DS No8 review: French fancy looks to crack the premium market

The premium EV market is tough to crack, so can the DS No8 charm its way into contention with its avant garde design and 466-mile range?

The DS No8 represents a bit of a departure for Stellantis’s posh French division.

We’ve had electric DS cars before but this is the first dedicated EV, developed from the ground up to offer a powertrain to match its luxury ambitions.

Yes, it uses a platform shared with more mainstream models, but lots of work has gone into making the No8 its own thing and a worthy flagship for the brand.

Lots of work has also gone into making it a credible, usable EV, hence punchy performance and a claimed maximum range of 466 miles.

DS wants the No8 to capture the spirit of its famous Citroen DS forebear and deliver a sophisticated and luxurious new chapter in its electric journey. That’s a worthy ambition, the problem is there are plenty of rivals in its way, with everything from the Polestar 4 and Tesla Model Y to the BMW i4 and Audi Q4 e-tron sportback mentioned by DS itself.

So can the No8 deliver where previous petrol-powered DS cars have failed?

DS No8 design, interior and technology

DS calls the No8 a D-segment SUV coupe and it is a substantial machine at 4.8 metres long. However, its width and relatively low height actually give more of a saloon/fastback attitude.

The lower height is accentuated by the sharply raked rear roofline that slices down towards the trihedral LED tail lights and bold DS Automobiles tailgate script. At the front, the No8’s width is emphasised by pointed LED running lights pushed right out to the edges of the car and, in higher trims, by an illuminated grille and badge. This creates a unique light signature on the road with its tightly packed upright “slats” but I’m not convinced about its appeal, or the obvious plastic shield across it.

Other than that, the No.8 is a handsome big thing that suits its angular lines and two-tone finish (not always guaranteed). However, the design is about aerodynamics as well as aesthetics, with everything from the rear spoiler to the headlight shape designed to help deliver up to 466 miles of range.

Inside, DS says it wants the No8 to be a “refined sanctuary” that shows high levels of craft and expertise in materials. On first encounter, it seems to do that. Interiors are finished in either a very retro-chic blue Alcantara, or an optional tan Nappa leather with wonderful watchstrap detailing. Both look and feel brilliant in their own ways, and are augmented by avant garde touches such as the four-spoke steering wheel, the starburst pattern on the centre console and the huge, bold speaker surrounds on the doors.

So everything looks lovely but there is a feeling that beauty is only skin deep. Prod too hard and the firm plastic beneath the squishy surfaces becomes apparent. And here and there there are thin, flimsy feeling plastics that you wouldn’t find in a Polestar or Genesis.

Front-seat occupants are well served, with comfortable, supportive seats that offer plenty of adjustment and space, and come with heating, cooling and massage. There’s even a convertible-style neck warmer that helps the climate system’s energy use.

Those in the rear also get the option of heated and cooled seats but legroom isn’t as generous as you might expect, and a high floor gives a slightly knees-up seating position. That rear legroom appears to have been sacrificed for the boot, which is a massive 638 litres.

At the heart of the dashboard a 16-inch widescreen infotainment display handles most of the car’s functions, although there are blessedly simple buttons for drive modes and a few other key functions. The latest DS operating system is snappy, packed with features and with big easy-to-hit buttons but there’s too much flicking between screens to call it truly intuitive.

DS No8 battery, motor and driving

The DS No8 comes from launch with three powertrain options.

Entry-level models get a 74kWh battery paired with a 227bhp motor driving the front wheels.

Above that is a “long-range” model which uses a 242bhp front-mounted motor and bumps up the battery to 97.2kWh. That’s the one which promises up to 466 miles on a full charge. Interestingly, DS also quotes a motorway range of 310 miles, predicting that more demanding use will be the No8’s natural environment. Officially efficiency is an impressive 4.8m/kWh.

At the top of the range is a two-motor, all-wheel-drive version, which uses the same battery but offers 345bhp, 377lb ft and a range of 407 miles. All three cars can also deliver an extra 30bhp but only for short overtaking bursts.

Performance from that AWD setup is reasonably potent. It can’t match the muscle of the Polestar 4 or two-motor Model Y, but in isolation it feels plenty punchy enough. The 0-62mph run is dispatched in just 5.4 seconds and there’s solid pull at any speed. However, both throttle and brake pedal have a distinctly spongy feel and the steering, while well weighted and balanced, feels more calibrated for easy cruising than sporty endeavours.

There are the usual multiple drive modes which sharpen or dull the throttle, plus three levels of braking regeneration managed via steering wheel paddles. There’s also a one-pedal setting, which is activated separately.

Higher-grade models come with DS’s road-scanning suspension that primes the dampers for upcoming lumps and bumps. When active, this offers (whisper it) Citroen-like levels of comfort but even in normal mode, the No8 rides in a way that honours its badge.

That smooth ride is complemented by impressive sound insulation that makes the No8 a quiet, calm cruiser and a very easy thing in which to cover miles.

All versions of the DS No8 come with peak DC charging of 160kW, which in the days of 400kW+ sounds pretty slow. However, DS argues that overall charge time is more important than peak DC performance. It claims its car’s real-world 20-80% charge time is better than alternatives such as the Polestar 4, BMW i4, Tesla Model Y and Audi Q4 e-tron. A 20-80% charge (not the 10-80% quoted by most other brands) takes 27 minutes.

DS No 8 price and specification

Along with three powertrains, the DS No8 gets two trim levels, with prices starting at £50,790 and rising to £63,290.

Entry-level Pallas comes with the choice of the two front-wheel-drive powertrains, while above it Etoile adds the option of the all-wheel-drive setup. Prices for Etoile start at £54,790 for the standard range FWD and top out at £63,290.

All versions of the No8 get heated front seats and steering wheel, two-zone climate control, a powered tailgate, 16-inch touchscreen with wireless phone mirroring, plus a head-up display, heat pump and adaptive cruise control.

They also all come with 20-inch wheels, so if you want that 466-mile range you’ll need to specify the optional 19s.

Etoile spec adds the active scan suspension, Pixelvision adaptive headlights, active lane change assistance, a 360-degree parking camera and the neck warming seats.

It’s the kind of kit level you’d expect on any premium car. And like any premium car worth its salt, there are still a couple of options packs that add features such as a panoramic sunroof and Focal 14-speaker sound system.

Verdict

The DS No8 is a likeable big thing with bold individual styling, a comfortable and effortless driving experience, and serious real-world usability thanks to that 400-mile+ range.

However, it’s let down slightly by some dubious interior touches and relatively stingy rear space.

The bigger problem is that when it comes to big cars in the UK French brands have always struggled. And when you can have a Polestar 4 or the phenomenal BMW iX3 for similar money, that’s unlikely to change.

DS No8 Etoile AWD long range

• Price: £63,290 (£69,190 as tested)
• Powertrain: two-motor, all-wheel-drive
• Battery: 97.2kWh
• Power: 345bhp
• Torque: 377lb ft
• Top speed: 118mph
• 0-62mph: 5.4 seconds
• Range: 407 miles
• Consumption: 4.4m/kWh
• Charging: up to 160kW

Also consider

• Polestar 4 – Impressive performance and effortless style. Just watch for the janky infotainment system
• BMW iX3 – Similar price, even more range and a luxurious, super-high-tech interior
• Tesla Model Y – Has solid EV capabilities and is a lot cheaper than the DS but lacks any of its style or character