DS4 Review 2023
The DS4 is a premium hatchback that provides families the perfect combination of an SUV's practicality with a hatchback design. It comes with a unique style, premium features, and an emphasis on comfort.
Rivals to the DS4 include both hatchbacks and SUVs, such as the Audi A3 Sportback, Cupra Formentor, BMW 1 Series, and Mercedes-Benz GLA.
Our DS4 review covers:
- Large front grille and coupe-like roof
- Premium interior featuring loads of high-quality materials
- 430-litre boot as standard, reduces to 390 litres in the plug-in hybrid
- A petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid is available
- Four trims: Performance Line+, Rivoli, Espirit de Voyage, and Opera
Pros:
- Comfortable drive
- One of the best interiors around
- Good looking
Cons:
- Expensive
- Handling is not that fun
- Slow diesel and petrol engines
The DS4 tows the fine line between a crossover and a hatchback, meaning it comes with a coupe-like roofline, a bold front grille, and sleek lines from front to back. The grille is undoubtedly the DS4's standout feature, with its square shape making for an impressive road presence.
Despite the DS4's coupe-like exterior, the cabin offers plenty of leg and headroom for the front passengers. Space does decrease as you move to the rear, but there's still enough room to get comfy on a long journey.
Boot space comes in at 430 litres on the petrol and diesel versions, slightly decreasing to 390 litres on the plug-in hybrid version. This is one of the DS4's strengths, beating both the Audi A3 Sportback and BMW 1 Series. You can also split to rear seats 60/40, which increases boot space to 1,240 litres.
The DS4 has one of the best interiors around. Its minimalist design is complemented by premium leather upholstery, soft-touch surfaces, and a superb built quality that will serve you well over time. If interior quality is something you like, the DS4 won't let you down.
On the dashboard, you'll find a ten-inch touchscreen infotainment system with DAB radio, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, and Bluetooth connectivity. It's clear and displays sharp graphics but doesn't come with sat-nav as standard and can be tricky to use thanks to the huge number of sub-menus.
You also get a seven-inch digital instrument cluster as standard, which is supported by a large head-up display that's easy to read and shows the sat-nav directions.
Plenty of choices are available for the DS4, with four trim levels: Performance Line+, Rivoli, Espirit de Voyage, and Opera.
Performance Line+ comes with 19-inch 'Minneapolis' alloy wheels, LED lights, a leather steering wheel, keyless entry/start, automatic windscreen wipers, front and rear parking sensors, rear parking reversing camera, driver attention alert, lane keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.
Rivoli adds to this with 19-inch 'Sevilla' alloy wheels, a basalt black leather interior, DS drive assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and dark tinted rear windows.
Espirit de Voyage comes with 19-inch 'Cannes' diamond-cut alloy wheels, a pearl grey leather interior, an electrically adjustable front seat, heated/ventilated/massaging front seats, a heated steering wheel, and an electric tailgate.
Opera completes the trims with a criollo brown opera interior, an electrical opening sunroof, DS active scan suspension, a reversing camera with 360-degree vision, wireless smartphone charging, and electrically folding and heated door mirrors with DS LED spotlight.
Three engines are available in the DS4, a petrol, a diesel, and a plug-in hybrid. All units are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The entry-level petrol unit is the three-cylinder PureTech 130. It has a top speed of 130mph, accelerates from 0-62mph in 10.4 seconds, and a combined fuel economy of 48.6 mph. This unit will be good enough for most, especially if a lot of your driving is spent around down.
If long journeys are your forte, go for the mid-range BlueHDi diesel engine. It returns the same performance as the petrol but massively increases fuel efficiency to a combined 61.2mpg.
The unit that will interest most people is the plug-in hybrid E-Tense. It's the most powerful of the range, sprinting from 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds and returning a top speed of 145mph.
Combining a four-cylinder petrol engine with a 12.4kWh lithium-ion battery, the E-Tense offers an all-electric range of 38 miles and can charge 0-100% using a 2.3kW home charger in just over seven hours. This is the choice for those wanting to save money on fuel as it returns a combined economy of 240.4mpg.
The DS4 is a comfortable drive in most conditions and will serve your family well. Around town, the light steering means it's easy to manoeuvre, and the range of parking systems means it's a breeze to park.
Its soft suspension makes the DS4 one of the best cars in its class, tackling potholes and cracks in the road with no issues whatsoever. Although it does firm up as you increase the speed, it's still better than the system in the Cupra Formentor.
The handling is accurate and good enough when cruising around town, but it doesn't add much fun on a country road. It won't cause any issues, but it falls short of the performance-based variants in the Audi A3 Sportback and Mercedes-Benz GLA.
Prices for the new DS4 start from £31,225.00 OTR* or to lease from £325.37 per month.
Looking to get behind the wheel of the DS4? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.
Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to fixed monthly payments and various benefits included in your deal.
*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change, always check with your nearest retailer.
