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Expert Rating

DS 4

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Expert Rating

DS 4

(2021 - present)

    Summary


    The DS 4 is a five-door family hatchback manufactured by French brand DS Automobiles, launched to challenge the likes of the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

    Arriving in Spring 2022, the DS 4 hatchback comes in three trim levels; the standard entry-level DS 4 model, the sportier DS 4 Performance Line variant, and the SUV-inspired DS 4 Cross version.

    British reviewers have been generally impressed by the range of DS 4 models on offer, particularly Parkers, which also commends DS Automobiles for offering the DS 4 with a range of petrol, diesel and ‘e-Tense’ plug-in hybrid powertrains from launch.

    Adding to the wide range of options available, the DS 4’s best trait is a refined interior that Heycar labels “simply scrumptious”, fitted with plenty of intuitive on-board tech as standard – some of this tech only offered as optional extras by key rivals.

    The DS 4 also stands out from the crowd in a more literal sense, sporting looks that What Car? calls “almost concept car-like”, which Carwow argues will always turn more heads than the familiar German alternatives the DS 4 is competing against.

    That said, there are areas where the DS 4 lags well behind the class leaders. Most notable are its rigid ride comfort, average performance and light steering, all of which culminate in a driving experience that Driving Electric describes as “dull”.

    As of September 2023, the DS 4 holds an Expert Rating of 58% based on 21 different UK reviews. That’s some way off the pace of the class-leading BMW 1 Series, and puts it firmly in the bottom half of the mid-size hatchback field.

    DS 4 highlights

    • High-quality interior
    • Plenty of equipment as standard
    • Intuitive infotainment
    • Smooth automatic gearbox
    • Distinctive styling

    DS 4 lowlights

    • No all-electric version until 2024
    • Rivals have better ride comfort
    • Higher-spec models get expensive
    • So-so performance and handling
    • Alternatives are more spacious in the rear

    Key specifications


    Body style: Medium hatchback
    Engines: petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid
    Price: From £33,355 on-road

    Launched: Spring 2022
    Last updated: N/A
    Next update due: TBA


    Media reviews


    Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

    Auto Express

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    Auto Trader

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    Autocar

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    Business Car

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    Car

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    Carbuyer

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    Carwow

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    Company Car Today

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    Daily Mirror

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    Driving Electric

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    Electrifying.com

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    Eurekar

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    Heycar

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    Honest John

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    Motoring Research

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    Parkers

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    The Sun

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    The Telegraph

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    Top Gear

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    What Car?

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    Safety rating


    Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

    Overall score: 4 stars
    Date tested: April 2022
    Read the full Euro NCAP review

    Adult protection: 85%
    Child protection: 86%
    Vulnerable road users: 74%
    Safety assist: 65%

    Notes on safety rating

    The standard DS 4 was awarded a four-star rating in April 2022 by Euro NCAP. However, if the car is fitted with the optional ‘Safety Pack Plus’, which is standard on higher-spec models, it gets a five-star rating.

    The difference is the quality of the emergency braking system, which “performed only marginally well” in standard form. The optional ‘Safety Pack Plus’ uses a more advanced emergency braking system, which boosts the Safety Assist score by a sufficient amount to lift the car into the five-star bracket.

    Eco rating


    Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

    Model tested: Puretech 225 Petrol FWD Automatic

    Overall score: 1.5 stars
    Date tested: November 2022
    Read the full Green NCAP review

    Clean Air Index: 3.2 / 10
    Energy Efficiency Index: 3.5 / 10
    Greenhouse Gas Index: 2 / 10

    Achieving a one and a half star emissions rating, Green NCAP comments that the DS 4 does meet European emissions regulations, but the car’s exhaust aftertreatment lacks robustness and its fuel consumption is relatively high.

    Reliability rating

    MotorEasy logo 600x167

    Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

    No reliability rating

    As of September 2023, we don’t have enough reliability data on the DS 3 Crossback to generate a reliability rating.

    The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the DS 3 Crossback, we’ll publish the score here.

    Running cost rating

    Clear Vehicle Data logo close crop

    Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

    CO₂ outputAverageScoreVariationScore
    Petrol models132 g/kmA150 – g/kmB – A
    Diesel models138 g/kmB126 – 140 g/kmA – B
    Plug-in hybrid models28 g/kmA27 – 30 g/kmA – A
    Insurance groupAverageScoreVariationScore
    All models25B19 – 32A – C
    Service and maintenanceCostScore
    Year 1£275C
    Year 2£643C
    Year 3£1,029B
    Year 4£1,248B
    Year 5£1,697C
    Overall£4,892C

    The DS 4 is a relatively affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

    We don’t have independently verified fuel consumption data for the petrol and diesel models, but the CO2 levels (which are linked closely to fuel consumption) are good. The plug-in hybrid looks great on paper, but that’s due to the woeful EU/UK goverment lab tests that are completely useless at measuring a plug-in hybrid…

    Insurance costs should be good, although servicing and maintenance are mostly average over the car’s first five years.

    Similar cars


    If you’re looking at the DS 4, you might also be interested in these alternatives

    Alfa Romeo Giulietta | Audi A3 | Citroën C4 | Fiat Tipo | Ford Focus | Honda Civic | Hyundai i30 | Kia Ceed | Mazda 3 | Mercedes-Benz A-Class | Mini Countryman | Peugeot 308 | Renault Megane | SEAT Leon | Skoda Scala | Skoda Octavia | Toyota Corolla | Vauxhall Astra | Volkswagen Golf


    More news, reviews and information about the DS 4 at The Car Expert

    Dacia flunks another safety test

    Dacia flunks another safety test

    Distinctive new DS 4 goes on sale and targets Golf

    Distinctive new DS 4 goes on sale and targets Golf

    New finance offers across DS model range

    New finance offers across DS model range

    DS adds Performance Line for sporty drivers

    DS adds Performance Line for sporty drivers

    DS 4 review

    DS 4 review

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    Lease a DS 4


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    While it is not the most comfortable to hatchback drive, the DS 4 has the interior quality and styling to be a capable leftfield choice. DS 4