The DS7 Crossback is a beautiful-looking car with an alluring design and a number of technological advances.

In a market crammed with high-quality SUVs, there’s no doubt that this one really stands out from the crowd.

Behind the wheel, the drive is smooth and comfortable, while the engine is fuel-efficient.

In many ways, the DS7 Crossback is a rather adventurous vehicle with a number of notable innovations.

Arguably the most significant of them is the DS Active Scan Suspension system, which is camera operated and anticipates bumps and potholes.

Effectively, it analyses the road ahead and adjusts automatically, improving comfort on the move to create an ultra-smooth driving experience.

A camera placed behind the windscreen is connected electronically to the front and rear axles. It works with four height sensors and three accelerometers to gauge the car’s reactions such as speed, steering wheel angle and braking.

In terms of the driving experience, the car strikes a nice balance between performance and practicality.

The 1.5-litre turbo diesel engine offers acceptable acceleration, while delivering excellent fuel economy.

The suspension is generally on the soft side as it’s set up for comfort, which doesn’t make the car feel especially composed,

The steering is accurate and trustworthy, but anyone looking to drive with urgency will need to be aware of a fair amount of body roll in corners.

In terms of looks, the DS7 has a sophisticated and elegant appearance.

It’s an SUV that asserts itself with a feature at the front that is instantly recognisable – the so-called DS Wings.

When viewed from the side, its sculpted shapes and the intricate aesthetics of the 19-inch ‘ROMA’ alloy wheels emphasise its dynamism.

Once inside the vehicle, the first thing you’ll need to do is find the start button, which I eventually located at the top centre of the dashboard between the central air vents, cunningly disguised as a Crossback logo.

With that little obstacle overcome, you can sit back and enjoy the high-quality interior, including sumptuous features such as the Black Basalt grained leather seats, Claudia and Nappa leather dashboard and door panels with stitching, and the Premium leather steering wheel.

On the Prestige version, you get heated front seats and a massage function, plus the electric seats pack for the front seats, while the rear seat backrest are electrically adjustable.

A stand-out feature is the ‘shark’s teeth’ switchgear.

Life is also made a little easier by features such as front parking sensors, a reversing camera, and keyless entry and start.

The infotainment system is very intuitive and easy to use.

The 12-inch central HD touchscreen, boasting superb graphics, lets you operate various functions with a gentle ‘virtual’ push or by using the central crystal control.

All in all, it’s an interior that’s rather avant garde, although there are still some scratchy plastics dotted around the cabin.

On a more practical level, I found the Crossback offered up bags of space for two adults in the front and two children in the back, plus their associated luggage.

There’s plenty of front seat head and legroom, while the back seats and boot are also very spacious.

In conclusion, the DS7 Crossback is a very complete offering for anyone seeking an SUV with both panache and practicality. It looks the part, feels decent to drive,is crammed full of high-quality tech and shouldn’t cost the earth in terms of running costs thanks to an engine that strikes a balance between performance and economy.

DS7 Crossback - Prestige

PRICE: £37,825 on the road

ENGINE: 1.5-litre turbo diesel in-line 4 cylinder transverse

TRANSMISSION: 8-speed fully automatic

PERFORMANCE: Max speed 121mph, 0-62mph in 10.7 seconds

ECONOMY: Combined CO2 emissions 100 - 108g/km

FUEL ECONOMY: 55.3mpg – 49.3mpg combined