Take one look at Citroen’s DS4 and there’s no denying it’s beautiful to look at, it receives head-turning looks wherever you travel. It’s styled like a coupe but with the practicality of a hatchback saloon, with the rear door handles encased in the car’s extended window frames. Although the car is based on the C4 there’s barley anything carried over to the new model, the suspension has been re-designed front and rear to provide the car with the sporting dynamics represented by the DS brand.
I drove the €27,595 e-HDi model which delivers 110hp and is combined with Citroen’s six-speed EGS (Electronic Gearbox System). You can also have a six-speed manual gearbox, which would be my choice pick as the EGS doesn’t provide the smoothest of gear changes. As a result of Citroen’s innovative micro-hybrid technology, combined with second generation Stop & Start, the DS4 emits just 114g/km of CO2 which places it in tax band A with an annual road tax of €104. The diesel engine is refined and quiet on the move, which aids to the premium feeling exuded from the car’s interior.
The DS4 is available across three trim grades, DSIGN, DSTYLE, and DSPORT. The test car I drove was finished in DSTYLE specification and comes liberally equipped with such features as an automatic electric parking brake, led interior mood lighting, 18” ‘Brisbane’ alloys, rear parking sensors and climate control all included. There’s also the addition of sports front seats, that as well as providing an extremely comfortable seating position, have a massage function which eases the stress away on the journey home from a long day in the office. Rear seat occupants will remain comfortable on journeys, although strangely the rear door windows are fixed. The DS4 provides a fresh alternative to the competition within its class.
[table “41” not found /]
