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2025 DS N°4 JULES VERNE E-TENSE
Written by Rob Van Loock
01/03/2026
Sometimes there are special editions that come with a number attached to them. 1 of 500. 1 of 1,000. That feels tangible. That feels truly limited.
What we do know is that this version is meant to evoke the adventurous spirit of Jules Verne. Around the World in Eighty Days translated into a modern electric journey. A sculptural design with literary references, a compass on the dashboard, exclusive accents, 19-inch LIMA wheels with gold-coloured centre caps, and a specific Night Flight paint finish. Marketing? Absolutely. But also simply… charming.
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Design: typically DS, and we mean that in two ways
We’ve always been fans of the first DS models. The DS3, DS5, DS7, they had boldness, but also elegance. In recent years, though, the brand seemed to be searching a bit. Sometimes a little too special. Too complex. Too deliberately different.
This N°4, however, is one we can genuinely appreciate from a design perspective. The proportions work. It sits well on its wheels. In Cashmere, it looks solid, although we think the metallic colours give it a bit more presence. The 19-inch LIMA wheels do their job nicely. The illuminated front end is cool. A bit of a gimmick, yes. But it works.
Our only concern is that a small accident involving that lighting signature will probably cost a lot more today than a simple bumper repair used to.
The rear end… we’re less convinced. The fully spelled-out “DS AUTOMOBILES” across the tailgate. Where did the elegant logo go? It almost feels as if DS isn’t sure people will recognise the brand, so they decided to write everything out in full. Visually? Not our favourite.
And then there are the door handles. Flush. Futuristic. But your hand doesn’t naturally fit around them. Every time you use them it feels slightly awkward. And yes, we experienced several moments where the key wasn’t immediately recognised and the handles simply stayed hidden in the door.
So there you are. Standing there. Feeling slightly ridiculous. Pull the key from your pocket. Press unlock. Welcome back to 2005. Not exactly premium.
Interior: dangerously close to being wrong, yet we love it
Inside, things become interesting. Pearl and Eternal Blue Alcantara®. That’s bold. It sits right on the edge of this could go very wrong. But here, it works.
It feels exclusive. Different. French. Almost artistic. The dashboard features a laser-engraved compass pattern, referencing navigation instruments from the era of great explorers. This isn’t a copy-paste interior. Someone clearly put real thought into it.
The seats? Wonderful. Heated, massaging and ventilated (on the plug-in and electric versions) and above all: extremely comfortable. That’s something Citroën/DS truly understands: comfort. Seats. It’s in their DNA.
You do sit a bit tighter than you might expect, though. Especially in the rear. At 1.87 m, I had just enough space to survive a dinner outing. But a holiday trip to the south of France? That might get tight.
Ergonomics: French minimalism with a hint of frustration
The steering wheel is small, slim and feels high quality. Nothing to complain about there. But some of the other buttons feel cheaper than they look.
The infotainment screen is nicely integrated into the dashboard. And yes, in 2026 we’re finally seeing a screen that isn’t simply glued onto the dashboard like an iPad. Fantastic. But then comes the catch: the menus.
Where Chinese brands sometimes hide everything behind a thousand submenus, DS might have… almost too few. Yet somehow they’re structured in such an illogical way that you still end up searching.
Looking for the seat heating? Good luck. Trying to adjust settings? Time to puzzle a little.
And then there’s something very Stellantis: you have to hold the start button for an annoyingly long time before the car activates. As a result, the whole system takes a moment to wake up. In 2026, you simply want to get in and drive, not wait for your car to wake up.
Powertrain: correct, but not spectacular
We drove the 100% electric E-TENSE version. Key technical figures:
213 hp
343 Nm
0–100 km/h in about 7.7 seconds
Top speed: 156 km/h
54 kWh net battery
WLTP range up to 450 km
11 kW AC charging
120 kW DC fast charging
20–80% in around 30 minutes
Those numbers are perfectly respectable. Not revolutionary. Not slow. Just solid.
But the cold temperatures made things tougher. With a calm driving style we ended up just under 400 km of range. And honestly? We had hoped for a little more.
In winter conditions, the WLTP figure proved somewhat optimistic. At €46,953, there are more efficient alternatives on the market. And that’s something we should be honest about.
One-Pedal Drive… or not really?
One of our biggest frustrations. One-Pedal Drive isn’t truly present. Yes, you can adjust the level of regenerative braking via the paddles. But the difference is minimal. The car doesn’t come to a complete stop on its own.
In a modern electric vehicle, that’s something you simply expect. It feels as if DS made a half-hearted compromise here.
Chassis: unexpectedly strong
This is where we were pleasantly surprised. The N°4 felt more dynamic than expected. Plenty of grip, even on winter tyres. Very limited body roll.
The steering feedback is surprisingly good. You can feel exactly how quickly you can carry speed through a corner, and it inspires confidence. Honestly, we didn’t expect that from a French lifestyle edition inspired by literature. But there’s genuinely solid engineering here.
Who is this DS for?
You don’t buy the DS N°4 JULES VERNE because it’s the best electric car for the money. You buy it because you want it.
Because you like the design. Because you appreciate the interior. Because you want something different from an ID.3, Megane E-Tech or Volvo EX30. Because you value a bit of French flair. This is not a rational purchase. It’s an emotional one.
Conclusion: charm over reason
The DS N°4 JULES VERNE is distinctive. Sometimes frustrating. Sometimes illogical. Sometimes brilliant.
It’s not perfect. The ergonomics could be better. The software could be clearer. Efficiency could be stronger. But it has character. And in a world where everything is starting to look more and more alike, character might just be its greatest strength.
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