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DS9 E-Tense (2021-)

Available new
Large
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV)

£53,768Typical price

Test score

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Citroen’s premium luxury brand DS launched a new range-topper in 2021: the DS 9. This large saloon can be seen transporting the French president around, but DS wants you to choose it over German rivals like the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-class. While available with pure petrol power, it’s the DS 9 E-Tense plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that’s the subject of this review.

pros

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cons

What's included?

What is it?
What’s it great at?
What’s it like to drive?
How reliable are DS cars?
How comfortable and spacious is it?
How economical is it to run?
How safe is it?
Is there anything I should look out for?
Should I buy it?

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KEY TEST RESULTS
Comfort and practicality

Nov 2023Last checked by Which?
Mar 2022First reviewed by Which?
Apr 2021Released

The overall Which? test score is made up of the following star ratings, all determined by our rigorous lab tests.

How we test cars

17 May 2024

Ease of driving

Overall
Visibility
Smoothness of power delivery
Driving stability
Cabin layout

How we test ease of driving

To find out how easy a car is to drive, we assess cars across a number of areas from visibility and handling to the layout of the cabin and how smoothly the engine delivers its power.

Performance

Overall
In-gear acceleration
Brakes

How we test performance

We test braking distances and whether the effectivess of the brakes fade with repeat use. Performanc is based on in-gear acceleration.

Comfort and practicality

Overall
Entry and exit
Seat comfort
Ride quality
Quietness
Seat space
Boot space (large cars, SUVs and MPVs)

How we test comfort and practicality

Comfort and practicality includes how easy it is, or not, to get in and out of the car and the maximum height of occupants. We also measure road, wind and engine noise and assess how well the car deals with bumps from large potholes to jittery surfaces like cobble stones.

Euro NCAP

How we test euro ncap

Any car that receives a rating of three stars or less from Euro NCAP is made a Don't Buy. If a car has been available for more than four years and has not been tested by Euro NCAP, it cannot be a Best Buy.

Which? safety

General
Class	Large
Luxury	Yes
Convertible	No
Availability	Available new
New price	£53,768 - £71,368
Fuel type	Plug-in hybrid (PHEV)
Tested fuel efficiency	64.1mpg
Length	4,934mm
Width (excluding wing mirrors)	1,855mm
Width (including wing mirrors)	2,090mm
Height	1,459mm
Driver max height
Second row passenger max height
Boot space with seats up
Boot space with seats down
Number of seats	5
Folding rear seats	Yes
Isofix attachments	Yes
Turning circle	11.6 m
On sale date	08 September 2021
Lowest pence per mile cost	£19.93

Latest tested engine
Engine name	E-Tense 225 Performance Line+ Automatik
Fuel type	Plug-in-Petrol-Hybrid
Capacity and power	1.6-litre (225hp)
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Driven wheels	Front-wheel-drive (FWD)
Fuel tank capacity	42 litres
Tested fuel economy: City / Out of town / Motorway (mpg)
Tested fuel efficiency (mi/kWh)
Tested fuel economy: Combined (mpg)
Cost per mile	19.93p per mile
Cost of filling tank	£63
Monthly fuel cost
Annual fuel cost
NOx level	Extremely Low (trace)
CO level	Medium
CO2 at tailpipe/tank-to-wheel (TTW) (g/km)	104
Well-to-wheel (WTW) CO2 (g/km)	165
Tested electric-only range (miles)	46 miles
Official fuel economy: WLTP	176.6 to 256.8
Official Euro emission level	Euro 6d
Braked tow load (KG)	1300kg
Unbraked tow load (KG)	750kg
Engine test date	01 October 2021
Test programme	2017

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DS9 E-Tense (2021-)

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