Skip advert
Advertisement

DS 4 review - French luxury hatch sets its sights on prestige rivals - DS 4 design

Fledgling luxury brand needs stronger cars than DS 4 to prosper

Evo rating
RRP
from £20,045
  • Improved ride, impressive quality and materials
  • Dull dynamics, unimpressive performance

Design

This is the DS 4’s strongest area, as it’s a lovely thing to behold. There are some idiosyncrasies, though, such as the rear side windows… which don’t open at all. Also, that curvaceous rump means the C-pillars are pretty thick, which doesn’t help with rearward visibility when driving. Nevertheless, it cuts its own stylistic path in this market and should be praised for doing so, with a dominant front end working particularly well. It manages to not look gargantuan, despite its crossover leanings.

Advertisement - Article continues below

And if DS is going to be taken seriously as a brand for the fashionistas of the world, then personalisation is key. The roof and door mirror caps of the DS 4 can be painted in contrasting colours to the body, while the alloy wheels are – for some reason – named after Australian cities: the 17-inch design is the Canberra, the 18-inch wheel is the Brisbane and the 19s are called Cairns.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Ford’s Hypercar will use a roaring V8 to take on Ferrari once again
Ford Hypercar V8
News

Ford’s Hypercar will use a roaring V8 to take on Ferrari once again

A 5.4-litre V8 derived from the heart of the Mustang will power Ford’s hopes of taking to the top step
16 Jan 2026
Caterham Project V is delayed, but a running prototype is finally here
Caterham Project V
News

Caterham Project V is delayed, but a running prototype is finally here

Caterham’s new age electric coupe is now officially behind schedule, but the first running prototype has now been unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon
13 Jan 2026
Porsche 911 GT3 (992.2) review – is this the best 911 GT3 ever?
Porsche 911 GT3 – front
In-depth reviews

Porsche 911 GT3 (992.2) review – is this the best 911 GT3 ever?

A new look, cleaner engine and S/T-inspired chassis upgrades are key changes for the latest 911 GT3. Has the formula been perfected?
16 Jan 2026