DS 7 E-Tense 360 ​​vs. Volvo XC60 Recharge T6 – Double test

So what’s new about the DS 7?

At first glance, not much seems to have changed with the DS 7. But if you look closely, you can only conclude that the entire nose is new. The sharper and slightly lower placed headlights lost the rotating elements, but in exchange received more striking vertical LED strings, which previously served as daytime running lights and city lights. The back is recognizable and slightly sharper. A notable change is that it no longer says ‘Crossback’ on the tailgate. With good reason, because that part of the name has expired.

That DS 7 looks thick, how about that?

Thanks to the slightly lowered chassis and large 21-inch wheels, the test car is especially much thicker and tougher than we are used to from the DS 7. It is the new top model of the range, the E-Tense 360 ​​4×4. It shares its powertrain with the most powerful DS 9 and the Peugeot 508 PSE and has 360 hp. That is 60 more than the previously most powerful variant, bringing the total of plug-in hybrid powertrains for this model to three. The DS 7 is even only available as a plug-in hybrid.

Only as a PHEV, doesn’t that also apply to the Volvo XC60?

Beats. Recently, this also applies to the Volvo XC60. The amount of engine options in this case is limited to two, with impressive specifications. For example, the ‘entry-level’ tested here already delivers 350 hp, almost as much as the strongest DS. In addition, the battery of all Volvo PHEVs was recently considerably enlarged, from 11.6 to 18.8 kWh. The first battle has already been won, because the DS has 14.2 kWh on board. The result is as expected: the DS does not get as far in pure electric mode in theory and practice. We achieved 44 kilometers, against 67 for the Volvo. We cover that and all other parts of this comparison test in this video.