Testimonial – He didn’t want to hear about electric cars, but his DS N°8 changed his mind
Positioned between a high-end sedan and a coupe SUV, often referred to as a crossover, the DS N°8 is an electric vehicle that stands out. Throughout his automotive journey, Hugo has gone through several phases. Initially convinced by diesel engines, he ended up with a rechargeable hybrid by chance. He was reluctant to consider electric vehicles due to a negative experience within his family circle. However, he was drawn to the brand’s world. These seemingly contradictory reasons ultimately led our reader to the DS N°8.
Spacious and powerful vehicles
Today, Hugo is a retired seventy-year-old from the airline industry who splits his time between the Vexin and Alsace. But back then, with three children and often their friends to transport, a spacious car was necessary: “In 1999, we bought a diesel Citroën Evasion Captain Chair. It had three rows of completely independent seats with armrests. When we were just five people, we removed a seat to fit more luggage. We kept it for a while until the children grew up.”
Other equally comfortable models followed: “Still sticking with diesel, we then got a Nissan Pathfinder 4×4 that we kept for about fifteen years easily. It wasn’t a particularly sporty model. Also with seven seats, we had a Mercedes GL as our second vehicle for two years. It was a V6 diesel with all the options, including heated seats in the back — it was the 4×4 my wife adored. Driving it with the cruise control gave us a sense of cruising. But we had many problems with it.”
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Then there was a transitional vehicle: “As our children grew up, we had as many as three cars at home at the same time. At one point, we got a 180-horsepower Peugeot 308 to experience real acceleration sensations. For me, power isn’t just for making a roaring noise. I like driving smoothly, but I still need the ability to overtake easily when necessary—when I press the accelerator, I want an immediate response. This is even more important with electric cars, actually.”
Switching to a rechargeable hybrid
In 2020, it was time to replace the 308: “I didn’t like about this car that the cruise control only activated at 30 km/h. It was the summer of the Covid year. As a die-hard diesel enthusiast, I thought about sticking with diesel. Having owned several Peugeots before, I knew the dealer at the dealership. He had just returned from testing a rechargeable hybrid 3008 with another customer. That vehicle was parked in front of the door when we arrived, but it held no interest for me at all.”
And yet: “The seller offered us a chance to test this car, but I declined right away. He insisted, saying it would allow us to experience a new model from the manufacturer. My wife and I came out enthusiastic. We were truly impressed by its power and the driving pleasure in electric mode. The silence, aside from the rolling noises, was fantastic. We ordered it during summer 2020 and received our Peugeot 3008 hybrid rechargeable in October of the following year.”
The electric option was completely out of the question: “I have a brother who is a big environmentalist. He bought one of the very first Renault Zoé models. On his way home from a New Year’s party, he encountered the problem of three charging stations in a row being broken. He had to turn off the heating and rely on a survival blanket. That was simply not an option for us. Before, we always bought our cars outright. But for the 3008 PHEV with 300 horsepower and all-wheel drive, we opted for a four-year lease to reduce risks related to the traction battery.”
In the end, we parted ways with the 3008 without much regret: “There were two major issues with this car for us. First, the rear camera had terrible resolution. And its actual range was far too low, only 30-35 kilometers in winter. The DS 7 had just been restyled, with an advertised WLTP range of around 60-65 kilometers. We were able to test it at the dealership near Mulhouse. This time, we were impressed by its interior. We chose another model with all options and all-wheel drive.”
In actual use, the range turned out to be once again too limited: “During our trips in Alsace and the Parisian region, we wanted to be able to drive only in EV mode. It was fine in the summer, but in winter, with a range of 40-45 kilometers, it was just barely enough. Nevertheless, this experience allowed us to truly appreciate the DS universe. Two years ago, in September 2024, we attended the Chantilly Arts & Élégance auto show during the press day. DS was there with the SM Tribute concept car presented by Thierry Metroz.”
Hugo was able to meet with all of DS’s staff and speak with this designer: “I’m a big fan of home theaters. I asked Thierry Metroz what he had planned for the DS N°8 regarding the audio system. He told me to concentrate the sound on a single Focal speaker integrated in the middle of the dashboard. As for the delay in unveiling this car, he said there was an issue with battery availability, but it will be officially revealed by the end of 2024. We really fell in love with the DS universe at that point.”
Pushed Towards Electrification
Upon returning from Chantilly, Hugo wasn’t yet determined to sign up for an electric car: “The DS N°8 was said to have a range of 700 to 750 kilometers, which potentially could work for us and allow us to stay with DS. But after thinking about it, we realized it wouldn’t suffice, as it would be too risky. So we went to look at the Renault Rafale hybrid with 300 horsepower and a range of around a hundred kilometers on electric power. It was perfect for replacing our DS 7.”
Once again, a small stone got stuck in this mechanism: “Our daughter lent us her Hyundai Kona EV. We discussed with her the challenges of driving an electric vehicle. Living near Cannes, she assured us it wouldn’t be a problem for her. So we considered several models. The Hyundai Ioniq 9 for when we’re with more than five people including the grandchildren? Too big! The Tesla Model Y we tried out? No way we’d risk facing penalties related to Autopilot!”
