The new DS 9 saloon will start from £40k

Remember the DS 9? We haven’t heard much from the French carmaker since it was revealed ahead of the ill-fated 2020 Geneva Motor Show, but DS has today announced its new flagship saloon will start at £40,615 when it goes on sale in Britain later this month.

That price will get you a 222bhp 1.6-litre 4cyl petrol engine. The plug-in hybrid E-Tense, which combines a 1.6-litre engine and 80kW (108hp) electric motor for a matching 222bhp total, will set you back just short of an extra £5,500.

The latter does, however, offer up to 34 miles of EV-only, zero-emission range at speeds of up to 84mph, while its 11.9kWh battery takes one hour and 45 minutes to charge using a 7kW wallbox. Whether the extra initial outlay is worth it depends on your driving habits, and how much you care about the environment. Or if you're wanting one of these as a company car...

DS has also confirmed that a 355bhp four-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid variant will join the range at some point in the future, sounding not disimilar - in powertrain terms - to the Peugeot 508 PSE it's presumably the softer-riding second cousin of.

You've a choice of two trims, with the more luxurious Rivolo adding four grand but bringing many safety features, 360-degree cameras and heated and ventilated massage seats. Handy if the local spa hasn't yet opened back up.

But how does it compare to more conventional rivals, chiefly the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series? Well, in entry petrol guise the DS 9 is basically on par with them, making it a style choice rather than a value option, though the hybrid undercuts its German equivalents if you avoid the posh trim.

Would you take the plunge?