Driving Torque

It's All About The Motors.

Driving Torque

This is the YouTube page for Driving Torque - Articles, reviews and opinions about cars and all things automotive.
Go to www.drivingtorque.com

Driving Torque
Review by Ben Harrington from Driving Torque of the Suzuki Jimny SZ5
Suzuki Jimny Review
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_tBEwl0WmNRw
Watch as a Model X performs its Celebration Mode Easter egg in the snow
Tesla Model X Celebration Mode
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_Z04UK1MRXjE
This is what the exhaust tail pipe of a Ford Focus RS sounds and looks like when you accelerate quickly.
2017 Ford Focus RS Exhaust
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_QkKOE0J4baE
Another gratuitous exhaust video for you. This time it's the behemoth that is the Mercedes GL63 AMG.
Mercedes-Benz GL63 AMG exhaust sounding immense
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_S7TdJrBe8aw
This is a Porsche Cayman in Sport Plus mode with a Sports exhaust, showing the exhaust revving and moving as the car is put through its paces. Great footage of over-run and even the heat haze from the hot engine.
Porsche Cayman PDK Sport Plus
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_8l_WTgJB0sk
Subscribe
  • Home
  • About
  • Ben’s Car CV
  • DTQ Partners
  • Contact

DS 4 Prestige PureTech 130 Review

April 25, 2016 by benharrington Leave a Comment

citroen ds 4 front side review purple

DS 4

Look at the DS 4: just like the rest of the DS range, you’ll struggle to find a Citroen chevron. This is obviously no accident as the two marques have been prised apart as separate brands; one everyday, the other upmarket. Think Toyota and Lexus, Nissan and Infiniti – you get the idea.

And do you know what, the plan appears to be working. As many as two people approached me to inquire just what this unfamiliar craft was: ‘Why, it’s a DS 4‘ I’d reply. ‘What’s that, then?‘ The problem is, I’m still not entirely sure.

According to DS themselves, the DS 4 is a sporty,premium 5-door with coupe-esque styling cues, yet it also sports a slightly raised ride height which I’m guessing is supposed to appeal to the currently insatiable crossover market.

citroen ds 4 side purple review

Sporty, premium, 5-door, coupe crossover?!?

I’m actually wondering if the DS 4 is the first example of automotive styling to go full-circle and end up back where it started. What I mean is, for all it’s catchy, coupe/crossover buzzwords, aesthetically speaking the DS 4 bears a striking resemblance to a good ol’ 5-door hatchback, albeit a sparkly one.

It does have a nicely sloping rear end that could just be described as coupe-esque, but unfortunately the real similarity lies in how damned inconvenient the rear seats are. Not only are they woefully lacking in headroom, but the rear apertures themselves are such an awkward, diminutive shape that once you’ve negotiated them and are actually sat in the thing, you’ll possibly be a trifle disappointed to find that the rear windows don’t open due to the shape of the doors..

citroen ds 4 review rear seats

The cabin does live up to the DS 4’s ‘premium’ tag quite well, with grades of plastics used that have been taken from the very top of parent company Citroen‘s spec sheets. The front windscreen stretches back, forming a decent section of the roof, allowing light to flood in when you want it to, but with natty pair of retractable sun visors for when you don’t. The leather seats look smart with their multi-segment design, although they’re not the most giving and long journeys could prove to be a drag.

That slightly raised ride height and panoramic windscreen make for a confident driving position and decent visibility, as long as you’re looking forwards or sideways. The detrimental aspect of those quasi-coupe lines rears its ugly head here again I’m afraid, as the view out of the rear and 3/4 is shocking, with c-pillars like elephant’s legs that at least one articulated lorry could lurk behind.

citroen ds 4 panoramic windscreen review

Wide range of petrol and diesels – just not this one.

The DS 4 is available with a wide range of petrol and diesel engines with power outputs ranging from 120 all the way up to 211ps. Our test car is powered by the only engine to keep the DS 4’s price under £20K – the ubiquitous 1.2l, 3 cylinder, 130ps petrol unit that finds its way into so many Citroen and Peugeot models, mated to their 6 speed manual ‘box. Cost aside, I feel that one of the more powerful engines, maybe the 165ps petrol or 150ps diesel would do the DS 4 more justice. This 3 cylinder engine – usually such a capable thing – feels out of its depth here and the gearing is constantly struggling, forcing you into a lower gear than you’d warrant.

citroen ds 4 cabin interior review

The Ds 4’s been set up to handle properly, and it does, hardly giving an inch of understeer at the limit. Inevitably, though, there’s a but, in fact, there’s a few buts; the ride isn’t exactly harsh, but it’s stiffer than you might expect in something with a DS badge, and the steering wheel jostles around in your hands over every bump or uneven bit of tarmac, also under hard acceleration and keen braking. That decent handling I mentioned? – sadly spoiled by a complete lack of feel or feedback from an over-assisted steering setup.

