► The DS No.8 sees the French trying luxury again
► Majors on long-range comfort
► Great in places, lacks rear room
The DS No.8 is a new electric SUV with coupé-inspired styling and premium aspirations. Forget what came before, this is a striking, high-riding flagship that aims to offer a French alternative to the mainstream German establishment, but not quite in the way you’d expect. Priced from a smidgeon over £50,000, it’s gunning for cars like the BMW iX2 and Audi Q4 E-Tron, despite having exterior dimensions that edge closer to a Q6 E-Tron or Tesla Model Y.
It occupies an unusual middle ground – larger and more lavishly trimmed than most of its direct rivals, yet priced well below full-size luxury EVs. The positioning is ambitious, but DS leans heavily on comfort, the group’s tradition for building idiosyncratic luxury cars, and character to win over drivers who want something different.
With a cossetting ride, calming cabin and eye-catching design, the No.8 channels the spirit of traditional Parisian luxury. Whether that’s enough to carve out sales in such a badge-sensitive segment is another matter.
At a glance
Pros: Exceptionally refined and hushed cabin, silky ride and beautifully judged controls, striking identity in a sea of lookalike coupe-SUVs
Cons: Rear seat space isn’t great, infotainment screen is small and fiddly, while resale values and brand recognition remain uphill battles
What’s new?
The No.8 is DS Automobiles’ biggest and most ambitious model to date. It’s a new flagship with styling influenced by concept cars, premium materials throughout and a clear attempt to move the brand closer to Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz in perceived quality. It rides on Stellantis’s STLA Medium platform, also used by the Peugeot E-3008, but the DS version rides on a longer wheelbase, and is an altogether different proposition.
What really sets it apart – even more than its unconventional styling – is its emphasis on serenity: the ride has been tuned to prioritise smoothness, road noise is barely perceptible, and the cabin feels cocooned from the outside world.
DS has also introduced an AI-powered voice assistant via its IRIS infotainment system, which uses ChatGPT integration. It’s a clever piece of tech, early testing indicated that it was quite useful at a rather limited range of tasks. The No.8 is full of clever ideas and strong intent – but whether its innovations connect with buyers will be its biggest test.
What are the specs?
The DS No.8 rolls out with three distinct drivetrains. Entry-level into the model range uses a 74 kWh usable battery paired with a single front motor producing 256 bhp and 254 lb ft, resulting in a 0-62 mph time of 7.7 seconds.
Upgrade to the heavier 97kWh Long Range, and the front motor sensibly jumps to 276 bhp, torque stepped up too, maintaining an almost identical 0-62mph time of 7.8 seconds. The flagship is the four-wheel drive dual motor version with 370 bhp. Performance is better, with the 0–62 mph time down to 5.4 seconds, but don’t think ballistic – it’s still too a serene performer for that.
Range and charging
Range is something the DS No.8 does very well in all forms. The 74kWh version delivers up to 355 miles in WLTP testing, which should result in between 280-300 miles in real-world driving – still more than enough for most people’s weekly mileage without needing a top-up.
However, for me the longer range version is where it’s at, and it’s here things get even more impressive. It drives the front wheels only, and DS claims up the larger battery delivers up to 466 miles between charges. That’s one of the best figures I’ve seen from any EV this side of a Mercedes EQS-Benz – and even allowing for real-world conditions, 350–370 miles seems entirely achievable.
At the top of the range is the twin-motor AWD model. Power jumps to 370bhp and range drops slightly to a quoted 426 miles. On the road, that translated to around a calculated 300 miles during my initial testing – still strong, especially for something with that level of performance.
Charging is capped at 160kW DC across the range, which is quick enough to take you from 20-to-80% in around 27–30 minutes. An 11kW AC onboard charger is standard, with 22kW available as an option. It’s not class-leading, but it’s entirely in keeping with the No.8’s claim to be skewed towards long distance driving.
How does it drive?
In the unlikely event you’re expecting BMW-like sharpness or Tesla-like thrust, you’re going to be disappointed – and certainly in the wrong place. The No.8 prioritises relaxation over agility, and in this respect it succeeds brilliantly. It rides with an elegance few rivals match, soaking up bumps with ease while maintaining just enough body control to flow through bends and avoid feeling floaty.
