Ten Second Review

The Citroen DS4 offers a stylish twist on the family hatch theme but in HDi 110 guise it has its heart an eminently sensible set of underpinnings. In fusing the extrovert with the deeply pragmatic, Citroen has created something intriguingly desirable.

Background

Niche marketing has a lot to answer for. As an excuse for bringing intrinsically unpopular items to market, it has its critics. Every once in a while, these products designed to appeal to a few eccentrics break out into mainstream success. Does that make them niche marketing failures? Who would have ever predicted that fixed gear bikes would become so popular? Once the preserve of hipsters in tight vintage-style jeans, check shirts worn with a hoodie, Vans sneakers and oversized sunglasses, they're now built by the big companies and are in your local bike shop with smugly inflated price tags. Citroen hasn't been slow to recognise this phenomenon and its DS sub-brand appeals to those who wish to be seen as a little edgy but maybe don't want to stomach the sacrifices that come with fully embracing the radical. Call it hipster-lite. Its DS3 was a hot hatch with a bit of attitude and now there's the DS4. It's like the 'after' shot on a family hatch makeover promo.

Driving Experience

How the Citroen DS4 HDi 110 drives is largely irrelevant. If you're truly target market material, you should skip this bit. If you're just here killing time and have no real interest in the car, humour me while I talk about the oily bits. The DS4 is offered with a choice of five efficient Euro 5 engines. The three petrol powerplants - VTi 120, THP 155 and a the THP 200 - were all co-developed with BMW. Two diesel engines - HDi 110 and HDi 160 - are fitted with Citroen's Diesel Particulate Filter System, which virtually eliminates particle emissions. The HDi 110 is fitted with a six-speed manual but is also available as an eco-oriented e-HDi version with EGS sequential gearbox, second generation Stop & Start helping improve efficiency still further.

Design and Build

I'm still trying to figure out how any vaguely coupe-shaped car with such an unusual relationship between length and height can emerge as pretty as the Citroen DS4. In traditional design terms, it shouldn't work. It should look dumpy and ill-proportioned but the DS4 appears squat, aggressive and taut. Hats off to designer Olivier Vincent. The interior isn't quite so special, but don't blame Sean Johnson, the interior stylist for that. He has created some wonderful dash top finishes for the car which really set it apart, but Citroen's UK importers have decided that British buyers aren't prepared to pay for them and have given us more boring alternatives instead. Still, there are plenty of other touches that can be appreciated. The fascia dials are quite cool and the way the windscreen takes a hefty bite out of the roofline is a very nice touch. The 'bracelet' leather seats which resemble a watch strap in their interlinking cushions are also very classy. What's not quite so clever is the fact that the boldly-shaped rear side windows don't go down or hinge out. Style should come with a little sacrifice, right?

Market and Model

The Citroen DS4 HDi 110 is offered in entry-level DSign trim with a manual gearbox, with prices starting at £19,445. It's also available in plusher DStyle guise with either a manual or an EGS transmission. The entry-level DSign comes generously equipped, including six airbags, ESP, Hill Start Assist, air conditioning, daytime-running LEDs, 17" alloy wheels, front fog lights with cornering function, six-speaker Surround Sound audio system and cruise control with speed limiter and memory settings. The DStyle models feature 18" alloy wheels, automatic windscreen wipers and headlamps, front sports seats with electric lumbar adjustment and massage function, part-leather upholstery, automatic digital air conditioning, aluminium drilled pedals, rear parking sensors and the eTouch Emergency & Assistance System. Given the niche nature of the DS4 it's hard to know what exactly to compare it with in order to get an idea of the value proposition. MINI Countryman? Audi A3 Sportback? Best to take a look at it for yourself and make your own judgment on how appealing it is.

Cost of Ownership

The HDi 110 engine is the most economical unit in the DS4 range and it improves still further if you choose the e-HDi version. Second generation Stop & Start and the efficiency of the gearshift helps boosts fuel economy by up to 15 per cent in city driving conditions and lowers the model's official CO2 emissions to just 114g/km. Even if you choose the manual car you'll still emit just 122g/km. Fuel economy is similarly impressive, with the manual car achieving a combined figure of 60.1mpg versus 64.2mpg for the e-HDi. If the DS3 is anything to judge by, residual values may well be strong, Citroen's DS sub-brand attracting a strong core of followers. Couple that with the reasonable asking price and small ongoing running costs of the HDi 110 models and you have a car that looks set to retain its value better than any comparably-sized Citroen of the recent past.

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