Should you buy one?

You know what? I really like the DS No.8. It’s a calm electric car, it’s comfortable, it’s beautifully built – and it’s absolutely not trying to be something it isn’t. But while I’ve got a lot of time for it as a car, and it competes with those at the sharp end of the executive car grid surprisingly well, I’m less convinced about it as a product. You see, big French cars have a long history of falling flat in the UK.

It’s not that they’re bad, it’s just that buyers here tend to say ‘very nice,’ and then go out and lease another Audi. The DS No.8 tries to change that, and while I applaud DS Automobiles for trying, cracking the premium market is tough. However, it’s a fastback-shaped, all-electric SUV with the kind of spec and serenity that should make the Germans, or at least Mercedes-Benz, nervous.

And yet, I can’t help thinking that many buyers won’t give it the time of day – especially once they look at the badge and start thinking about what it could be worth in three years’ time. But if you can get past that, and you’re more interested in how a car makes you feel than what it says about you, then this is a genuinely lovely thing to spend time in.

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What’s new?

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This is DS Automobiles’ biggest and boldest model to date. Although you might be mistaken for thinking it’s a large hatchback set the mould of the old Citroen XM, DS is calling it a coupe-SUV, and in terms of dimensions and footprint, it’s more or less a direct rival for the more expensive Audi Q6 E-Tron Sportback and Polestar 4. Bring price into the equation, and DS expects potential Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E and Audi Q4 E-Tron Sportback buyers to be taking a look.

Like all of these aforementioned rivals, it’s a pure EV from the get-go, based on Stellantis’s STLA Medium platform – the same basic setup as the Peugeot E-3008/E-5008, but stretched and slinked-up into something altogether more luxurious. You can have it with three different powertrains: 256hp motor and 74kWh battery pack, 276hp and 97kWh – or the full-fat 369hp dual-motor version, also with a 97kWh battery and four-wheel drive.

All versions support up to 160kW DC charging, and range figures are impressive – up to 465 miles WLTP claimed if you go for the big-battery front-driver. It owes nothing to the car it replaces, the DS 9, and although it’s all electric at the moment, its underpinnings could allow it to run a hybrid petrol drivetrain, should demand dictate.

The good news is that I’ve driven them all on the international launch in France, and you can find out more about how we test here at Parkers, should you be interested.

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What’s it like inside?

Rather nice, actually. Climb inside and it’s immediately clear this isn’t trying to mimic anything German. The DS No.8’s interior oozes individuality, with a bold design language that’s got nothing to do with minimalism and everything to do with mood. The diamond themes might be a bit OTT for some, but I loved the detailing. The material mix is top drawer, especially in Etoile spec with all the Alcantara and soft-touch loveliness.

The front seats are superb. They’re supportive without being firm, and perfect for long drives. The driving position is spot on, too, and the overall ambience is calm, quiet and cocooning. The Focal audio system is excellent and the cabin insulation is so good that motorway cruising becomes almost meditative.

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The infotainment setup is, surprisingly, rather good. It’s quick to respond, fairly logical to use once you’ve found your way around it, and feels suitably high-end. It even has ChatGPT integration for voice control, which works better than most rival systems I’ve tried. That said, the screen layout feels a little shallow in depth – both the instrument display and the central screen are slightly smaller than you’d expect in a car of this size, which takes some of the wow-factor out of what’s otherwise a very digital cabin.

In the back, space is adequate rather than generous. Headroom is limited if you’re over six foot, and kneeroom is just okay for taller passengers. The boot, on the other hand, is better than the coupe-SUV styling suggests – at 545 litres, it offers a long, flat loadbay that’s easy to use and large enough for most family duties.

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Range, charging and motors

There’s no shortage of choice for long-distance drivers here. The 74kWh model claims up to 355 miles, the 97kWh version stretches that to 465 miles, and even the AWD version manages a respectable 407 miles. Real-world? You’ll probably see around 300-320 miles in the big-battery front-driver, and 260–280 miles in the dual-motor car.

Combine that with reasonably rapid charging speeds, and you can flit between London and Edinburgh without getting your knickers in a twist about wasting time at public chargers.

Topping up with juice is handled via a 160kW DC connection, so a 20-to-80% boost takes just under half an hour on the go. Not Hyundai Ioniq 6 fast, but the large battery offsets any disadvantage. An 11kW AC charger comes as standard, and if you’ve got the infrastructure at home or the office, you can option 22kW. No complaints there.

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What’s it like to drive?

This is where the DS No.8 really impressed me. I already knew it wasn’t going to try and be sporty, it’s not that sort of car. Instead, it just gets on with the business of being supremely relaxing – but despite all of that emphasis on comfort, the body control is rather good in bends, too.

However, the main takeaway is that the ride is lovely on the French roads I tested it on. Especially in the Etoile model, where the Active Scan suspension reads the road ahead and adjusts the damping before you’ve even hit the bump. So, it’s floaty, but not floaty in a bad way. More like a gentle wave than a bounce.

Noise levels are exceptionally low. Wind, tyres, motors – it’s all kept firmly at bay. And the controls are just beautifully judged. The steering is light but not vague. Instead, it’s nicely precise when you need it, while the accelerator pedal is notably progressive.

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As for the brakes, they’re up there with the best in any EV I’ve driven in a long time. Seriously. The one-pedal mode, which offers maximum regeneration, is so nicely calibrated, it comes to a stop without a trace of a jerk. Chauffeurs will love that.

And that’s the point. The No.8 is tuned for grace, not grip. It doesn’t want to blast out of corners or feel taut on a B-road, and yet it doesn’t put a foot wrong. Instead, it wants to make you feel good. The 369hp four-wheel drive version can hit 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds, but you’d never know unless you really buried your foot, and you’ll probably be so relaxed you won’t care.

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What models and trims are available?

The range kicks off with the Pallas trim in 256hp or 276hp front-wheel-drive forms. Even the base spec gives you heated seats, adaptive cruise, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a very premium feel. Step up to the 97kWh model and you get more power and more range – but the real luxury kicks in with Etoile.

That top-spec version is reserved for the 369hp four-wheel drive car and brings 20-inch wheels, the trick suspension, an illuminated grille (if that’s your thing), 360-degree cameras and a digital rear-view mirror (no bad thing, given the limited view). It’s plush, it’s quiet, and it really does feel like a proper flagship.

Prices start at £50,790, with the top model weighing in at £63,290. That puts it well below a similarly equipped Q6 E-tron or Polestar 4, and not far off an upper-mid trim iX2.

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What else I should know?

Resale values are a mystery right now, but history doesn’t bode well. If the old DS 9 is anything to go by, they’re likely to be on the soft side, and that’s going to affect monthly leasing and PCP deals. The dealer network is slim, and although it offers a great concierge service, nothing makes up for a lack of showroom presence.

While DS is making all the right noises, it’s still not a brand most people would cross-shop with BMW or Audi. So yes, you’ll be going against the grain if you choose one. But that’s kind of the point. Finally, it’s not called the DS 8 because of some retro homage – apparently, it’s ‘No.8’ as a nod to a perfume bottle. Which sums up the whole car, really: stylish, fragrant, and not to everyone’s taste.

Click through to the next page to see our 10-point ratings and what we like – and don’t – about the DS No.8.