DS 4 Buyers Guide - Everything to Know from Prices, Models, Features & Lots More | 02 January 2024

The DS 4 is an intriguing car that aims to blend the characteristics of a hatchback with that of a crossover.

It competes against premium hatchbacks like the Audi A3, Mercedes A-Class, and BMW 1 Series; however, its additional height can also pit it against crossovers like the BMW X2 as well as the Cupra Formentor.

As a result, in this comprehensive buyer's guide, we will delve deep into the DS 4 to find out if it is the right car for you.

Table of Contents

• Vehicle Platform
• Exterior Design
• Interior Design
• Performance and Engine Options
• Technology
• DS 4 Lighting Features
• How do the LED Matrix LED Vision Headlights Work?
• DS 4 Connectivity
• Price
• Awards & Accolades
• Fuel Effencieny, Battery & Range
• Regenerative Braking
• What can affect your range
• Focal Electra® Audio System
• How big is the Boot on the DS 4?
• What Colours can a DS4 come in?
• What Interior Options can the DS 4 come with?
• What Alloy Wheels can the DS 4 come with?
• How many models of the DS4 are there?
• DS 4 Standard Features
• How do the different models of the DS4 differ from each other?
• DS 4 Final Thoughts

Vehicle Platform

When it comes to its platform, the DS 4 is built on the Stellantis EMP2 platform - which is shared with models like the Peugeot 308, Peugeot 508, Vauxhall Astra, and the larger DS 9.

Exterior Design

Regarding its exterior design, the DS 4 embodies a striking blend of elegance and innovation.

From its very distinctive front grille - featuring the iconic DS Wings emblem - to its sleek, aerodynamic lines, every detail has been meticulously crafted to make a bold statement on the road.

The LED headlights - including the advanced DS MATRIX LED VISION system - not only provide you with exceptional illumination; but also contribute to the car's modern and high-tech look.

Interior Design

When you step inside the DS 4, you will be greeted by a sleek and luxurious interior that combines cutting-edge technology with premium materials.

The cabin, for instance, is designed with meticulous attention to detail - ensuring both comfort and style.

Soft-touch surfaces, high-quality upholstery, and elegant trim options all align to create an inviting and sophisticated atmosphere.

Interior Space

When we look at space, the DS 4's interior is thoughtfully designed to offer you ample space for both passengers and your cargo.

The comfortable seating provides excellent support for long journeys, and the rear seats can be easily folded to expand the cargo area - accommodating various storage needs.

Consequently, whether you are running errands around town or embarking on a road trip, the DS 4's interior easily adapts to your lifestyle.

Performance and Engine Options

The DS 4 offers you a range of engine options. These include both traditional ICE engines and the newer electrified engine options.

Mainly, when you look at the plug-in hybrid DS 4 E-Tense, this gives you a combined output of 222 BHP from a 1.6-litre petrol engine and electric motor.

Consequently, the DS 4 PHEV offers you a CO2 rating of 30g / km with up to 38.5 miles of WLTP electric range.

To help you better understand which engine options are right for your circumstances, we have put this handy table below showing how these can differ.

Technology

The DS 4 has a clever infotainment system and a lengthy list of standard safety systems.

Its infotainment interface has also been noted to be clear and snappy. At the same time, it features a secondary touchscreen for shortcuts, from Honest John, alongside an extensive and informative head-up display.

DS 4 Lighting Features

The DS 4 has several lighting features. These include:

High Beam

The DS MATRIX LED VISION lighting mode can also be manually activated at any time using the Automatic High Beam function.

This feature operates independently of the Adaptive Front System function. Consequently, it gives you the flexibility to control this lighting mode according to your individual preferences.

This high beam function automatically adjusts based on your vehicle's speed and the angle of the steering wheel, ensuring you get optimal lighting conditions at all times.

Adverse Weather Lighting

When weather conditions become more adverse than normal, the DS MATRIX LED VISION lighting mode has an automatic activation feature that engages whenever the wipers are activated.

In this mode, the beam widens to provide you with enhanced coverage of the road ahead.

The power of the light modules is also increased, as it has specifically been designed to help you easily discern the white lines on the road - even in adverse weather conditions.

Locking & Unlocking

When you unlock the vehicle using the plip - or keyless access function - the DS MATRIX LED VISION headlights create a captivating "Welcome" sequence.

During this sequence, the headlights and modules emit a distinctive purple light, resembling a gentle awakening of the car.

