THE DS4 is a head-turning beauty of a car that takes Citroen’s ‘Créative Technologie’ to a whole new level.
A worthy sequel to the multi-award winning DS3, the new addition to the family is first and foremost a sleek coupé, but with five-door flexibility and a commanding raised stance.
The striking profile offers eye-catching lines enhanced by a chrome-finished waistline, dark tinted windows and sculpted wheel arches to show off the stylish alloys.
Coupled with a taut roofline and rear spoiler the car has a real presence on the road – enhanced by ‘always on’ light signatures at the rear and around the front foglights.
The cabin combines French sophistication with good levels of comfort and three full-size rear seats accessed through seamlessly integrated rear doors opened by handles encased in the car’s window frames.
Citroen’s attention to detail on the DS4 is impressive – highlighted by the use of premium cabin materials, drilled aluminium pedals, embossed door handles and a choice of five leather combinations which give an atmosphere of opulence.
There’s an airy feel thanks to a large panoramic windscreen which creates a light welcoming environment.
Five adults can be accommodated with ease as there are generous levels of head, leg and shoulder room throughout.
The boot is a decent size coping with 359 litres of luggage – increasing to 385 litres using the under floor storage.
DS4 owners are offered the chance to put their personal stamp on the car as the colour of the dials and the instrument cluster can be changed to suit – via Citroen’s ‘Créative Technologie’.
There’s also the chance to choose from four sound themes for the various vehicle alerts and reminders, while the automatic dual-zone air conditioning has three flow levels - light, medium and strong - with a REST function maintaining ventilation in the cabin for up to eight minutes after the engine is switched off.
The driving experience is delightful thanks to the suspension and steering which are responsive and smooth giving confidence and control.
Power is provided by a range of five Euro 5 compliant engines that combine good performance with environmentally friendly fuel and emissions figures.
There are two diesels - HDi 110 and HDi 160 - and three petrol units which were
co-developed with BMW - VTi 120, THP 155 and a new THP 200.
The HDi 160 under the bonnet of the car I tested was a willing and frugal beast, but if you’re after something offering more thrills the spirited THP 200 may be more suitable.
The HDi 110 is also available as an e-HDi version which boosts fuel economy by up to 15 per cent in city driving conditions and lowers the model’s official carbon dioxide emissions to just 114g/km.
The DS4 is one of the safest vehicles in its class achieving a maximum 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
There’s an extensive range of safety features available as standard, including a host of electronic gadgets to keep you out of trouble plus six airbags and two Isofix mountings on the rear seats.
There are three trim levels available - DSign, DStyle and DSport.
The entry-level DSign is generously equipped with goodies including six airbags, front fog lights with cornering function, six-speaker Surround Sound audio system and cruise control with speed limiter and memory settings.
The DStyle model I drove adds useful items such as automatic windscreen wipers and headlamps, front sports seats with electric lumbar adjustment and massage function, part-leather upholstery, automatic digital air conditioning and rear parking sensors.
The top-of-the-range DSport features front heated seats, full leather upholstery, front parking sensors with ‘gap’ measurement system, a blind-spot monitoring system and enhanced exterior detailing.
Citroen is clearly targeting the DS4 at customers who like their bells and whistles, are image conscious and are looking for a car that offers a refined onboard experience.
There’s a decent chance of success as the DS4 presses all the right buttons.
FAST FACTS
Citroen DS4 DStyle HDi 160
Price: £22,950
Mechanical: 163bhp, 1,997cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox
Max speed: 132mph
0-62mph: 9.3 seconds
Combined mpg: 55.4
Insurance group: 23
CO2 emissions: 134g/km
BiK rating: 19%
Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles