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Pros: Plush passenger compartment, comfortable ride, long-range capabilities
Cons: Odd four-spoke steering wheel, FWD model lacks pace
DS No.8 Design
DS has quickly established its own signature look for its four existing model lines since 2017 but this fresh No.8 evolves the corporate styling nicely. Its crisply angular form is supposed to be that of a coupe-SUV, although it doesn’t look tall enough to us to qualify as such and we’d rather think of it as a big fastback. The reason for that relative lowness is that the DS No.8 is very aerodynamic, to the point even its rear door handles are hidden up near the C-pillar, all to help it maximise its range.
But there’s still plenty of drama to the visuals, what with the swooping roofline, the big vertical light signatures fore and aft, eight-point daytime running lamps on upper-grade models and attractive alloy wheels in the arches. You can even paint the DS No.8 in an extended two-tone package which finishes the bonnet in the same contrast appearance as the roof, while large brand and model lettering on the boot of the car completes the look. It’s certainly imposing as you walk up to it, and despite its novelty it manages to look similar to the other DS models which have gone before it, which is a good effort on the company’s part.
DS No.8 Interior
Arguably one of the No.8’s strongest features, the quality of the cabin is largely excellent, with one notable exception that’s staring you in the face as soon as you get in: that odd four-spoke steering wheel in a cross formation. That aside, two big screens – 12.25 inches for the instrument cluster and 16 inches for the main infotainment, the former augmented by a massive head-up display above – control most of the main systems onboard the DS and these work well, even if that central widescreen is so gigantic that it’s hard for even a taller driver to reach the far side of it.
But the material quality throughout the car is generally magnificent, especially the plump and comfortable seats, and there aren’t too many visibility issues – save for the steep angle of the A-pillars and the comparative narrowness of the rear-window aperture, which can at least be bypassed by one of those ‘in-mirror’ camera systems instead if you prefer.
Space is broadly very good too, with a 620-litre boot on single-motor models, dropping to 560 litres on the dual-motor AWD variant, but while those sitting in row two of the DS No.8 will have plenty of legroom, headroom is in rather shorter supply – mainly due to the rake of the tailgate and also the giant, full-length panoramic sunroof up top.
DS No.8 Performance & Drive
There are three main flavours of No.8, starting with a single-motor front-wheel-drive (FWD) variant that has a 74kWh battery. This delivers 230hp normally, with the power rising to 260hp for brief ‘overboost’ periods. DS quotes a range of up to 550km for this car, with a 0-100km/h time of 7.7 seconds.
There are then two ‘Long Range’ (LR) models, both with whopping 97.2kWh battery packs. The former is again single-motor and so FWD, but power rises to 245hp nominally, with 280hp on overboost, although its bigger battery adds 50kg of weight and thus the car is slightly slower to 100km/h from rest at 7.8 seconds. It does, however, have the capability to go up to 750km in one hit.
Finally, there’s the dual-motor all-wheel-drive (AWD) version, which ups the power to 350hp (375hp on overboost) to trim the 0-100km/h time to 5.4 seconds, with the outright range pegged back to 688km as a result.
Having driven both LR variants, the DS No.8’s forte is definitely rolling refinement and comfort – as it should be from this French brand. Higher-spec models, including the AWD, have the company’s Active Scan suspension that watches the road ahead and then tunes the suspension to compensate for impending bumps in the surface, and in the main this system makes the DS a delight to travel in. The ride’s not perfect, but it’s very, very good, and the car’s suppression of exterior noise factors is also deeply impressive.
It's not quite as sharp or involving in the corners as keener drivers might want, but the steering on the No.8 isn’t too bad and the AWD model definitely feels the happier being hustled, as its overall mass just ties the whole car down that touch better, while the traction out of corners is nigh-on unimpeachable in the dry.
DS No.8 Pricing
DS Ireland hasn’t confirmed pricing of the No.8 as yet but given the company’s assertion that this newcomer is a coupe-SUV then there’s a wide and varied array of rivals available. Further, DS says the No.8 is as spacious and grand-feeling as the Audi Q6, but that it will pitch the car at the same sort of price level as the smaller Q4 e-tron Sportback. As both the Q4 Sportback and BMW’s i4 start in the €63,000-€66,000 bracket, it’s reasonable to assume the No.8 will be around the same sort of ballpark.
Carzone Verdict
A thoroughly polished and proficient first showing from the DS No.8 shows that there’s a lot of promise to this Gallic EV. Its sumptuous interior, high-quality integration of technology and the long-range driving capabilities should all win it plenty of fans, beyond the striking bodywork, and thankfully it drives in a suitably accomplished, relaxing fashion. Pricing and specs will be key to its ultimate success, and it’ll still be hard for DS to convince you to avoid an ‘established’ premium marque such as Audi, BMW or Mercedes, but we think you shouldn’t automatically overlook the No.8 as it’s one of the more appealing and satisfying models to come out of this fledgling French manufacturer’s factory so far.