The Citroen DS4: a forced to be reckoned with?

The Citroen DS4 is a classy, distinctive new car which is due to make an appearance on the road’s soon.

The question however is this: it just an ordinary medium-sized hatchback with an extra inch of ride height with some eccentric options, or is it not one thing or another, neither a command position crossover, slinky coupe or practical hatch?

The DS4 drives extra 28mm uplift over a bog standard C4, a sleeker window line and the rear door handles have been tidily tucked away in the C pillar which makes it look a bit refined than its competitors, but does it really have everything we want?

From every angle it manages to look fairly elegant and yet tall and pert too, with several stylish little flicks and turns in the metal which raise it above the majority of hatchbacks already on the market. It’s a car where spec is essential though: big alloys are crucial otherwise they may be lost in the spacious wheel arches.

There isn’t the same level of cheeky personalisation options as in the DS3: the DS4 is a much more conservative car, which makes it questionable as to what did they actually take from the DS3 in order for it to be a similar model.

It is not all doom and gloom for the DS4 for though: there are some eccentric offers out there such as funky looking alloys, seats inspired by watch straps, a stylish window blind/ sun visor combination and leather dashboard.

Overall the general feeling in the cabin is of plushness- it is certainly more luxurious than anything else on the market at present. In comparison to the C4, which it is supposedly based on, the perfectly acceptable but hardly inspiring car has been transformed into somewhat of an impressive motor.

Citroen doesn’t see the DS4 as the performance version of the C4, but when you get down to gritty business it is essentially a better drive, despite being taller. The stiffer suspension results in a car that still rides well but will take a corner with more appetite than the C4.

Against volume hatchbacks such as Focus or Astra, the DS4 is on a different level stylistically and feels sportier and plusher than its competition. Ignore the raised driving position and the allusions to being a coupe, and consider this a very attractive, very distinctive hatchback instead.

Generally the overall performance of the car is basic, but the appearance is a force to be reckoned with- so competitors be warned. The arrival of the DS4 is said to be in the second half of 2011 and with three trims to choose from: DSign, DStyle and DSport.

The Citroen DS3 proved very popular as soon as it made its first appearance, and again when driving celebrities down the red carpet, so perhaps the DS4 will follow in its family’s footsteps- only time will tell.