DS No8 review

Driving position

Despite its saloon-like looks, the DS No8 is one of a growing fleet of so-called coupé-SUVs designed with extreme aerodynamics in mind, which contributes to its much slicker look.

DS is proud of the No8's 1.29-metre eye line, which it says is optimal, but until other manufacturers start quoting this metric, it's a meaningless figure. The reality is that it's more saloon-like than SUV-like to drive – you won't be looking down over other cars, but you still sit high enough to have decent outward visibility.

In fact, it's much the same as the Polestar 4, which is one of the No8's biggest competitors. One that it undercuts by about £7,000 (at the time of launch).

The seats, clad in your choice of canvas, Alcantara (both recycled) or leather (tanned naturally from olive leaves) are comfortable, and the cabin's design offers enough interest without being excessive, such as the heavily diamond-inspired DS 3 Crossback's cabin.

Maybe the most striking design choice, and one that certainly takes some time getting used to visually, is the X-shaped steering wheel. It's a far cry from the three-spoked classic, and while Škoda might be evolving this by subtly removing the bottom spoke, DS has virtually redesigned the wheel.

Still, it works, and is actually comfortable to hold in most driving scenarios. The only time you might struggle (look away now, driving instructors) is if you want to hold onto the bottom or top only.

Tech and features

It might have its own flair, but the interior still feels very familiar. Certain parts, like the gear selector, are borrowed from other Stellantis products – that's the brand that looks after Citroën, DS, Peugeot, Vauxhall and more.

Taking centre stage is the 16-inch infotainment system. It's a pinch bigger than the Tesla Model Y's, but because it's wide and narrow, it feels far less intrusive. Very sophisticated.

As you'd expect, you get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless phone charger for convenience (along with a couple of USB-C ports). DS has also put the work in making its voice assistant more intuitive by integrating ChatGPT, so it actually works – something that cars seem to have struggled with for far too long.

Top-spec models with the Absolute Comfort Pack (as opposed to lower trim levels which only get the Comfort Pack, pfft) get a 14-speaker 3D sound system developed by Focal – Stellantis' chosen audio company. It doesn't quite carry the brand appeal of Harman/Kardon or BOSE, but it certainly sounds the part.

In another nod to its closest-looking rival, the Polestar 4, the DS No8 also has a digital rear-view mirror, but because it actually has a rear windscreen, you can also flick it between regular and digital modes. Not sure how living without a rear windscreen would work? Read our Polestar 4 review.

Electric motors and power

There are three configurations available, each with its own benefit.

It starts with the 230hp model, which is the most affordable. It's as fast as hot hatches from the 2000s and 2010s, with a 0-62mph time of 7.7 seconds, but it accelerates in a much more composed manner. None of this throw-you-into-the-back-of-your-seat nonsense – this is a premium ride, after all.

If you go for the bigger battery, you'll have 245hp to counter the extra weight. 0-62mph is almost unchanged, at 7.8 seconds. We tested this model – the slowest – but it always had enough power on tap to pick up the pace. This model's benefit is its efficiency, so it'll travel the furthest on a full charge. More on that below.

If front-wheel drive isn't your style, consider the all-wheel-drive version. It's the quickest, with a 0-62mph time of 5.4 seconds from a twin-motor, 350hp setup. In most drive modes, acceleration still feels composed, but prod the throttle in Sport or 4x4 mode and you get a bit of that instant torque thrill.

There's also a temporary boost of 25-35hp on each model for extra punch when needed.

Handling and ride comfort

If you've driven any Citroën of late (or even some iconic classics, like the Citroën DS of the 1950s) then you'll be familiar with the comfortable ride. That's precisely what sets Citroëns apart, and with DS operating separately but closely related to the familiar French brand, the No8 shares those desirable qualities.

As such, the DS No8 is a car best driven calmly. We tested two versions of the No8 on well-paved French and Swiss roads where it flowed seamlessly around the open bends, but on tighter corners it starts to show the tradeoffs of all that comfort. Other cars, including the Polestar 4, certainly feel more agile.

