DS 4: the second model of the DS premium range

The DS 4 is a compact hatchback and the second model in the luxury DS sub-brand created by Citroën, now an independent brand. The first generation was based on the Citroën C4 II and officially launched internationally in March 2011, though it was already on sale in some countries at the end of 2010.

DS 4 at a glance

Based on one source (English Wikipedia).

History of the DS 4

2011: a taller, more sculpted C4

The first DS 4 was based on the Citroën C4 II and featured raised suspension to resemble a compact SUV, with repositioned door handles giving it a coupé-like silhouette; the rear windows were fixed and could not slide or open outwards. At launch every petrol engine came from the PSA-BMW collaboration, all 1,598 cc four-cylinder 16-valve units: the normally aspirated VTi 120 with 120 PS and variable valve timing, the turbocharged THP 155 with 156 PS and a six-speed manual, and the THP 200 with 200 PS. The diesels were an HDi 110 of 1,560 cc and 112 PS, an HDi 160 also used in the C5, and a 1,997 cc unit of 163 PS. The DS 4 came with Start & Stop, for which Citroën said the battery had been optimised to withstand up to 600,000 starting cycles, and a 385-litre boot that grew to 1,021 litres with the rear seats folded.

Design recognition

The styling was very well received: the DS 4 was elected Most Beautiful Car of the Year at the International Automobile Festival, beating the BMW F10 5 Series and the Honda CR-Z, and German magazine Auto Bild and its partner magazines across Europe gave it first prize for design in its category in the Design Award contest. Euro NCAP gave it a five-star rating, matching the Peugeot 508 apart from a higher child occupant score for the 508 and slightly better pedestrian results for the DS 4.

2015 facelift and the Crossback

In August 2015 the facelifted DS 4 was announced by DS Automobiles as the brand separated from Citroën: the revised car no longer wore Citroën badges and adopted the “DS Wings” grille. The facelift brought the DS 4 Crossback, with large black wheels, wheel-arch trims and roof bars, and refined the interior with Nappa leather door panels and semi-aniline leather seats in a watch-strap pattern. A panoramic windscreen gave 45 degrees of upward vision, with individual blinds and folding sun shields for driver and passenger. Petrol engines ran from a 1.2 of 131 PS to a 1.6 of 211 PS, and diesels from a 1.6 of 120 PS to a 2.0 of 179 PS with 400 N·m. Production of the DS 4 ended in April 2018, and the second generation arrived in 2021 on the EMP2 platform shared with the Opel Astra L and Peugeot 308 III.

Design and features

• Raised stance: SUV-like ride height on C4 mechanicals, with fixed rear windows.
• PSA-BMW petrols: VTi 120, THP 155 and THP 200 from the same 1.6 family.
• Start & Stop: a battery rated for up to 600,000 starting cycles.
• Design awards: Most Beautiful Car of the Year and a European design prize.
• DS 4 Crossback (2015): black wheels, arch trims and roof bars.

DS 4 versions

• DS4 hatchback (2011): the first-generation car.
• VTi 120, THP 155, THP 200: the petrol range.
• HDi 110, HDi 160 and 2.0 HDi 163: the diesels.
• Facelift (2015): DS Wings grille and a Nappa leather interior.
• DS 4 Crossback (2015): the SUV-styled version.
• Second generation (2021): on the EMP2 platform.

The DS 4 sat above the DS 3 and below the large Citroëns, and it was built on the C4. More cars are in the Citroën collection.

Video: Mini-mäßiger Fahrspaß im feinen Franzosen-Golf – Citroen DS4 200 THP

Video by FOCUS online on YouTube.

Sources

• DS 4, English Wikipedia: platform, engines, equipment, awards, facelift, Crossback