But the idea took root: “By combining Tesla’s charging ecosystem with ranges of around 700 km, it had to work. That led us back to the DS N°8, which I was able to borrow during a service visit for my DS 7 at the Mulhouse dealership. We came away more than convinced—what comfort and driving pleasure! My wife is very sensitive to the driving atmosphere. It was in January 2025, and we ordered our own unit even though the DS 7’s lease hadn’t ended yet, which resulted in us facing some minor penalties.”
Charging and average consumption
In practice, electric vehicles work very well for Hugo: “For our DS N°8 AWD with a 97.2 kWh battery, the WLTP range is around 680 km. Despite requesting 19-inch wheels that would help reduce consumption, we had to settle for 20-inch wheels with Michelin CrossClimate 2 tires. Thus, without using the highway but instead taking national roads at 110 km/h, we have enough range to cover the 500 km from Mulhouse to our home in the Vexin. By the time we arrive, there’s still about 10-11% of energy left in the battery.”
Received in April, the household’s first electric car has already covered nearly 12,000 km: “For the first 9,973 km, I recorded a consumption of 17.8 kWh/100 km. On the last 1,796 km, it dropped to 17.1. This could be due to different driving conditions and better temperatures. After all, is it really necessary to be able to drive 500 km without recharging en route? We stop anyway to use the restroom. I’m quite particular about my car. I drive a French brand vehicle and charge as much as possible at IECharge stations where the cost per kilowatt-hour is 0.25 euros.”1
Our driver also uses the Tesla network: “We go to Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg... There are chargers everywhere that are reliable. I got a one-year subscription. At our home in the Vexin, we plug the DS N°8 into a 7 kW single-phase charger. In Mulhouse, it’s on a 11 kW three-phase charger. When we ordered the car in July 2025, we couldn’t get the 22 kW option. But we don’t miss it. Charging at home in 3 or 6 hours—what’s the difference? Maybe for Lidl’s AC chargers.”
“It’s the most advanced model we’ll ever have.”
Our reviewer is convinced: “There’s a strong emphasis on overall ergonomics. Every aspect of the environment has been thought through carefully, with nothing left to chance. Sure, the multimedia system requires some learning curve, but everything becomes clear once you understand its logic. We also have a head-up HUD display. The built-in planner is highly reliable. Its integration into navigation is excellent as well. On the downside, there’s no option to select charging stations directly, but manual search is possible.”
Hugo is also satisfied with the driving aids: “We’ve been using the (basic) cruise control in our Citroën Evasion. Once you try it, it’s amazing! On the DS N°8, the aids are very well thought out and highly reliable. In the Parisian area, it’s really great—the car follows the flow of traffic without needing to be manually controlled. It always maintains the right speed, adapting to the surrounding conditions. We can even take our right foot off the accelerator. However, when approaching a stop sign or red light, don’t forget to brake.”
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The new electric vehicle owner compares: “I went to test a Tesla again since we have the DS N°8. With Tesla, it’s the car that drives you and can suddenly take control in surprise. It’s the opposite with the DS N°8, where it’s definitely the person behind the wheel who drives, with the vehicle providing assistance. As for me, it’s simple—I want to be in control. My wife is a fan of this car. It’s the most refined model we’ve ever had.”
“What could I get after the DS N°8?”
The DS N°8 doesn’t go unnoticed: “People stare at it; there’s something sensual about its design. Our daughter who lent us her Kona EV thinks it’s great, even though her husband isn’t a fan of Stellantis. Our other daughter, who drives a conventional car, was impressed by our electric vehicle. The silence of this model is soothing. It’s a car you really want to drive. There’s enough space in the back for adults to feel comfortable. This summer, with the sunroof and ventilated seats, the passengers in the back were very comfortable.”
Hugo is a true music lover: “My favorite musical styles are jazz and American crooners. I chose the extended Focal audio package. Driving with high-quality music in such a car brings peace of mind. It doesn’t have Citroën’s hydraulic suspension, but the comfort is definitely there. The sound environment is soft and great. On familiar routes, mental stress decreases. For me, this DS N° 8 is a true driving machine. I’m really curious about what I might buy next after this, once my lease is up.”
Automobile Propre and I would like to thank Hugo greatly for his excellent hospitality, his very quick response, and his highly interesting testimony following our request for feedback from our readers.
For your reference, any offensive comments directed at our interviewees, their lives, choices, and/or ideas will be removed. Thank you for your understanding.
Author’s Note
The testimonials on Automobile Propre vary from one another. What makes these stories particularly interesting is the journey that led each person to electric vehicles, rather than just the numerical data. Hugo has a talent for telling his story by highlighting the small unexpected events that caused him to change direction several times.
From the way he describes the DS N°8, one immediately wants to go try it out. And who wouldn’t be a bit jealous of his luck in getting to see the SM Tribute up close? Even as a 1/18 scale model, I would really like to add it to my collection of electric concept cars.
What car after their DS N°8? This is a question that more and more electric vehicle owners are asking themselves regarding the model they use daily. It signals two things: first, today’s electric vehicles have reached a high level of maturity, making them highly desirable, pleasant to drive, and suitable for everyday use. Second, many car owners don’t necessarily expect further major advancements. In fact, the current offerings might indicate that manufacturers have gone too far (in terms of price, size, equipment, options, etc.).
Philippe SCHWOERER