2026 DS N8 AWD review

DS Automobiles spent the last decade trying to carve out a place for itself as one of France's most premium brands. Born from Citroen's most daring and elegant creations - and carrying the spirit of the legendary 1955 Citroën DS - the now standalone DS brand invests heavily in design, craftsmanship and French flair.

Table of Contents:

• Exterior
• Interior
• Storage & practicalities
• Driving experience
• Ride comfort
• Tech features
• Cabin noise
• Acceleration and braking
• Consumption
• Charging speed
• Competition
• Verdict

The issue was that, while featuring stand-out design many of its products had one drawback or another holding them back. The new DS N°8 aims to change that. It is the company's most serious attempt yet at building a genuinely credible premium car. Given that the French prime minister is being chauffeured in a DS N°8, our hopes for the vehicle were high going into the review.

Today we have the best version of the N°8 at our disposal - we are driving the DS N°8 AWD Long Range Jules Verne edition. It comes with all possible features included, as well as a two-tone hood and a unique blue interior that give it the luxurious feel, befitting its premium aspirations.

The combination of a huge battery and a new design enable a long range, while the platform that's more of a lowered SUV allows for more space and improved ground clearance compared to rival sedans.

DS N°8 AWD Long Range 2025 -

• Dimensions: 190.3 inches x 75.6 inches x 62 inches, 114.4 inches wheelbase.
• Drivetrain tested: AWD Jules Verne - AWD 276 kW (375 hp), 375 lb-ft, 97.2 kWh usable battery capacity, 101 kWh total battery capacity
• Other drivetrains: FWD Long range - FWD 206 kW (280 hp), 253 lb-ft, 97.2 kWh usable battery capacity, 101 kWh total battery capacity
• Charging: 200 kW CCS
• Range: 426 miles WLTP
• Weight: 5,046 lb unladen
• Other features: Rear-view mirror camera, Neck warmers, OTA updates.

Exterior

The exterior of the DS N°8 is unmistakably French in the way it blends drama with elegance. Unlike many modern EVs that take minimalism to the point of anonymity, the DS is deliberately theatrical. It garners attention not through aggression but through an unmistakable silhouette from every angle.

From the front, the wide grille and large logo create a sinister look. The lighting elements extend both towards the grille and downward into the front splitter. The details up front make the DS N°8 look unique, yet the styling doesn’t seem to appear busy.

DS N°8 front end

At night, the illuminated front grille enhances the sense of occasion, giving the car a refined and almost gallery-worthy presence.

DS N°8 at night

The side profile of the DS N°8 looks like a typical liftback until you notice the size of it in person. Then, it becomes more of an experiment of blending sedan, SUV and coupe characteristics into one. It looks like nothing else on the road and somehow manages to pull off this look with style.

The upper 2 trim levels come with two-tone paintjobs that underline the roof’s aesthetics and highlight its design elements in chrome or body-color to create wonderful contrast.

The door handles on the DS N°8 differ between the front and rear, though neither solution feels particularly intuitive. At the front, flush-mounted handles extend outward when the vehicle is unlocked, while rear passengers must adapt to an unusual motion due to the high-mounted handles and reverse opening mechanism. While the setup may suit chauffeur-driven use, it feels unnecessarily complicated for regular passengers entering and exiting the vehicle.

DS N°8 side profile

The wheel size increases one inch with every trim level and in the test unit we got the 21-inch wheels that improve the looks of the DS N°8, but certainly lower the range and comfort inside.

The rear of the N°8 once again incorporates multiple different styles. DS AUTOMOBILES is printed across the entire trunk, complemented by a N°8 print with a little diamond-looking dot to add extra flair to the design.

The taillights borrow inspiration from the headlights and extend in all directions, with the lower part being the rear blinker. It is a huge unit that will not leave anyone wondering if you're turning or not.

DS N°8 rear end

Interior

The cabin of the DS N°8 combines typical French weirdness with Stellantis' minimalist optimization. The Jules Verne trim comes with this blue interior, which doesn't exactly scream sensible, but then again neither does the N°8 as a whole.

Material choice inside is wonderful for the most part and makes the DS feel like a more upscale vehicle than it is.

As you open up the door you realize it is one of the more refined elements in the car. The door panel is mainly made out of leather and suede, with a pretty embroidery and a contrasting metal audio cover.

Once behind the wheel of the DS N°8, its unconventional character becomes immediately apparent. The steering wheel spokes are positioned in unexpected places, and drivers accustomed to the traditional nine and three hand position may find the setup uncomfortable during longer periods behind the wheel.

Additionally, the steering wheel buttons for the stereo and cruise control are a single plastic unit with haptic feedback that are hard to get used to.

DS N°8 driver area

The stalks for the indicators and wipers are also used to control the gauge cluster, which is wonderfully customizable and offers great usability.

The head-up display unit is controlled with the same switch that operates the side mirrors, which must be the first time a button does that function instead of a menu setting in the infotainment.

The dashboard is a mix of alcantara and metal that gives the DS N°8 soul and character, unlike any of its rivals that lean too much on the minimalist side.

