But for all its long-distance limo pretences, the No8 looks unlikely to become the chauffeur’s default EV de choix. Legroom isn’t especially impressive in the rear, and while the panoramic roof helps to mitigate the loss of headroom that comes with a sloping roofline, I only had a few centimetres between my dome and the glass, so couldn’t help but feel a touch hemmed in. Meanwhile, although the official boot capacity of 560 litres is roughly on a par with the Skoda Enyaq’s and Volkswagen ID 4’s, the No8’s fastback rear means there’s almost no space above the shoulder line, so it isn’t as practical as those straighter-backed SUVs for lugging bulky loads.
Materially and visually, though, the No8’s cockpit feels almost every inch the credible premium contender, with plush, tactile trimmings used throughout and plenty of clever, intricate design elements to occupy the eye. Of particular note is the wraparound aluminium dash panel, which flows into a striking endplate that triples up as an ambient lighting panel, grab handle for the door and speaker bezel. Neat.
There’s a decent balance between physical and digital controls, too, and although the 16in touchscreen is among the outright largest on the market, it’s wide rather than tall, so doesn’t tower distractingly above the dashboard and is easy to ignore when you don’t need it – plus both driver and passenger can access everything just as easily. It’s decently responsive, too, and easy to navigate after a bit of familiarisation. Extra marks for having an actual button that takes you straight to the ADAS deactivation screen.
So far, so plush – so long as you can forgive DS’s deployment of some lower-calibre switchgear from its Stellantis sibling brands. Most of the buttons, stalks and switches are shared with Peugeot, Citroën and Vauxhall models, and their plasticky cheapness feels at odds with what is broadly a pleasingly opulent ambience.