First Drive: Is the DS No.8 the future of electric luxury?

What is it?

One of the latest cars in its new wave of models is this – the No.8. It’s an electric model which looks back to original coachbuilt luxury cars, albeit with all of the modern luxuries that buyers expect. We’ve been testing it out in the UK to see what it’s like.

What’s new?

You’ve also got some particularly eye-catching lights at the front and rear of the car. Called ‘Lightblade’, they’re like nothing else on the road today and set the tone for the No.8’s rather quirky take on things.

What’s under the bonnet?

DS says that the No.8 can accept a charge of up to 160kW, which, while not the quickest about today, is enough to take the battery on this car from 10 to 80 per cent in around 30 minutes. Plugged into a conventional 7kW wallbox, the same charge should take around nine hours, so quick enough for an overnight stopover.

What’s it like to drive?

One thing that really impresses, though, is the No.8’s refinement. It’s quiet on the motorway and thanks to a clever system which scans the road ahead for potholes and bumps in the road, pretty good in terms of ride quality, too.

How does it look?

Even the wheels are huge. While the DS No.8 may not be all that traditional in how it looks, we’d argue that it’s nice to see a new approach to design.

What’s it like inside?

But the fundamentals aren’t bad, either. There are plenty of storage spots, while rear-seat space isn’t bad either. At 698 litres, the DS No.8 has a very large boot, too, though it does feel a little shallow in reality.

What’s the spec like?

In fairness, there’s plenty of equipment as standard. ‘Our’ Pallas-specification car – which kicks off the range – gets a huge 16-inch touchscreen as standard with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, alongside features such as wireless smartphone charging, a full suite of parking sensors and acoustic glass, which helps massively with refinement. The No.8’s price does bring it into the mix with cars from more premium brands, but its equipment levels help to separate it.

Verdict

The DS No.8 does a good job of the luxury EV act. Comfortable and refined, it feels like an extension of classic French limousines from yesteryear, and it comes with pretty much every bit of equipment the modern driver could possibly want. You also have to credit DS for taking a different approach to interior design.

It just feels that at this price, it’ll be a tough sell for most buyers to take on board. At this level, you’re playing with big manufacturers and though interesting, the DS No.8’s quirkiness may not be enough to tempt drivers away from more established brands.