seats with your tallest family member, ask your dealer about local incentives, and compare running costs with our EV savings calculator.
Source: https://www.electrive.com/2026/08/13/ds-n7-review-strong-on-the-road-slow-at-the-charger/
