The DS 9 is a full-sized executive saloon to come out of France’s upstart premium brand. It moves away from the company’s current SUV-style cars, which dominate its range. DS hopes that it will shade its German rivals in comfort and elegance, and do so while offering something tangibly different.

The DS 9 is based on the smaller Peugeot 508 and straddles two classes, so its rivals include plusher versions of the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4 as well as the lower-powered 5 Series, E-Class and A6 models. It’s a tough market, but the DS 9 at the very least has a competitive cash price and smooth driving experience on its side

It certainly looks the part. There are some nice styling touches on the outside including the theatrical LED headlights upfront, Z-shaped Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) at the front and speckled rear light clusters continue DS’s family look. A nice nod to the car’s heritage are the high-mounted rear cornets, just like on a 1955 Citroen DS. Inside, it’s dripping with boutique-style materials and trim, and it broadly offers a level of luxury lacking in its rivals.

There are two models offered – the Performance Line+ and the plusher Rivoli+. Its £40k-plus starting price puts it up against some seriously desirable rivals.

But to counter that it’s being offered with a long list of personalisation options including a whole line of DS Inspirations interior options with the Performance Line+ making great use of Alcantara, and Nappa leather in the Rivoli+. All models get the rotating BRM clock, which pops up out of the dashboard when the car is fired up.

Is all that enough? Over the next few pages we’ll be thoroughly reviewing all aspects of the DS 9 and rating them in our verdict. Our scores will take into account the driving experience, how pleasant the interior is, the practicality on offer and what it’ll cost you to run.

If you’d like to learn more about how we reached our verdict, have a read of our how we test cars explainer page. Plus, for all you visual learners out there, we’ve created a video review for you to watch below.

Watch our DS 9 video review