DS 7 (Crossback) – Facelift Friday

Although we are a bit used to it by now, the DS brand will always be food for discussion for car enthusiasts. The premium brand of – then – PSA derives its magical two-letter combination from the Citroën DS, which for that reason was subsequently erased from the official Citroën history in all kinds of places. The way the brand was launched also caused some controversy. First we were presented with the DS 3, DS 4 and DS 5 under the brand name Citroën, but during facelifts this trio lost that brand name and the associated logo. The DS 7 Crossback, which we are talking about today, is therefore the first car of the DS brand that was never sold as a Citroën.

The recent facelift of the DS 7 was not as rigorous as those earlier transitions from Citroën to DS, but there is still plenty to discover. The layout of the nose is ideally suited for a facelift, because there is a separate panel between the hood and grille. That smaller copy could be adjusted without too much effort during the update, with the result that the headlights are now just a little more in a V-shape opposite each other. The grille therefore starts a bit lower and is also different in shape, wider and sharper.

The ‘DS Wings’, as DS calls the thick ornaments on either side of that grille, are now limited to the headlights. They are slightly flatter and also sharper in shape. It is a pity that the rotating elements in those lamps, a striking feature of the DS 7 Crossback, are missing on the new version. The huge waterfall of LED lighting that serves as a daytime running light below is new. Previously a comparable unit was located here, but with a different and much more rounded shape. The loose fog lamps have disappeared and the cooling opening under the actual grille, which also has a different interpretation, fits better with the rest of the front.

From the side, it is noticeable that the new DS 7 looks a bit tidier, especially because of the lack of the decorative element at the bottom of the front door. Also on the back we see more sharp folds and right angles, this to make the ‘7’ better match with more recent models of DS. For example, the lines between the rear window and taillights are new, as is the sharp fold directly above the number plate recess. The rear lights retain their remarkable layout, but have grown somewhat. Of course, the name ‘Crossback’ is missing, which was previously spread out widely in a chrome strip between the rear lights. It now says ‘DS Automobiles’, so that there can be no misunderstanding about that.