The infotainment screen stands prominently in the middle of the cockpit with its large 16" size. Sadly, it is also very short, making its buttons small and compromising its usability compared to more squared-off units.

There are a few air conditioning buttons above the center console, accompanied by the hazard lights and a car icon, which pulls up a menu with the vehicle's settings.

DS N°8 dashboard

What can be perceived as the second level of the center console begins with a wireless phone charger, which is too shallow to hold a phone in most corners. The entire panel is made from cheap plastic and creaks when pressed.

Six crystal buttons for the drive modes and stereo surround the gear lever, which is directly borrowed from multiple other Stellantis models at various different price points.

The armrest offers significant storage underneath, as well as a single cup holder that can be closed off to create space for your wrist to rest.

Underneath the visible surface is a lower center console, which allows for large items to be stored. There is also space for two more cups and two USB-C charge ports to charge your devices. It is a cheap-feeling console but adds lots of practicality in a convenient area.

DS N°8 center console

The front seats of the DS N°8 are one of the most comfortable in this segment. They are plushy and soft, but also provide some side support so that you don't slide around in corners like in some old-school luxury land yacht.

They also offer plenty of amenities for the segment, including heating, cooling and massaging features. One thing no other sedan has ever offered is a neck warmer, which is a special fan around the neck area in the seat that blasts hot air at the driver and passenger. This is a feature that used to be available only on high-end luxury convertibles, yet DS included it here.

DS N°8 seats

In fact, the roof doesn't even open at all. It is a fixed glass that stays transparent at all times. That helps in gloomy weather but on hotter and brighter days we would love to have the opportunity to close it or at least dim it.

The rear-view mirror also sports a camera feature in order to project an image of what's going on in the rear. If you have passengers or luggage that block your view it might be a useful, yet in most cases it proves less convenient than the regular mirror. It is also a zoomed-in image that makes it harder for the driver to judge the actual distance.

In the rear, passengers get to enjoy a lot of amenities. Heated and cooled seats with individual A/C controls come from the second trim level onwards.

Sadly, space is not as generous as one might think. Given that the French prime minister gets driven in a DS N°8, we expected a lot more here. Our reviewer is a taller guy at 1.95 m (6'4") and can barely squeeze behind his driving seat. Both leg- and headroom are compromised and don't suit the ambitions of a vehicle with diplomatic aspirations.

DS N°8 rear seats

Storage & practicalities

Unlike the rear seats, the trunk is spacious and can carry around lots of luggage. In regular form it offers 21.9 ft³ of cargo space, which can more than double with the rear seats folded down.

There isn't much space underneath the main trunk because of the subwoofer.

A power outlet makes its way into the trunk, which is a really nice touch.

DS N°8 storage space

Sadly, the DS N°8 has no frunk (front trunk) and therefore doesn't offer a storage compartment for the charging cables and other rarely used items.

Driving experience

A proper luxury limousine is supposed to drive smoothly and effortlessly. The DS N°8 is not quite on that level but is still pleasant to drive.

The steering is light but weighs up nicely in corners to give the driver the needed feedback from the road underneath. It isn't direct and allows for plenty of play until a notable change in direction occurs, but is far from the likes of the Citroen DS of the 50s or even modern luxury sedans like the S-class.

There isn't much body roll in corners, which is rare for the class. It is likely due to the low-mounted battery pack but the chassis must also be exceptionally rigid to allow for this to happen.

The ADAS system is easy to configure and the mandatory bings are easy to disable. The lane-keep assistant works well and is non-intrusive, but the traffic sign recognition is inadequate and picks up random limits.

Luckily, it is easy to disable those erroneous beeps by clicking on the car menu and setting the features you don't like as favorites. Then you're one click away from disabling them all at once.

The camera system eases parking as the DS N°8 has huge blind spots and it's not that easy to determine its exact positioning based solely on what you see.

The camera eliminates the blind spots

Maneuvering, on the other hand, is wonderful, which makes the N°8 perfectly suitable for urban usage. Tight parking spots are easy to enter and exit and even some vehicles with rear-wheel steering might get jealous of the N°8's capabilities.

Ride comfort

The ride quality is soft but not exceptionally so for the class. Many sedans offer a smoother ride without the luxury ambitions of the DS N°8. It is sad because urban areas are frequently ridden with potholes and if you're driven around in the tight backseats, you wouldn't enjoy the bouncing experience too much.

Tech features

Stellantis uses a version of the infotainment of the DS N°8 in multiple models of its brands. It is a good unit that doesn’t particularly shine with any outlandish features but works well and intuitively, which is the most important part.

Unlike the Jeep Compass e we recently reviewed, the DS N°8 doesn't allow passengers to use the right section of the display while Apple CarPlay is in motion, which would've enhanced the experience. Otherwise, CarPlay works tremendously well and even projects the navigation on the gauge cluster display for extra convenience.

Apple CarPlay eliminates the right screen functionalities

The home screen is customizable and displays plenty of shortcuts to vital settings. The seat functions are easily accessible in that vicinity, whereas a quick slide down like a smartphone opens a shortcut and notification menu.