This unique and elegant feature adds a touch of sophistication and style to your arrival, making every entry into the car a memorable experience.

Follow me Home Lighting

With the Follow Me Home lighting feature, the DS 4 - after you lock the vehicle - this function keeps the headlights illuminated for a brief period, providing you with a well-lit path for you and your passengers exiting the vehicle at night.

This thoughtful feature enhances your safety and convenience, ensuring that you and your passengers can navigate in the dark with ease after leaving the vehicle.

Locational Lighting

With the locational lighting feature, the DS 4 offers you a useful lighting function that allows you to activate the headlights - and indicators - to assist you in locating your car. This is particularly useful in a crowded car park or any other situation where you need to identify your vehicle easily.

This feature simplifies your process of locating your DS 4 among a sea of other vehicles, enhancing both your convenience and peace of mind.

Scrolling Indicators

With its scrolling indicators, the DS 4 gives you a distinctive and high-tech feature that accentuates its expressive light signature.

These features include a line of LEDs that elegantly scroll in segments towards the outer edge, following the direction of travel.

Additionally, there is a convenient one-touch activation function that makes it easy for you to engage these eye-catching lighting elements - adding a touch of sophistication to the overall design of the DS 4.

How do the LED Matrix LED Vision Headlights Work?

The DS 4 can come equipped with state-of-the-art DS MATRIX LED VISION headlights.

These headlights represent the cutting-edge in automotive lighting technology. This is because these headlights operate with remarkable intelligence, adapting dynamically to the driving environment and road conditions around you on the fly.

This lighting system accomplishes this by utilising a camera mounted on the windscreen to assess the road ahead and make real-time adjustments continuously.

For instance, it can seamlessly transition between full beam and dipped headlights, to prevent blinding other drivers on the road as just one of its abilities.

Dipped Beam

The dipped beam functionality is delivered through three precision-engineered LED modules - which provide excellent illumination.

Moreover, the MATRIX BEAM module takes standard driving to a whole new level. It comprises 15 identical yet autonomous elements that work harmoniously to illuminate and dim in response to the changing conditions of the road.

Consequently, the MATRIX BEAM module has been designed with a sophisticated approach, with individual segments activating and deactivating gradually - step-by-step - in direct correlation with the data captured by the camera positioned at the top of the windscreen.

This level of adaptive lighting ensures optimal visibility and safety, making your driving experience with the DS 4 genuinely exceptional.

Focuses on the Road Conditions

As you approach a vehicle from behind, travelling in the same direction, the DS MATRIX LED VISION headlights employ a clever feature. The light segments around the vehicle you're following will gradually extinguish.

This deliberate dimming creates an unlit area to ensure that the driver ahead is not dazzled by the headlights of the following vehicle, while allowing you to have consistent visibility of the road ahead.

Over taking

Similarly, when you initiate an overtaking manoeuvre to pass another vehicle, the DS MATRIX LED VISION headlights react swiftly.

The light again segments around the vehicle in front of you will dim, preventing any glare or dazzle to the driver you're overtaking.

Then, as soon as the overtaken vehicle moves out of the lighting zone, the headlights will seamlessly return to their standard illumination levels.

This intelligent adaptive lighting system, therefore, prioritises safety and comfort for both you and fellow drivers on the road.

DS 4 Connectivity

Always stay connected on the go with the latest infotainment system - featuring smartphone integration, Bluetooth, and a touchscreen display.

Price

For the most up-to-date pricing of the DS 4, please see our dedicated detail car page.

Awards & Accolades

The DS 4 has been praised for its distinctive design, decent driving experience, and a plethora of tech features from Top Gear.

Further to this, the DS 4 has won many awards. Some of these consist of:

