I've personally never struggled to see the appeal of a DS, but there are some that do. It might be a Citroen beneath and, yes, the DS 7 might have versions costing north of £60,000, but I've just spent a week in a top-spec DS 7 and it really is hard not to fall for its charms.

Take the exterior for starters. It might just be a facelifted version of the DS 7 Crossback, but it's coated in distinctive details, and it really cuts a dash in a car park that's likely to be filled with dull German family wagons.

From the LED light veil on each front corner, to the muscular arches and the sculpted details on the rear, it's certainly stylish.

And then you get to the interior. It's one of those cabins that prompts you to release an audible "wow" when you sit down behind the wheel.

Exquisite details start to pop up everywhere you look. It's a sea of angled buttons, bright silver details, premium materials and even a hidden clock that rises up when you turn the car on, providing even more theatre. It is an absolutely gorgeous cabin, and makes you feel like you're sitting in something special.

Space in the back is fairly good, if a little dark. The stylish leather seats are comfortable and can be specced with a massage function if you fancy it.

There are no pure petrol engines now, which seems a bold move. There's a diesel unit to kick the range off, and then you can choose any drivetrain as long as it's a plug-in hybrid.

The diesel version in base spec costs from around £35,000 - but a plug-in hybrid version would add the best part of £10,000 to that price.

Apply the plug-in hybrid option to the lavish top-spec Opera version and you're uncomfortably close to £60,000 - so it's kind of a good job it feels like such a premium product. Because that really is a premium price.

Colour choices are all a bit subdued, but a garish paintjob wouldn't really suit it, and there is a 355bhp 4x4 version available, but this is a car that makes more sense being driven sedately.

And that's because the ride is absolutely sublime. With a camera-based adaptive suspension setup working wonders on most road surfaces, you can just melt into the drive. And it's particularly lovely in the all-electric mode offered by the plug-in hybrid.

You get around 36 miles from a charge in the real world, and it's possible to top it up, albeit slowly from a three-pin socket. This obviously can give you some stratospheric MPG figures, but if your battery expires, you can expect a more realistic 40mpg in most situations.

Keep it topped up, though, and you've got a great car for the daily commute, with enough individuality to help you stand out, but enough subtlety and elegance to keep you feeling special.

It's not perfect though. There isn't a lot to dislike about the DS 7, but the infotainment system is one thing I just couldn't find myself loving. It's not really user-friendly enough, and simple things like climate control settings hide themselves away, especially if you load up Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. It's a big, bright screen, but still a weak link.

It's not enough to turn me away from the DS 7 though. It's a practical premium family car which offers far more luxury than you might think, with a smattering of very clever tech and a wonderful ride.

It might seem a bit pricey to the uninitiated, but you only need to sit in one to start justifying where the money has been spent.

Sure, there's plenty of choice out there at this price but you'd be foolish to overlook the DS 7, if only for the individuality.