I like what Citroen have done with the DS marque: the DS 3’s had well deserved success and the DS 5 should sell more, just for daring to be different. Unfortunately, though, the DS 4 is something of a fly (with an identity problem) in the DS ointment.

By Ben Harrington

Specifications; DS 4 Prestige PureTech, Engine – 1.2l, 3 Cylinder petrol, Transmission – 6-speed manual, Layout – Front engine, FWD, Power – 128bhp, Torque – 230Nm, Emissions – 120g/km CO2, Economy – 54.3 mpg combined, Maximum Speed – 123mph, Acceleration – 9.9s 0-62mph, Price – £20,845 OTR

The DS 4 is available now from £19,595, for full details go to; www.dsautomobiles.co.uk

citroen ds 4 front nose grille review purple

citroen ds 4 review ds badge

Filed Under: Coupe, Driven, Review, Road Test Tagged With: 1 series, a3, Citroen, citroen ds4, citron, ds, ds4

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Driving Torque

I'm Ben Harrington and I'm a car lover, freelance motoring journalist and family-man (I'll let you decide the order!) I started Driving Torque in 2010 to share my love of all things motoring with the wider world. Since then, … continue reading

Driving Torque’s Instagram Posts

driving_torque

Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the las Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the last Honda HR-V. This goes back today, though, and I think I’ll miss it. #honda #hondahrv #carsofinstagram
Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the las Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the last Honda HR-V. This goes back today, though, and I think I’ll miss it. #honda #hondahrv #carsofinstagram
Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the las Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the last Honda HR-V. This goes back today, though, and I think I’ll miss it. #honda #hondahrv #carsofinstagram
Another highlight from this week’s SMMT Test Day Another highlight from this week’s SMMT Test Day was this; the unashamedly macho Ford Mustang Mach 1. A full review will follow later this year, hopefully. #ford #fordmustang #forduk #carsofinstagram
What do you do when you own two VW vans? Why, you What do you do when you own two VW vans? Why, you go and drive the latest VW Multivan, of course! The Multivan is not, I repeat, is not based on a van, though. Got it? Good. #vw #volkswagen #notavan #carsofinstagram
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Driving Torque’s Twitter Feed

Ben Harrington Follow

Freelance motoring writer and Editor of Driving Torque. @NGMWcars member. Classic VW owner. Husband and father to a wonderful wife and two amazing young ladies.

DrivingTorque
drivingtorque Ben Harrington @drivingtorque ·
23 Jun

https://buff.ly/3ObO4Z5 #honda #hrv #review #hybrid

Reply on Twitter 1540033698485133313 Retweet on Twitter 1540033698485133313 1 Like on Twitter 1540033698485133313 Twitter 1540033698485133313
drivingtorque Ben Harrington @drivingtorque ·
22 Jun

https://buff.ly/3ObO4Z5 #honda #hrv #review #roadtest

Reply on Twitter 1539671061008191492 Retweet on Twitter 1539671061008191492 1 Like on Twitter 1539671061008191492 1 Twitter 1539671061008191492
drivingtorque Ben Harrington @drivingtorque ·
22 Jun

https://buff.ly/3ObO4Z5 #honda #hrv #review

Reply on Twitter 1539565356506816514 Retweet on Twitter 1539565356506816514 Like on Twitter 1539565356506816514 Twitter 1539565356506816514
drivingtorque Ben Harrington @drivingtorque ·
16 Jun

Anyone struggling on @TicketmasterUK for Taylor Hawkins tribute concert - try following the link from the email they sent you. That just worked for me after over an hour of being thrown out of the site 😃

Reply on Twitter 1537366165013643264 Retweet on Twitter 1537366165013643264 Like on Twitter 1537366165013643264 Twitter 1537366165013643264
Retweet on Twitter Ben Harrington Retweeted
yorkshiremsf Yorkshire Motorsport Festival @yorkshiremsf ·
15 Jun

We’re excited - a little over a week to go until the Yorkshire Motorsport Festival

Tickets still available if you follow the link below👇🏽

https://www.ymsf.net/buy-tickets

#Motorsport #Festival

Reply on Twitter 1536972026304507906 Retweet on Twitter 1536972026304507906 12 Like on Twitter 1536972026304507906 18 Twitter 1536972026304507906
Load More

© 2022 · DrivingTorque.com · Site designed and built by Kobestarr.com