Citroën’s DS4 balances style with substance

The DS4 is a snazzy looking car

The Citroën DS4 is a thing of angular beauty – from its snazzy looking and unusually shaped rear doors (and hidden door handles) to its front lights.

The DS4 also makes great graphic use of its badge at the rear.

Inside, the fabric and leather combo seats are nice and firm, with adjustable back support for the driver and front seat passenger.

The driving position is lovely and high also.

There’s nice leg room in the front, but it might be a little pokey in the back if you’re very tall.

Controls in the DS4 are easier to work than they look

The centre console is a little bit busy looking but audio and phone controls are available on the steering wheel.

The cruise control and speed limiter controls look more complicated than they actually are.

The instrument panel, meanwhile, is ordered and makes sense and the brighntess can be adjusted to suit you.

Entertainment-wise, there’s good sound from the radio/CD/USB/Aux audio system.

Beware of opening the driver’s door when the pedals are engaged though – I made that mistake while trying to locate the gate opener for my garage – the car gets a bit panicked and makes a noise like a smoke alarm.

I also didn’t like the electric handbrake, but in fairness it was better than that in other cars because the engaged light stays on longer so you’re not wondering if you’ve switched it on or not.

Alarms and handbrakes aside though, the six speed manual 1.6l diesel model I was testing had eco stop and start technology and offered a nice smooth drive, almost gliding along on the motorway.

And while the car is fast and high speed driving proved no problem for it, I felt it was more at home on the city streets.

Overall, with exquisite stying, the DS4 is a beautiful, stylish, quirky and fun car which I looked forward to driving every single time.

It’s a real head turner but manages to strike the right balance between substance and style.

Prices for the DS4 start in Ireland from €24,495 for the DSIGN. The DSTYLE model I was driving costs from €26,995. The top of the range DSPORT costs from €30,395.

Tech Spec
Engine: 1.6l e-HDi 110 Airdream 6-speed manual
Acceleration: 0-100kph in 12.4s
Maximum Speed: 190kph
Combined fuel consumption: 4.7l/100km
CO2 emissions: 117g/km
Annual road tax: €160 (Band A)

A version of this article first appeared in Metro Herald