The steering is light but consistent and accurate, and the brake pedal blends regenerative and mechanical braking in a way that feels completely natural – a difficult trick in EVs, and one DS has clearly worked hard to get right. Most of all, it’s the quietness that impresses: this is a genuinely hushed cabin, with road and wind noise kept to a bare minimum even at motorway speeds.
Handling is composed rather than entertaining. The front-drive layout and softly sprung suspension discourage enthusiastic cornering, but that’s hardly the point. It feels more at home gliding along the outside lane or cruising through town on near-silent electric torque. When it starts to reach the limits of adhesion, it’s pleasingly neutral, which points to idea weight ditribution.
What really impresses is how DS has calibrated its regenerative braking. One-pedal driving is buttery smooth, with the cleanest pedal-free stop seen in any electric SUV at this price. The result is a car that feels polished and mature – a genuine alternative to the firmer, more tech-obsessed approaches of German rivals.
What stands out most is how unbothered it feels by poor roads or traffic. There’s a calmness to the way it gathers speed and responds to inputs that makes most rivals seem needlessly shouty. In a world of SUVs pretending to be sports cars, the DS No.8 is refreshingly honest. Whether buyers appreciate this approach outside of France is another matter.
What about the interior?
The cabin of the DS No.8 is an absolute highlight. It feels distinctive, plush, trimmed in the finest materials and remarkably well insulated from the outside world. It’s also light and airy thanks to. astandard-fit panoramic roof. The dashboard design is angular and stylised, with quilted stitching, brushed metal accents and ambient lighting that gives it a real sense of occasion.
Front seat comfort is excellent. The seats themselves are wide and supportive, trimmed in soft leather, and offer heating, cooling and massage functions in higher trims. The driving position is slightly raised, offering good visibility forwards, though the sloping roofline does limit rear and over-the-shoulder views.
Things aren’t as rosy in the back. The rakish roofline means taller passengers will find headroom tight, and rear knee room is merely average. This limits its usefulness as a family car, despite its generous footprint. The boot, at least, is long and flat, if not especially deep.
Infotainment is slick to operate but let down by its narrow screen proportions, which cramp the display of navigation and media content. The Focal hi-fi set-up is also a positive, favouring those who love clean, neutral sound with natural bass, bereft of thudding falseness. As already mentioned, the voice assistant works well within a narrow set of parameters – a rare thing – but ultimately, the tech doesn’t feel as immersive or intuitive as the class best.
Before you buy
The DS No.8’s main rivals are a mixed bag. On price, you’re looking at the BMW iX2, Tesla Model Y and Audi Q4 E-Tron – all well-established, badge-rich electric SUVs, but the No.8’s larger footprint gives it more presence, hinting at rivals like the Q6 E-Tron and Polestar 4. The French firm calls it a Coupe-SUV, but I’d be more comfortable calling it a fastback, but I guess that’s a function of my advancing years. Still, the raised floor does give it a near-SUV H-point.
Whatever bodystyle it is, there’s a really wide selection of talented rivals to choose from, and DS is going to have its work cut out trying to entice buyers in with its idiosyncratic Parisian haute couture vibe. It’s a car for those deliberately avoiding the obvious choices. But residuals may end up being weak (sorry, but its an unavoidable elephant in the room). Go in with eyes open.
Verdict
I like the DS No.8, although freely admit I have an unconventionally Gallic taste in luxury cars. However, putting my unbiased hat on for a moment, even when viewing it objectively, the No.8 is a refreshing and stylish take on the executive-shaped electric Coupe-SUV that stands out from the crowd.
It doesn’t chase lap times or verge on the touchscreen overload. Instead, it celebrates refinement, comfort and individuality – and it’s all the better for it. Its interior is a masterclass in trim, colour and material choices, and I love it for that. Whether buyers care enough is another matter.
It’s not perfect. Rear space is disappointingly tight, the infotainment system feels under-endowed in terms of inches and visibility, and the badge doesn’t yet carry the cachet it needs to in this super-competitive market segment. But judged on ride quality, cabin ambience and overall serenity, it’s a match for anything at the price.
This is a car that quietly asks: what does it matter what the neighbours think? And for the right buyer, that might just be the most convincing argument of all.
Specs are for a DS No.8 Pallas standard range