DS 9 E-Tense 360 4x4 | Test Drive

DS 9 E-Tense 360 4×4 | Test Drive

13 March 2023 Redazione News, Tested

Words Marco Mancino /Photos Jay Tomei

Recently I’ve spent more time showing the starting mechanism of the headlight we got here than doing anything else. No jokes, we had actually already seen them (on the DS 7 Crossback), but after a few years it was like seeing the light for the first time, literally. And then – I mean – on a sedan of this size it has a completely different effect. Apart from the usual ones, it remains a rather niche segment, especially for those who choose it for personal use, as an everyday car and it is here that the luxury division of Citroen takes over a legacy carried on for generations by the main brand, managing to remain in the breach (at least in its homeland) due to ever innovative and well-characterized models. The DS 9 does not intend to interrupt this legacy.

The first impression is that of finding myself in front of an imposing car. It is both for the dimensions, 4.9 m long and 1.9 wide, but it is also for the front grille, the trait that best identifies not only the DS brand, but precisely this model, the one that sits at the top of the range. The sample under test then checks everything possible from the price list, with the 4×4 version equipped with a 200 horsepower turbo petrol engine and two electric units, one at the front and one at the back, for a total of 360 horses and 520 Nm of torque. This DS 9 is a Plug-In Hybrid and allows you to limit the need for petrol thanks to a battery pack of about 12 kWh, rechargeable from a power outlet, or even while driving, perhaps using Brake mode. To go around it you need to take a day off, but the 2.9-metre wheelbase offers huge space for the rear passengers, who can take advantage of very refined equipment, not only for the comfort of the leather seats with clock-like upholstery, but because of dual-zone climate control as well as heated, cooled and massaging seats, just like for the front occupants.

You will have already understood that, the DS 9 is a very sweet place in which to spend some time, also thanks to the excellent soundproofing of the passenger compartment and the imperceptible rolling of the wheels, which on our test model wear 20″ rims, not penalizing the general souplesse even in less than perfect road conditions. After gazing at the play of lights of the full LEDs with directing beam and appreciating the three-dimensional scales inside the rear lights, I glimpse the parking lights on the rear pillar – in perfect DS tradition – and finally get on board to see if a refined sedan like this can be satisfied with a modest 1.6-litre 4-cylinder. Call it an elephant in the room or whatever you prefer, but the reality is that by having two electric motors and thus guaranteeing four-wheel drive, there is no shortage of power or torque. Luckily, the internal combustion engine is very silent and the elasticity conferred by charged batteries and a driving style which in 99.9% of cases will favor relaxed paces, absolutely does not make the small size of the 4-cylinder to be seen as a defect, but rather as a useful solution under many aspects, such as taxes, fuel consumption and ordinary and extraordinary maintenance costs.

When driving, the DS 9 wraps you like a glove and the low seat with the generous dashboard puts you at ease right from the start, eliminating the idea of carrying around a large sedan measuring 5 meters and weighing almost 2 tons. The Operà Première set-up is then the one I consider most suitable, especially with black body and interior. In front of my eyes there are two digital screens, the 12.3″ geometric instrumentation and the 12″ touch in the middle, with an excellent navigation system, air conditioning that also maintains physical shortcuts and infotainment, the latter not on par of the competitors, but perfectly able to satisfy the majority of users. DS is then known for surprising with special effects on a stylistic level, look for example at the buttons for the windows, yep less practical than usual, but which are a real added value that breaks the monotony of all the other manufacturers, not to mention the B.R.M. clock, which once the ignition switch is turned on, rotates on the vertical axis and shows off in the center of the dash.

Batteries recharged (from 0 to 100%) in 1h and 30 minutes and I continue my days at the wheel, getting in tune with the different driving modes available and preferring Hybrid for most of the time. In fact, it is possible to travel just 20 km in full EV, while Sport does exactly what you would expect, that is making the response of the three engines more reactive, a more sensitive throttle and a more direct steering. The fact remains that the car is heavy and with a set-up mainly devoted to on-board comfort. Finally we have 4wd, which logically maintains traction on both axles, essential for seeking as much grip as possible when you’re sitting on summer tires and the road begins to cover with snow.

The DS 9 is one of those cars that you never get tired of driving and indeed, when you arrive at your destination you almost regret having to get out, as it really is one of the most relaxing and comfortable cockpits you could possibly be in. The 8-speed automatic gearbox is always precise and the 360 4×4 takes just 5.6 seconds to go from 0 to 100 kph, but that’s not the point. The power is there and comes on demand, but the true essence of the DS 9 is precisely a driving style that satisfies the deepest peace of mind offered by a set-up as soft as a feather pillow. Finally, a conceivable situation, all this caprice des dieux costs a few pennies. The DS 9 starts at least at €64,400 with the 250 horsepower and front-wheel drive version, while you need €87,250 for a model like the one of our test, equipped with two extra electric motors, four-wheel drive and the Operà Première spec. Regardless of the speeches that could be made on devaluation and revaluation, if you are purely interested in its qualitative aspect, the DS 9 remains an excellent sedan, even after reading the price tag. Et voilà.