Delightful design delivered by new premium DS4

Make: DS

Test Model: DS4

Format: C-segment Premium, Crossover SUV

Accommodation: 5-door, 5-seater

Trim Levels: Bastille +, Performance Line, Trocadero, Performance Line+ and Rivoli

Euro NCAP rating: 5-Star

Powertrains:

·       1.6 litre, 4-cylinder petrol, 225bhp, 360NM torque, and 12.4kWh battery:

·       1.2L PureTech 130 Automatic petrol engine,

·       1.5L BlueHDi 130 Automatic Diesel 

Test Car: E-Tense, Hybrid, 1.6

Power: (PHEV) 225bhp

Torque: 360Nm

Drive: Front wheel drive

Petrol tank capacity: 40 litres

Annual Road Tax: €140

Boot Space: 430 litres

Length: 4,400mm

Width: 1,30mm

Height: 1,470mm

Weight: 1,628kgs

Range starting Price €37,295, (ORR, on the road price, including delivery charges, excluding metallic paint) 

Test car price: E-Tense 225 - €51,500

3-Year, 100,000km warranty

3-Year Roadside Assistance 5-Year Hybrid battery cover 

Free annual Hybrid health check

Others to look at: The DS4 is a premium product from a premium brand, joining Audi’s A3, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, BMW’s 1-Series, VW’s Golf and the one that started it all, the Nissan Qashqai.

Who is DS

Based in Amsterdam and formed in 2021, the Stellantis Motor Group is now the world’s fourth largest motor manufacturer. It merges the might of the American/Italian Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Group and the French group PSA. This combined stable now controls some very impressive road talent: Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroen, Dodge, DS, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, Vauxhall.

Of course, with all this in-house talent, there will be a sharing of technologies, platforms, as with the DS4, but with the assurance from Stellantis that the persona of each offering will be very individual.

First Impressions

Walking into the newly opened DS Store Dublin, located at Gowan Motors on Navan Road and setting first eyes on the latest, second-generation DS4, the signs are good. This 2023 model loses the blandness of the previous model and has some pleasingly, distinctive design traits to set it apart.

While its crossover intent is somewhat camouflaged, there is no effort to hide its premium intent. It is not overly tall, but is still over four metres in length, the front LED matrix headlights and lighting flash Day Running Lights, (DRL’s), giving it its own street signature. At the rear, the scale-effect rear lights are also LED, 40 per lamp, the rear quarter-panel design very eye-catching. All in all, the DS4 exudes a look of something less ordinary, different from others on the menu of this premium segment. 

Inside Story

Approach the car or click the door release and the covert handles appear for their hiding place, the mirrors unfold and you are ready to enter. The view within definitely shows an ambience above the ordinary. It offers decent internal room, although multiple six-footers will find it snug. I like the layout and materials used, DS’s efforts in daring worthy of an appreciative nod.

Being a premium offering, the DS4 comes with a high level of comfort, entertainment and safety features, accessing and setting your choices most definitely best secured whilst in Park. I do like the integrated central, 10” information screen – no iPad-esque independent screen as with others. Covert vents deliver your air of choice throughout the cabin, again DS doing it their way – short applause. 

Road Work

Dublin to Virginia, via suburbia, motorway and back roads formed the 200km. route of my initial launch drive, using the PHEV on the way up and the 1.5 diesel on the return journey.

Getting a good driving position didn’t take long, the seat and steering adjustment ensuring my six-foot-plus frame and long legs found their happy place. Visibility is good, although the additional use of shoulder-checks prior to moving-off and lane changing is advised, so as to check the b-pillar blind spot – in fairness, a common issue with many cars.

I’m a fan of Head-Up Display and here with the DS4, you get very informative, extended HUD system. Real information in your eye-line, which can include warnings from the Night Vision camera, (optional across the range and located in the front grill. Having used Night Vision previously, I can vouch for its effectiveness, the DS Night Vision capable of identifying the presence of pedestrians and animals, which are over 50cm tall, at a distance between 15 and 200 metres – Yep, I’d have this.