• Best All-Round Car Award, at the Autotrader Awards
• Best Car for Drivers Award, at the The Independent Awards
• Best Car to Drive Award, at the The Sunday Times Awards
• Best Car to Own Award, at the Auto Express Awards
• Best Connected Car Award, at the Connected World Awards
• Best Design Award, at the Automobile Magazine Awards
• Best Diesel Car of the Year Award, at the Diesel&EcoCar Awards
• Best Executive Car Award, at the The Daily Telegraph Awards
• Best Family Car Award, at the Which? Awards
• Best French Car Award, at the Auto Express Awards
• Best Green Car Award, at the Auto Express Awards
• Best Interior Design Award, at the GQ Awards
• Best Luxury Car Award, at the The Sunday Times Awards
• Best Medium Diesel Car Award, at the Diesel&EcoCar Awards
• Best Premium Hatchback Award, at the What Car? Awards
• Best Premium Mid-Size Car Award, at the The Guardian Awards
• Best Value Car Award, at the What Car? Awards
• Design Award Award, at the Automobile Magazine Awards
• Diesel Car of the Year Award, at the Diesel&EcoCar Awards
• Greenest Car Award, at the Green NCAP Awards
• Most Beautiful Car of the Year Award, at the Festival Automobile International Awards
• Most Practical Car Award, at the What Car? Awards
• Most Technologically Advanced Car Award, at the TechRadar Awards
• Safest Car Award, at the Euro NCAP Awards
• Car of the Year Award, at the Auto Express Awards

Fuel Effencieny, Battery & Range

The DS 4 with the E-Tense 225 engine has an impressive range with between 211 MPG - 270 MPG.

On pure electric, the DS 4 can get up to 39 miles.

Domestic Charging

The DS 4 includes a domestic charging cable as standard equipment. This charger enables you to charge your vehicle from a standard UK 3-pin socket.

Consequently, this convenient feature ensures that you can quickly recharge your car's battery at home using the most typical electrical outlets - providing you with a practical and accessible way to keep your vehicle charged and ready for your daily driving needs.

This system uses a 2.3 kW charge and can see your battery charged in around 7.05 hours.

Accelerated Wall Charging

To access quicker charging at home for your DS 4 E-TENSE model, it's advisable to have a home charging unit installed.

The DS 4 E-TENSE models come equipped with an accelerated charging cable as standard equipment. This cable is designed to work seamlessly with a dedicated home charging unit, allowing you to charge your vehicle more quickly and efficiently compared to using a standard 3-pin socket.

Consequently, this can see the battery charged in only 1.55 hours.

Regenerative Braking

The DS 4 also offers you a convenient Braking Mode that can be easily activated by pressing a button located on the DS E-Toggle control.

When engaged, this mode enhances regenerative braking, causing the vehicle to decelerate more quickly when you release the accelerator pedal.

Regenerative braking is a clever technology that not only slows down the vehicle but also captures and stores kinetic energy back into the battery. As a result, this process helps maximise the range of the car by conserving energy.

In urban driving scenarios, the use of regenerative braking can lead to a significant increase in the vehicle's range, with potential improvements of up to 20%.

This feature not only enhances efficiency; but also contributes to a more sustainable and eco-friendly driving experience, making it an excellent choice to enable for environmentally conscious drivers.

What can affect your range

Driving style, driving speed, use of heating & air conditioning, acceleration or load are several factors that will affect the range of your car.

Consequently, limiting the impact of the above factors will maximise your range.

Focal Electra® Audio System

When it comes to the audio system, the DS 4's is no slouch.

FOCAL is a renowned French brand and a global leader in HIFI audio solutions.

In a collaboration, FOCAL has partnered with the DS Automobiles brand to create a unique onboard audio system known as ELECTRA®.

This partnership brings together the collective expertise of both brands to deliver you with both performance and pure auditory pleasure.

As a result, the FOCAL ELECTRA® system is designed to provide you with exceptional sound quality - making it a perfect choice for all music enthusiasts who seek an immersive and top-tier audio experience in your vehicles.

How big is the Boot on the DS 4?

The boot on the DS 4 can go from 390 litres all the way up to 1,190 Litres with the rear seats down. Given a 50-litre suite case, this should be enough to get almost 8 of them in with the rear seats up.

What Colours can a DS4 come in?

The new DS 4 can come in one of 6 colours. These consist of:

• Perla Nera Black in Metallic
• Platinum Grey in Metallic
• Lacquered Grey in Metallic
• Velvet Red in Metallic
• Real Crystal in Meticallic
• Peal White

What Interior Options can the DS 4 come with?

The new DS 4 can come in 1 of 4 interior trim options. These include:

• Black Alcantara® Interior – High density seats in Black Alcantara® with leather effect vinyl, Black Alcantara® decor
• Basalt Black Leather Interior – High-density seats in Basalt Black grained leather with Basalt Black scale effect decor
• Pearl Grey Leather Interior – High-density seats, armrests and centre console in Pebble Grey Paloma leather with Nixon Grey Nappa leather decor
• Criollo Brown OPERA Interior – High-density seats in Criollo Brown Nappa watchstrap leather, Criollo Brown Nappa leather décor with pearl stitching.
  
