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DS 9

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Expert Rating

DS 9

(2021 - present)

    Summary


    The DS 9 is the third standalone model from DS Automobiles, Citroën’s upmarket sister brand. The large executive saloon unveiled in early 2020 as the brand’s flagship and arrived in the UK in Spring 2021. It targets a highly competitive market, fought over by such heavyweights as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series.

    Originally available with a purely petrol option (a 1.6-litre petrol unit with 225hp), the DS 9 is now only available as a plug-in hybrid. This is offered in two outputs – a 250hp front-wheel drive version and a 360hp all-wheel drive version.

    Reviewers believe the DS 9 has appeal because it’s different – Top Gear says it will “provide a French-flavoured alternative to anyone who’s on their sixteenth Merc and fancies a change.”

    There are many quality touches; “Opening the flush-fitting door reveals a stylish and beautifully trimmed cabin,” says Auto Express. “It’s all rather lovely but the arrangement of some of the controls can be maddening.”

    The DS 9 is comfortable on the move, its ‘Active Scan’ suspension using a camera to scan the road ahead and adjust the chassis accordingly. “The silky comfort doesn’t come at the expense of body control, the ride is not unsettlingly floaty,” says Parkers

    It’s all about comfort – “The DS 9 is not a particularly fast car and is at its best driven in a relaxed, smooth fashion,” says the Mirror, adding that the ‘Opera’ interior trim, a £3,000 option, is essential to complete the effect of luxury travel. 

    Several reviewers add that DS 9 buyers will enjoy exclusivity as the brand only expects its UK sales of the car to be in the hundreds.

    As of September 2023, the DS 9 holds an Expert Rating of 57% from 20 reviews. That puts it well into the bottom half of the large car sector.

    DS 9 highlights

    • Quiet and comfortable
    • Quality interior fittings
    • Spacious with big boot
    • Lots of driver-assistance systems
    • Exclusive alternative to German big-sellers

    DS 9 lowlights

    • Not particularly handsome
    • Several controls not very user-friendly
    • Brand has little UK presence
    • Do people still want four-door saloons?

    Key specifications


    Body style: Large saloon
    Engines: plug-in hybrid
    Price: From £56,000 on-road

    Launched: Spring 2021
    Last updated: N/A
    Replacement due: TBA


    Media reviews


    Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

    Auto Express

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    Auto Trader

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    Autocar

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    Business Car

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    Car

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    Carbuyer

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    Carwow

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    Company Car Today

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    Daily Mirror

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    Driving Electric

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    Heycar

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    Parkers

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    The Sunday Times

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    The Telegraph

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    Top Gear

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    What Car?

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    Which?

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    Safety rating


    Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

    Overall score: 4 stars
    Date tested: November 2022
    Read the full Euro NCAP review

    Adult protection: 79%
    Child protection: 86%
    Vulnerable road users: 67%
    Safety assist: 67%

    Eco rating


    Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

    No eco rating

    As of September 2023, the DS 9 has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.

    Reliability rating

    MotorEasy logo 600x167

    Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

    No reliability ratin

    As of September 2023, we don’t have enough reliability data on the DS 9 to generate a reliability rating.

    The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the DS 9, we’ll publish the score here.

    Running cost rating

    Clear Vehicle Data logo close crop

    Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

    Fuel consumptionAverageScoreVariationScore
    Plug-in hybrid models259 mpgA188 – 353 mpgA – A
    CO₂ outputAverageScoreVariationScore
    Petrol models157 g/kmC155 – 158 g/kmB – C
    Plug-in hybrid models29 g/kmA22 – 41 g/kmA – A
    Battery rangeAverageScoreVariationScore
    Plug-in hybrid models42 milesD39 – 47 milesD – D
    Insurance groupAverageScoreVariationScore
    All models41D35 – 45C – D
    Service and maintenanceCostScore
    Year 1£307C
    Year 2£692C
    Year 3£1,098C
    Year 4£1,308C
    Year 5£1,744C
    Overall£5,149C

    The DS 9 is a relatively affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

    Being a plug-in hybrid, the fuel economy and CO2 emission scores look fantastic on paper. But this is simply a result of very poor EU/UK government lab testing, which is completely inadequate for assessing plug-in hybrid vehicles.

    Servicing costs are average, which is comparable to similarly priced vehicles from other premium brands, while insurance costs are likely to be fairly expensive – although, again, that’s probably going to be similar to rival vehicles.

    Similar cars


    If you’re looking at the DS 9, you might also be interested in these alternatives

    Audi A6 | Audi A7 Sportback | BMW 5 Series | Genesis G80Jaguar XF | Lexus ES | Maserati Ghibli | Mercedes-Benz E-Class | Tesla Model S | Volvo S90

    Entering the large executive saloon market is a brave decision because it’s a sector full of brilliant rivals. The DS 9 will have to take on and beat the Audi A6, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, but most of all the BMW 5 Series.

    Apparently even DS doesn’t expect to take many sales from these big-hitters and instead expects to snatch customers from the likes of the Jaguar XF and Lexus ES.   


    More news, reviews and information about the DS 9 at The Car Expert

    Five-star crash test results for 15 new cars

    Five-star crash test results for 15 new cars

    New DS 9 takes aim at premium saloon segment

    New DS 9 takes aim at premium saloon segment

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    Subscribe to a DS 9


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    The DS 9 is a highly distinctive French-themed alternative to big-hitting German executive saloons, but is it just too exclusive?DS 9