The laminated, acoustic glass also makes for a pleasant drive. Wind noise only becomes apparent at motorway speeds, and tyre noise is pretty well hidden too.

High-spec models also have DS ACTIVE SCAN SUSPENSION which uses a camera to adjust damping in real-time. It's only available in the Comfort drive mode, and while DS's engineers might be able to notice the difference, unless you're really paying attention you'll struggle to see the benefit.

That's not necessarily a problem with the active suspension system – it's actually a testament to the standard car's exceptional comfort.

It's easy to find the limit of the DS No8's tyres, with the front-wheel-drive model also susceptible to a bit of understeer, but this isn't a car designed for the Nürburgring so that doesn't matter too much. These traits will rarely show their faces, but it's worth bearing in mind in slippery conditions.

Boot space

The DS No8 has a 620-litre boot, which puts it ahead of many other conventionally-styled SUVs let alone low-slung coupé models.

It's nearly 100 litres more than the Polestar 4's 526-litre boot, and those figures translate into real-world practicality with a huge footprint and a wide opening.

Rear seats

It might only be a D-segment car, which puts it up against the likes of the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé or X4, but its premium design makes it the type of car you might want to be chauffeured about in. French President Emmanuel Macron has even customised his own No8.

It means the rear bench is as comfortable as the front, with standard heated seats and optional cooled seats. We love the neck-warming air vent beneath the headrests of the front seats (similar to Mercedes' AIRSCARF), which is meant to improve cabin heating efficiency by warming you up more quickly, but it's a shame it's limited to the front seats.

Storage solutions

Up front you get a double-decker floating centre console with hidden compartments, deep (cooled) armrest storage and a couple of cupholders. They're awkwardly placed, though, so you could end up spilling your Starbucks or having to store bottles in the (large) door bins.

All in all, it's a mixed bag. There's plenty of storage to keep items from being flung around, but the practical applications aren't quite as we'd hope.

Safety

Depending on trim level, the DS No8 has plenty of active safety systems, including DS DRIVE ASSIST 2.0 with semi-autonomous lane changes and predictive adaptive cruise control that slows down automatically for corners.

Visibility is a strong point, with top-spec DS NIGHT VISION-equipped cars using infrared to detect pedestrians and animals up to 300m away, and the PIXEL LED VISION headlights automatically adjusting to provide up to 500m of visibility.

It remains to be seen how the No8 will perform in independent Euro NCAP crash testing, but most DS models of late have been four-star models unless specified with optional safety packs. To keep up with the Polestar 4, then, the DS No8 really needs to score better.

Range and charging times

Two battery sizes are available, but both edge on the bigger side. The entry-level model comes with a 74kWh battery, which unlocks a claimed 355-mile range.

The 97.2kWh battery paired with the single, front-mounted motor promises the longest 466-mile range, which isn't just the best-in-class, but it's barely beatable. Only a very small selection of cars, like the 484-mile Mercedes CLA, trump it.

Both front-wheel drive configurations claim 4.8 mi/kWh, while the AWD model averages a slightly lower 4.4 mi/kWh. That's why its range is slightly lower, at 426 miles, despite having the same 97.2kWh battery.

In our testing, we averaged around 3-4 mi/kWh in both FWD and AWD configurations specced with the bigger battery. Given the scale of the mountains we were driving on, that's good going.

A full charge from empty will take over 13 hours for the bigger battery on most at-home charging points (7kW), but you'll likely only be doing smaller top-up charges overnight. What matters is the 27-minute 20-80% charge on a rapid charger.

It's because the DS No8 charges at up to 200kW and holds onto 160kW between 20% and 55%, so it charges faster for longer before the speed reduces to preserve battery health. It also helps that you can precondition the car manually to make sure it's prepared for vast amounts of electricity when you arrive.

Reliability

It might be a brand new car for DS, but the No8 uses the STLA Medium platform that plenty of other Stellantis cars use, including the Peugeot e-3008, Peugeot e-5008 and Vauxhall Grandland.

It means that we can make an educated guess that the DS No8 should be just as reliable as its cousins.