DS No 8 First Drive – The French Electric Luxury Alternative?

Simon takes the new DS No 8 for a first drive, the bold new electric flagship from DS Automobiles and one of the most distinctive luxury EVs arriving in 2026. Positioned as a design-led alternative to German premium brands, the DS No 8 combines a sleek fastback-style body with impressive aerodynamics and a huge battery option delivering up to 466 miles of WLTP range. Inside, the focus is on comfort and craftsmanship, with a plush cabin, unusual design details and high-end tech including a large touchscreen, head-up display and premium audio options. Under the skin there are multiple powertrains, from a single-motor version with around 260-280 bhp to a 375 bhp dual-motor AWD model capable of 0–62 mph in around 5.4 seconds. But numbers only tell part of the story. In this AutoEV First Drive, Simon explores what the DS No 8 is actually like on the road, from ride comfort and performance to the interior quality and technology that DS hopes will tempt buyers away from more established premium EV brands. In this video: • First impressions of the DS No 8 design • Interior quality, space and luxury features • Range, charging and efficiency • Driving experience and ride comfort • Can DS really challenge the German premium EVs? Let us know in the comments: would you choose the DS No 8 over a German electric SUV or saloon? 00:​0​0 – Introduction with Simon 0​2:2​5 – ​Styling 0​6:​5​8 – ​Battery & Charging 0​8:40 – ​Boot / trunk ​10:​1​0 – ​Rear interior 11:00 – ​Interior and driving position 1​7:10 – ​Performance 1​8:​00 – Driving the DS No 8 ​27:​5​5 – ​Pricing ​30:30 – Likes and Dislikes ​3​1:​20 – ​Summary #DSNo8 #DSElectric #ElectricCars #EVReview #FirstDrive #LuxuryEV #ElectricVehicle #AutoEV #ElectricCarReview #EV2026