Summary
The DS Nº8 is a medium-large electric liftback, announced at late 2024 as the new flagship of the DS Automobile model range. The first cars arrived in the UK in the autumn of 2025.
The Nº8 is available in three trim levels in the UK – Pallas, Étoile and Jules Verne – with three powertrain and battery combinations. These are:
- 230hp, front-wheel drive, 74kWh battery, Pallas or Étoile trims
- 245hp, front-wheel drive, 97kWh battery, Pallas, Étoile and Jules Verne trims
- 350hp, all-wheel drive, 97kWh battery, Étoile and Jules Verne trims
In the entry-level Pallas version, with the 245hp motor and larger battery, DS claims that the Nº8 will be able to deliver a driving range of 446 miles on the official government lab tests. Even the smaller battery versions offer an official range of 328 miles, which is comfortably more than most households will need in day-to-day driving.
The car’s interior is a minimalist
Prices range from just under £51K for the Pallas trim with the entry-level powertrain to about £69K for the Jules Verne model with the top-spec powertrain. Inevitably, this puts into direct competition with the dominant premium German troika of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, so – as with every other challenger brand – the Nº8 will have its work cut out to create a viable niche for itself.
Initial reviews of the Nº8 have been positive from most of the motoring media on the European launch, although the actual scores are only average. There are also a couple of negative reviews that pull the overall score down. We’ll continue updating as we get local reviews starting to filter in over the next few months.
As of October 2025, the DS Nº8 has a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 70%. It achieves top marks for its zero tailpipe emissions, while its running costs and safety rating are also good. However, DS Automobiles’ new car warranty offering is only average, while the generally positive media review scores have been dragged down by a couple of poor scores.
Key specifications
Body style: Mid-sized liftback
Engines: electric, front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive
Price: From £50,780
Launched: Winter 2024/25
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Banish your preconceptions, the sumptuous DS No8 EV is a big French car that deserves to be on the radar of UK buyers.”
Author: Jordan Katsianis
Read review
Auto Trader
Score: 8 / 10
“The DS No8 has incredibly plush seats, top-quality cabin ambience and plenty of legroom in both passenger rows, although we’re not massively convinced by the X-design steering wheel. Though it’s more expensive, the dual-motor AWD version is more befitting of a luxury vehicle such as the N°8 than the entry-level, single-motor version.”
Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The DS Nº8 is a car that quietly asks: what does it matter what the neighbours think? And for the right buyer, that might just be the most convincing argument of all.”
Author: Keith Adams
Read review
Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
“The new DS No.8 is an electric car that looks kinda cool, has a luxurious interior, and a massive electric range, but will that be enough to steal customers from BMW and Audi?”
Read review
Electrifying.com
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“DS seems to have thrown everything it’s got at the No. 8, perhaps because it’s a last roll of the dice for the brand. In terms of technology, range, performance and tech it’s a match for best competition, while the styling is divisive enough to make it a ‘must have’ for some buyers.”
Author: Tom Barnard
Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The No8 is a sign that we can finally start taking DS seriously as a premium competitor to the likes of Audi and Mercedes-Benz. It feels plush, comfortable and pleasingly different from more obvious options.”
Author: Matt Robinson
Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“You have to admire the DS No8 for its determination to be so different. It’s refreshingly nothing like its perceived German competitors and surprisingly distinct from the many Stellantis Group cars it shares parts with. It’s certainly interesting and it rides smoothly but we can’t help but wonder if its high price will be a stumbling block for many.”
Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Parisian flair meets electric serenity.”
Author: Keith Adams
Read review
Regit
Score: 8 / 10
“The DS 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.”
Author: Maxine Ashford
Read review
The Independent
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“After a decade of so-so autos, the No.8 is the car that finally put DS on the premium car map.”
Author: Steve Fowler
Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 2 / 10
“Only nine UK drivers bought this car’s predecessor [the DS 9] last year. Might the DS No8 have more appeal? I wouldn’t count on it. If friends expressed an interest in buying this car, I’d seriously question their sanity.”
Author: Andrew English
Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“DS makes something inevitably different from the German opposition, and surprisingly different from the rest of Stellantis’s stuff ”
Author: Paul Horrell
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 4 stars
Date tested: October 2025
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 76%
Child protection: 85%
Vulnerable road users: 80%
Safety assist: 65%
Eco rating
No eco rating
As of October 2025, the DS Nº8 has not been assessed by Green NCAP.
The Green NCAP programme measures exhaust pollution (which is zero for an electric car) and energy efficiency. Electric cars are much more energy-efficient than combustion cars, so the Nº8 is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing if and when it takes place. Check back again soon.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
| Battery range | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 397 miles | A |
| Electrical efficiency | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 3.7 m/KWh | D |
| Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| All models | 40 | D |
As of October 2025, we don’t have servicing and maintenance cost data for the DS Nº8.
Despite its electricial efficiency (the EV equivalent of fuel consumption in a petrol or diesel car) being below average, it will still be cheaper to run if you are able to charge it at home or work. If you are relying on fast changing in public charging stations, it will be fairly expensive to run.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
The DS Nº8 is a brand-new model so we won’t have any meaningful reliability data for years to come.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Nº8, we’ll publish the results here.
Recalls
Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the DS Nº8
The DS Nº8 has not yet been launched in the UK, so no recalls have yet been issued for this model.
You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local DS Automobiles dealer.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the DS Nº8, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
BMW i4 | BYD Seal | Citroën ë-C4 | Ford Capri | Genesis GV60 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | Hyundai Ioniq 6 | Kia EV6 | Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric | MG IM6 | Peugeot e-408 | Polestar 2 | Polestar 4 | Tesla Model 3 | Tesla Model Y | Volkswagen ID.7
The premium EV market is expanding rapidly, and the lines between saloons, liftbacks, crossovers and SUVs are becoming ever-more blurred. Around the £50K mark, there’s a growing number of different vehicles that could be compared to the DS Nº8.
More information
More news, reviews and information about the DS Nº8 at The Car Expert
Buy a DS Nº8
If you’re looking to buy a new or used DS Nº8, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.
Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more
Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more
Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more
Lease a DS Nº8
If you’re looking to lease a new DS Nº8, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.
Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Carwow. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Select Car Leasing. Find out more
Subscribe to a DS Nº8
Subscriptions are becoming a very popular way for consumers to try an electric car for a few weeks or months to help decide whether it’s a suitable alternative to a petrol car. If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
Car subscriptions from SelfDrive.
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Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
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Car subscriptions from Just Vehicle Solutions.
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