A car that everyone interprets in a different way, yet they all love it. We feel like it sits in between a lowish crossover and a tallish hatchback. This car is the 4th and latest addition to DS Automobiles's innovative car park: the DS 4.

First impressions

I immediately noticed the prominent looks on this car’s styling; e.g. the front with its huge vertical day driving lights, the futuristic-looking door handles, and most of all the way the car is proportioned stood out.

When I drove onto the highway for the first time, I noticed how the car pulled smoothly up to speed, and how it's very well isolated from any outside wind-noises. That high level of calm stands out, even more so when you use the - quite subtly integrated - sound system. I feel like I’m spilling too much all at once, so let’s split this up and join me in the following paragraphs.

Styling

The new DS 4 definitely doesn’t look like your usual hatchback, mostly because it rivals both the usual premium-hatches like the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and Mercedes A-Class. But alongside it, the DS Automobiles latest compact car also rivals cross-overs like the BMW X2 or the Volkswagen T-Roc Coupe. allthough the design of the DS 4 is unique the car does take some design tricks from other vehicles. For expample the BMW X2's logo's.

I am fan of the DS logo’s on the side though, they make the car stand out. Ever since Carlos Lavares became CEO of the brand in 2012, DS Automobiles are really trying to show how they are a seperate brand from Citroën, which makes their cars unique.

As you might have noticed, there’s a lot of design language in the form of, yes, triangles. From the tiniest ones in the taillights, to the very prominent one on the “smart touch” display in the interior. This is thanks to the designer Thierry Métroz, whom is a massive Louvre fan. And since DS have an ongoing partnership with them, it seemed nothing more than logical to implement some of this design language.

“La Première”

This being a “first edition” it comes as standard with a lot of bits and bops. But how do you recognize one from the exterior? First of all, on the front the DS 4 has a plaque that says “one”, to make it clear what you’re driving. As a customer, you can choose between a Lacquered Gray or Pearl Crystal paintjob, with the contrasting Perla Nera Black roof. As for wheels, you can either go for the Sevilla 19-inch gloss black and diamond-cut alloy wheels, or the optional 20-inch Sydney alloys. Our car had the optional sunroof equipped, which did compliment the premium inside cabin. Overall I feel like this edition makes the car stand out in its best possible way, and has some nice feautures to it.

How does it drive?

DS is selling lots of its PHEVs, that drivetrain in the DS 4 offers a 225bhp total and 55 kilomters (WLTP) of electric range with a CO2 rating of 30g/km. Also on offer re the Group's familiar mid-size petrol and diesel engines. There are five engines to choose from, including 129bhp PureTech 130, 178bhp PureTech 180 and 220bhp PureTech 225 petrols and a 129bhp diesel (badged BlueHDi 130). All DS4’s come with automatic transmission and electric handbrake, leaving room for storage and a second touchscreen down in the console. On that screen a resting triangle appears when its not being used, it made me feel like a sci-fi hero to be honest.

As mentioned above, we drove the ‘La Première’. Our car was the Plug-in Hybrid E-Tense model, with 48km of electric range. The electric range only lasted me a good half a day when I did city driving. Charging the battery with your combustion engine is something I wouldn’t recommend, because I could see the fuel-range decrease significantly when doing this. Other than that, the hybrid system works fluently and switches between the electric and combustion engine like a breeze.

When it comes to its performance, I have to say that I was impressed by its acceleration and almost no bodyroll through corners. It’s only the gearbox that had some difficulties communicating with the engine. So apart from being hesitant in its shifting, I was well surprised by its performance!

Interior and technology

When seated upfront, the design of the interior gives you a very spacious feeling. That is because the side vent units are not built onto the dashboard, but are a part of the doorsills. Also the centre units, have been ‘hidden’ away. This makes it that you’re left with a very sleek and modern looking cockpit. One which you can very accordingly adjust with, some triangles… haha! Yes, even the controls are traingluar. Right next to the navigation, there is a located a ‘back to home’ button, which I found myself using a lot. The fact that they kept this button physical, made it easy to reach and remember. Thumbs up for that DS!

The 2022 DS 4 is built on the same base as the Citroen C4 and the Opel Astra, yet it has some special features that are unique to the DS4, just like the pop-out doorhandles, or like I mentioned above, certain design features.

The car has 430L of bootspace, which in this case, stays the same for all motorisations. Only when you don’t opt for a plug-in Hybrid, you gain some storage storage, but visibly nothing will change.

Right next to the navigation, there is a located a ‘back to home’ button, which I found myself using a lot. The fact that they kept this button physical, made it easy to reach and remember. Thumbs up for that DS!

Summary

I feel like DS Automobiles have really managed to put together a unique car, despite the fact that it is on a shared platform. It sets itself apart from its competition with a very premium finish and feel. Would I daily drive one? Definitely! Would I buy one? Depends… But it would most likely be one with fewer options… Which would cost me about 46k, instead of 52k for the one we drove.

DS4 E-Tense “La Première”