Infotainment

Ambient lighting completely changes the atmosphere inside the N°8 when turned on. It underlines all the key design elements and creates a soothing sensation when riding at night.

Ambient lighting

Sadly, the air conditioning controls are mostly buried within a menu in the center display, which is suboptimal for daily usage, although some of them are placed on the row of buttons below the display and the temperature controls stay on at all times.

The gauge cluster display is among the greatest in the industry in terms of capabilities and practicality, although adding a bit of spice to its design would make it even better.

As for the audio system, it is truly phenomenal and rightfully deserves the plethora of logos throughout the interior. Focal has created not only a visual masterpiece but also an audio experience usually connected to the utmost luxurious manufacturers.

Electra 3D by Focal works amazingly

Cabin noise

Driving around in the DS N°8 is quiet, even at higher speeds. It is always among the best in any category. There are some slight wind noises that make their way into the interior, as well as tire noise from the front but nothing bothersome. The interior is also nicely built and therefore creaks and rattles don’t make their way into disturbing your inner peace inside.

Sound level tests are carried out with a specialized sound level meter placed in the car's cupholders. The test is conducted with air conditioning and radio off and while maintaining a steady speed.

Acceleration and braking

The DS N°8 is quick off the line. The manufacturer states 5.4 seconds, but we managed to do the sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 5.27 seconds, which isn't bad for the weight and power of the N°8 AWD. It is a sufficient figure for the segment and shouldn't leave anyone wanting for more.

Braking is arguably more important of a metric for the luxury sedan segment. We managed to do the full stop from 62 mph in 34 meters, which is a wonderful result. The summer tires and optimal conditions certainly helped but the DS N°8 managed to replicate the result in four consecutive launches and braking tests.

Acceleration and deceleration are measured with a RaceBox device inside the car. Testing is done with a single person inside the car, with air conditioning and traction control off.

Consumption

DS has masterfully tuned the N°8 AWD to not need much energy in order to move forward. Combined with the large 97.2 kWh usable battery capacity, the N°8 is among the longest range sedans available. Due to the aerodynamic shape and efficient drivetrain, the DS N°8 is among the best vehicles we've ever tested in all categories. This is an important metric and a big standout feature among rivals.

If you want to hear our detailed thoughts on the DS N°8's consumption and efficiency, check out our dedicated range test article.

We measure consumption by driving at constant speeds on an identical test route during the day. Testing is conducted with air conditioning, all safety systems and radio on. The data comes from the vehicle's board computer. Specific testing parameters such as ambient temperature are mentioned in the text on a case by case basis.

We now suggest you use the widget below to find out the DS N°8’s range in every combination of speed and temperature you might need. We've used our real world tests and a complex model to provide an estimate that should be as close to the actual performance as possible.

Charging speed

Charging is the N°8's Achilles heel. Its top rate of 200 kW sounds good enough, but we went out and tested how it performs in the real world and even with battery preconditioning turned on, we couldn’t get the DS to charge at more than 100 kW even in optimal conditions. We would like to give it the benefit of the doubt and blame the charger but we got to test an upcoming vehicle on the same charger shortly after and it performed just as well as the manufacturer promised.

Competition

The DS N°8 bridges a gap between SUV practicality, sedan looks and liftback accessibility that may not be the most popular combination, but is a sensible one when you think about it. It primarily rivals sedan models as it is closer to them but one could also cross-shop it with an SUV with very good reasons.

The first rival we chose for the N°8 is the BMW i4, which is now becoming an older product but is still registering solid sales figures. It offers significantly less range and slightly less interior space but rives much better and offers similar build quality. The design of the Frenchman is much more attractive though.

The second rival we chose is the Mercedes C400 that is expected to reach customers by the end of 2026. It offers much more power, more technological advancements and a much better brand perception. Funnily enough, both vehicles cost similar money and at that point choosing the DS will be a lot about the richer equipment in the base version, immediate availability and potentially design preference.

BMW i4 xDrive40 2023 - • Mercedes C400 4MATIC 2026 -

Verdict

DS did a spectacular job getting back into the luxury sedan market. It managed to capture the uniquely French flare that made it so popular years ago but also incorporated enough modern features to satisfy the current market's needs. Due to it being an SUV-based sedan, the N°8 looks unique on the outside, whereas the inside merges modernity with visual drama to make passengers feel special at all times.

Of course, the N°8 has its downsides, but they aren't major enough to tarnish the overall wonderful experience. The big issue is pricing, which is rather ambitious to the newly independent brand. It will probably greatly benefit from a significant discount if it's to gain traction in a class where brand perception is key.

If you can look past that the DS N°8 is a tremendous overall proposition and we are glad it exists to break the mold of modern design. If you like the DS and can actually afford it, we highly recommend taking one for a test drive.

Pros

• Huge range on a single charge.
• Nicer inside than rivals.
• Intuitive infotainment.
• Distinctive styling.
• Wonderful audio system.
• Neck warming seats.
• Easy to disable ADAS system.
• Practical gauge cluster display.

Cons

• Very expensive for the class.
• Slow charging.
• Tight space in back seats.
• Always-open glass sunroof.
• Harsh ride for the ambitions of the vehicle.