Out on the open road and the PHEV gets on with kilometre disposal with an enthusiasm that can place your name you into the book of the bad, the 225bhp a willing and able and abetting with silent ease.

Equipped with Active Scan Suspension, the DS4 has a camera placed in the windscreen, which scans the immediate road ahead and thereafter adjusts each of the four suspensions as it deems fit. It is most certainly clever and provided a very smooth journey. I would like to take it on some of our mountain roads and check its decision making, but the initial signs are good.

My return journey allowed me check the 1.5 diesel, almost a spin of reminiscence in this new world of electric-assistance. The road feel of this model was excellent, the steering chat and overall seat of the pants conversation making for a very enjoyable spin. The option to stay with an internal combustion engine will continue to suit many users, their driving demand outside that achievable via the EV network.

Here again, I would like a more extensive drive in the DS4, this premium offering in both models was enough to show the talent in both and to make the DS4 a very worthy occupant of your driveway. 

DS4 Grades

DS4 Bastille+ (€37,295)

Tungsten Peruzzi Cloth Interior Trim

Tungsten Peruzzi Cloth seats, Basalt Black decor

17- inch ‘ATHENS’ alloy wheels

Black Front Grille

Flush Fitting Door Handles

7 -inch Digital Instrument Cluster

10- inch HD Touchscreen

Mirror Screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto®

Leather Steering Wheel

Front and Rear Central Armrest

7 Speakers

Keyless Start

LED Headlights

LED Daytime Running Lights

Reversing Sensors

DS Performance Line  (€41,495 – €49,100)

In addition to Bastille+

Black Alcantara Interior Trim - High density seats in Black Alcantara, with leather effect vinyl, Black Alcantara decor

19- inch ‘Minneapolis’ alloy wheels

Gloss Black Front Grille

Gloss Black DS WINGS

Dark Tinted Rear Windows Black Upper Window Surround

Perforated Fleur Leather Steering Wheel with Performance Line stitching and Forged Carbon Insert
Front Parking Sensors

Reversing Camera - 180° Vision

Rear Passenger Air Vents
Front Closed Storage
Front and Rear Floor Mats

DS4 Trocadero (€44,140 - €51,500)

In addition to Performance Line

Tungsten Diamond Cloth Interior Trim - High density seats in embossed Tungsten Diamond cloth with Basalt Black leather-effect vinyl,
Basalt Black scale effect decor

19 inch ‘Firenze’ alloy wheels • Chrome Front Grille

Chrome DS WINGS
Fleur Leather Steering Wheel • DS Iris System

3D Connected Navigation, Natural Voice Recognition

DS Smart Touch

DS Extended Head-Up Display
Proximity Keyless Entry & Start
Adaptive Cruise Control
Advanced Emergency Braking System
DS Connect Box - Emergency & Assistance System

Performance Line+ (€52,540)

In addition to Trocadero

Black Alcantara Interior Trim
High density seats in Black Alcantara
with leather effect vinyl, Black Alcantara decor

19-inch ‘Minneapolis’ alloy wheels

DS Matrix LED Vision

Gloss Black Front Grille

Gloss Black DS WINGS

Perforated Fleur Leather Steering Wheel with Performance Line Stitching and Forged Carbon Insert

Scrolling Rear Indicators

Rear Cross Traffic Alert

Extended Traffic Sign Recognition

Rivoli (€53,440 - €54,640)

In addition to Performance Line+

Basalt Black Leather Interior Trim

High density seats in Basalt Black grained leather

with Basalt Black scale effect decor

19-inch ‘Sevilla’ alloy wheels

Fleur Leather Steering Wheel

Chrome Front Grille Chrome DS WINGS
DS Drive Assist

Semi-autonomous driving, Adaptive
Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Lane Positioning Assist

DS Clean Cabin

Capable of filtering out fine particles as small as 2.5 microns in diameter for cleaner air inside the cabin

Laminated Acoustic Insulated Glazing - Front and Rear Windows