DS No.8 (2025 - )

There is a new flagship model coming out of the Stellantis stables and it carries the DS badging. While DS may not be as well-known as the likes of Peugeot, Citroen, Alfa Romeo or most of the other manufacturers that sit under the Stellantis umbrella, the French car maker is hoping to turn round fortunes and really put this luxury model on the map.

And to celebrate the latest car, there is a fresh new naming structure. The company’s previous models were simply called DS3, DS4 and DS7 for example, but the new car is called the DS No.8 and that is a nod to Chanel and its high-end No.5 perfume.

It’s a five-door coupe-styled SUV that’s big on style and personality with distinctive looks and a claimed driving range of up to 466 miles on certain models – that should quell any range anxiety issues out there.

Customers can choose between trims called Pallas and Etoile, while there are two battery sizes on offer with either 74kWh or 97kWh units. The car is also available in front or all-wheel drive and prices start from a very competitive £50,790.

We tested the high-end Etoile model with the larger 97kWh battery pack and front-wheel drive on a spectacular road route that criss-crossed between France and Switzerland. 
 

With a tapered profile that sees the roof stretch downwards towards the tailgate, the DS No.8 is a great looking car that’s guaranteed to draw attention wherever it goes. The aerodynamics were a key factor during the design process so you get vertical front and rear lightblades to minimize any drag, a panoramic sunroof, door handles that are flush to the body, along with lightweight but strong 19, 20 or 21-inch alloy wheels.

There is a large grille, part of which is illuminated at night and to ensure there is no mistaking the car’s identity, it houses the chrome DS logo. The low roofline gives the DS No.8 a coupe look, but the TARDIS-like interior results in SUV-like practicality.

The interior oozes elegance and sophistication with the sort of luxury and style you would expect on a French fashion catwalk. The olive leaf-tanned Nappa leather seats offer supreme support and can be powered, heated or ventilated for added comfort. There are soft-touch surfaces and lovely cut-out shapes to hide the FOCAL speakers, of which there are 14 scattered throughout the cabin, including in the doors and roof.

There is an over-sized steering wheel with X-shaped spokes and lots of buttons to control the volume, make a call, etc. 

A large 16-inch touchscreen is the access point to all the on-board tech with built-in navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 360-degree camera, Bluetooth, along with Chat GPT that can assist with a number of functions and even keep you entertained in a traffic jam by telling a variety of very cheesy jokes.

A head-up display and 12.25-inch instrument cluster offer all the vital driving data, so you can keep an eye on speed, battery charge and driving range.

Even the headrests have heaters for a touch of added coziness. This may sound a little over-the-top, but heating the neck and seats soon warms the driver and is more energy-efficient than heating an entire cabin.
 

We drove the front-wheel drive No.8 in Long Range guise so it featured the larger 97kWh battery and an electric motor on the front axle. With 280hp (including 35hp of one-off power boost for overtaking) and 343Nm of torque, it could complete the 0-62mpg sprint in 7.8 seconds and maxes out at 118mph. That’s not too shabby for a car with a kerb weight of 2.1 tonnes than can tow up to 1.4 tonnes. And it has a claimed range of 466 miles between charges.

It's a confident cruiser and beautifully refined with barely a sound filtering into the cabin. The X-shaped steering wheel, which takes its inspiration from concept car designs, may be met with mixed opinions, but we liked it and thought the steering weight was perfect for the conditions. Drive modes called Eco, Comfort, Normal and Sport alter the handling quite considerably and there is a 4WD mode on the dual motor versions of the car.

The acceleration through the single-speed automatic transmission is smooth and there is plenty of zip for quick bursts of pace to overtake slower-moving vehicles. The No.8 does feel quite wide, stretching just under two metres across, and you find yourselves breathing in on narrow country roads with oncoming trucks straddling the central white lines. But the car is beautifully balanced and confident when firing through tighter bends.

The slightly upright driving position results in good all-round driver visibility, apart from through the narrow rear screen, and steering wheel paddles can be used to strengthen or reduce the level of regenerative braking. Additionally, there is a button on the centre console for single-pedal driving which is a real bonus in busy stop-and-go traffic.

The No.8 also features Active Scan Suspension on the Etoile Long Range model and above and this clever set-up, which comes into force when Comfort mode is selected, will help smooth out bumps and dips along the way.
 

The front-wheel drive DS No.8 is a big old unit stretching 4,820mm in length, 1,900mm across and 1,580mm tall. These figures result in a spacious cabin with plenty of room up front for a couple of six footers. In the back, the legroom is really generous and elbow space also impresses, but the tapering roof design means taller passengers, especially anyone sat in the middle seat, will find their hair brushing against the panoramic roof. The good news in the back though is the heated and ventilated seats which are also exceptionally comfy.

The boot is accessed via a powered tailgate and it is well-sized but has quite a narrow loading area. It can swallow 620 litres of kit with some cable storage space beneath the floor. And the capacity increases further by dropping the split-folding rear seats.

There is one deep, square-ish bottle holder behind the gear selector and two further cup holders beneath the floating console with a slightly flimsy-feeling sliding cover. That’s where the USB ports are located too, but smartphones can easily be linked wireless free.

Elsewhere, there is a lockable glovebox, central cubby, seat back pockets, door bins, trays, a wireless charger and lots of USB ports to keep devices charged.

A heat pump comes as standard and charging is reasonably quick if you can find a fast charger that works these days. With speeds of up to 160kW, a 124 mile boost can be added in 10 minutes, or in just 27 minutes a 20 to 80 per cent charge can be achieved. If using an 11kW home wallbox, the same charge can be reached in just over nine hours.
 

The DS No.8 is a premium flagship model so, as expected, it comes with quite a hefty price-tag. The entry-level Pallas with the smaller 74kWh battery costs £50,790 and that car in higher Etoile trim is priced at £54,790. Move up to the larger 97kWh battery pack and Pallas costs £54,690 and Etoile (as tested) is £59,290. The all-wheel drive model, which is only sold in Etoile guise, is priced at £63,290.

Despite being an expensive car, it is competitively priced compared to rivals in the sector that mainly come out of Germany.

Sadly, many of the financial benefits afforded to EV owners have been axed or reduced this year as the government tries to claw back some extra revenue. Owners will have to pay road tax for the first time, although the first-year payment of £10 will hardly break the bank. After 12 months, the standard £195 fee applies. 

Additionally, as the vehicle costs in excess of £40,000, there will be an Expensive Car Supplement of £425 from years two to six. Finally, from Christmas Day onwards, Congestion Charge fees will also be applicable, albeit at a reduced rate.

With all the added costs, the importance of home charging becomes more important, especially if a cheaper overnight tariff with your energy supplier can be negotiated. 

For peace of mind, the DS No.8 is sold with a three-year warranty package, with battery cover extended to eight years or 100,000 miles.

The DS No.8 is the go-to car for President Macron, so hopefully that sort of publicity will give the high-brow company the nudge it needs to become more noticeable. We really hope so as DS seems to be the forgotten brand of Stellantis and it shouldn’t be the case. 

The No.8 offers bold styling, a wealth of on-board technology, a superb driving range and a price-tag that competes very favourably against the German marques. But it’s just a case of getting its name out there and that’s no easy task these days.