New DS No. 7 (2025): everything we know about the future DS SUV

Just one year after the introduction of its flagship sedan, the DS N°8, the French premium brand is already preparing to renew another of its key pillars. The DS 7, the first model of the new DS era launched in 2017 and a significant commercial success, is set to see its second generation emerge in 2025. Following the brand's new naming convention, it is expected to be called the DS N°7. This next iteration promises to be a major evolution, drawing stylistic and technological inspiration from the advancements of its larger sibling, the N°8, while forging its own distinct identity and making bold strategic choices, particularly regarding its powertrains. Balancing heritage and innovation, the future DS N°7 is tasked with cementing the status of DS in the highly competitive premium SUV segment.

A DS N°8 style magnified on an SUV silhouette

The family resemblance between the future DS N°7 and the N°8 sedan will be immediately apparent. The two models, born from a common development program, will share much more than their STLA Medium technical platform. According to current information, the new SUV is expected to adopt the entire front section of the N°8, including the front doors. This means we will see the same striking, vertical front end, characterized by an even more sophisticated DS Light Veil signature and a redesigned grille.

It is beyond the B-pillar that the DS N°7 will assert its unique personality. While the N°8 explores a crossover-sedan concept, the N°7 will remain a true SUV, staying faithful to the stature that defined the success of the current generation. It is expected, however, to grow a few centimeters to exceed 4.60 meters in length, thereby offering an enhanced presence and potentially improved interior space. This more traditional SUV silhouette, combined with the front-end design of the N°8, promises a look that is both elegant and robust. Early reports suggest this design combination is even more successful on the N°7, which is a very positive sign. The rear of the vehicle will mark a clear differentiation from the sedan, though it may adopt some similar design cues, such as very slim taillights that extend down into the bumper.

Inside, the lineage will once again be clear. The DS N°7 is expected to inherit the dashboard from the N°8, featuring its large central screen and digital instrument cluster, ensuring a significant step up in modernity and perceived quality. This sharing of components is driven by industrial efficiency, as both vehicles will be assembled side-by-side at the Stellantis plant in Melfi, Italy.

The dual strategy: 100% electric and hybrid

Beneath its elegant bodywork, the DS N°7 will be built on the Stellantis STLA Medium multi-energy platform. Initially, it was thought to be following a purely electric path, much like the N°8. It will indeed offer high-performance electric powertrains, likely similar to those in the sedan, featuring large-capacity batteries capable of delivering up to 700 kilometers (approx. 435 miles) of range and various power outputs.

However, in a particularly shrewd strategic move, DS has decided not to put all its eggs in one basket. Unlike the N°8, the DS N°7 will also feature a hybrid powertrain. This decision aims to cover a much broader market segment and cater to the sustained demand from European customers for hybrid and plug-in hybrid options, which still account for the vast majority of sales in this class. This flexibility will allow DS to offer a more accessible entry-level version and to appeal to drivers who have not yet made the switch to fully electric vehicles. The question remains as to the specifics of this hybrid engine. Will it be the recent 136 hp 1.2-liter hybrid unit, or will DS equip its star SUV with a new, more powerful hybrid system better suited to its premium positioning? A more muscular offering would seem more logical to compete with its German rivals.

Within a span of about 18 months, DS Automobiles will have profoundly renewed the core of its lineup. Following the N°8, which re-enters the large sedan segment, and the facelift of the DS 4, which will logically become the DS N°4, this new DS N°7 will complete the offensive. The future premium SUV is shaping up to be an intelligent and promising synthesis. It capitalizes on the undeniable strengths of the current DS 7—comfort, style, and commercial success—while integrating the strengths and qualities of the new N°8, including its charismatic design, technological interior, and top-tier electric capabilities. By skillfully adding the versatility of a hybrid powertrain, DS is equipping itself with a formidable contender. Is this the path to not only continue but also amplify the success of the SUV that established the brand in the premium landscape? Time will tell, but the foundations appear to be remarkably solid.