The 2025 DS 8 FWD Long Range arrives as a seriously stylish contender in the premium electric SUV space. Hailing from Italy, this French-designed cruiser aims to blend avant-garde looks with impressive long-haul capability. Its trump card is undoubtedly the massive battery, promising to banish range anxiety for good. It’s a statement piece, designed for those who value comfort, design flair, and a substantial electric range over outright blistering pace. With a starting price of €63,200, it's positioned to challenge established German rivals by offering a unique flavour of electric luxury.
The DS 8 is an all-new model for 2025, marking a bold new chapter for the French luxury brand. It's one of the first vehicles to ride on the cutting-edge STLA Medium platform from Stellantis, engineered from the ground up for electrification. This brings a huge leap in battery capacity and efficiency compared to previous DS models. Everything is fresh, from the striking fastback SUV design and the tech-laden interior to the advanced powertrain. It represents DS's most ambitious push yet into the premium electric vehicle market, aiming to set new benchmarks for the brand.
The DS 8 boasts a dramatic fastback SUV silhouette that’s guaranteed to turn heads. It’s a big, impressive machine, measuring 4834 mm in length, 1920 mm in width, and 1574 mm in height. True to DS form, the details are exquisite, featuring jewel-like LED lighting signatures and a commanding front grille that give it an unmistakable and premium road presence. The sleek, aerodynamic profile isn't just for show; it's key to its efficiency, while the flush door handles and sculpted lines complete the avant-garde, almost concept-car-like appearance on the road.
Inside, the DS 8 FWD Long Range offers a stunning, tech-forward cabin that feels properly premium. Expect a feast of high-quality materials, with intricate stitching and unique design touches throughout. A large central infotainment screen and a crisp digital driver's display handle all the key functions, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto likely as standard. It's a comfortable five-seater, and practicality is solid with a generous 620-litre boot. The rear seats fold for even more room, though you won’t find any extra storage under the bonnet as there is no frunk.
This Long Range model focuses on effortless cruising rather than neck-snapping acceleration. Its single Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor sends 206 kW and 345 Nm of torque to the front wheels, resulting in a smooth and respectable 0-100 km/h sprint of 7.8 seconds. The driving experience is tuned for supreme comfort and refinement, soaking up bumps with ease and providing a serene, quiet ride. While it tops out at 190 km/h, its real talent lies in delivering composed, long-distance touring prowess, making motorway journeys an absolute doddle.
Here’s the main event: range. The DS 8 packs a huge 97.2 kWh usable battery, delivering an impressive real-world range estimated by Green Cars Compare at 638 km. That class-leading stamina is helped by its stellar efficiency of 6.56 km/kWh. When it’s time to plug in, the standard 11 kW AC on-board charger handles overnight top-ups, with a 22 kW unit available optionally. For rapid charging on the go via its CCS Type 2 port, it can pull a maximum of 200 kW, getting you back on the road quickly.
While the DS 8 has not yet been crash-tested by Euro NCAP, it's expected to come loaded with a comprehensive suite of safety tech. Look for advanced driver-assistance systems to be high on the agenda, likely including adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality and active lane-keeping for semi-autonomous Level 2 driving on motorways. Features like blind-spot monitoring, a 360-degree camera system, and advanced automatic emergency braking should also be available, either as standard or part of an optional package, to ensure maximum peace of mind.
Buyers can expect the DS 8 to be covered by the brand's standard European warranty, which typically includes a 2-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee for the vehicle itself. Crucially, the high-voltage battery pack will receive its own dedicated warranty, which is the industry standard of 8 years or 160,000 kilometres, whichever comes first, guaranteeing it retains at least 70% of its original capacity. While complimentary maintenance plans can vary by country, the inherent reliability and reduced service needs of an EV powertrain should keep running costs relatively low.