  Includes Electrically adjustable, Heated, Ventilated and Massaging front seats, and Heated Steering Wheel

What Alloy Wheels can the DS 4 come with?

The new DS 4 can come in 1 of 3 alloy wheel options. These include:

• 19-inch 'MINNEAPOLIS' alloy wheels
• 19-inch 'SEVILLA' diamond-cut alloy wheels
• 19-inch 'CANNES' diamond-cut alloy wheels

How many models of the DS4 are there?

The new DS4 can come in one of 4 main models. These consist of:

• DS 4 Performance Line+
• DS 4 Rivoli
• DS 4 Esprit De Voyage
• DS 4 Opera

DS 4 Standard Features

The following features come as standard on a new DS4.

• 10 inch HD Touchscreen
• 3D LED Rear Lights
• 6 speakers
• 7 inch Digital Instrument Cluster
• Acoustic Windscreen
• Advanced Emergency Braking System
• Alloy wheels
• Automatic Windscreen Wipers
• Bluetooth®
• Cruise Control with Speed Limiter
• Driver, front passenger, front lateral, and front curtain airbags
• Driver Attention Alert
• DS AIR – Invisible air vent design
• Electric Parking Brake
• Electrically folding and heated door mirrors
• ESP
• Flush fitting door handles
• Frameless electrochromic, auto-dimming interior rearview mirror
• Front Central Armrest
• Front & Rear Isofix mounting points
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Gloss Black exterior door mirrors
• Hill Start Assist
• Heat-tempered Acoustic Insulated Glazing
• Lane Keeping Assist
• Leather steering wheel
• Mirror Screen with Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto®
• Perimetric and Volumetric alarm
• Proximity Keyless Entry & Start
• Rear curtain airbags
• Rear Parking Sensor Reversing Camera - 180° Vision
• Remote central locking with deadlocks
• Speed Limit Recognition
• Stop & Start Function

How do the different models of the DS4 differ from each other?

The new DS 4 models differ in several ways. These consist of:

DS 4 Performance Line+ Key Features

DS 4 Performance Line+ key features include:

• 19-inch 'Minneapolis' alloy wheels
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Alcantara® décor
• Alcantara® with leather effect vinyl
• Black Alcantara® Interior
• Dark Tinted Rear Windows
• DS Connect Box - Emergency & assistance system
• DS Extended Head-up Display
• DS IRIS System 3D Connected Navigation, Natural Voice Recognition
• DS Matrix LED Vision
• DS SMART TOUCH
• Extended Traffic Sign Recognition
• High density seats in Black
• Proximity Keyless Entry & Start
• Rear Armrest
• Scrolling rear indicators

DS 4 Rivoli Key Features

In addition to the DS 4 Performance Line+, the Rivoli's key features include:

• 19-inch 'Sevilla' alloy wheels
• Basalt Black Leather Interior with a high density seats in Basalt Black grained leather with Basalt Black scale effect décor
• Dark tinted rear windows
• DS Clean Cabin
• DS Drive Assist which features Semi-autonomous driving, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go, and Lane Positioning Assist
• Front & rear floor mats
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert

DS 4 Esprit De Voyage Key Features

In addition to the DS 4 Rivoli, the DS 4 Esprit De Voyage's key features include:

• 19-inch 'Cannes' diamond-cut alloy wheels
• Electric Tailgate
• Electrically adjustable front seats
• Esprit De Voyage laser etching on mirror caps
• Heated front seats
• Heated Steering Wheel
• Laminated Acoustic Insulated Glazing - Front and Rear
• Massaging front seats
• Pearl Grey Leather Interior with high-density seats, armrests and centre console in Pebble Grey Paloma leather with Nixon Grey Nappa leather decor
• Ventilated front seats

DS 4 Opera Key Features

In addition to the DS Esprit De Voyage, the DS 4 Opera's key features include:

• Auto-dimming electrochromic door mirrors
• Criollo Brown OPERA Interior with high-density seats in Criollo Brown Nappa watchstrap leather, Criollo Brown Nappa leather décor with pearl stitching
• Criollo Fleur Leather Steering Wheel with Leather Central Cover
• Door mirrors with reverse gear angle memorisation
• Electric Tailgate
• Electrically adjustable front seats
• Electrically folding and heated door mirrors with DS LED spotlight
• Electrically Opening Sunroof
• Heated front seats
• Heated Steering Wheel
• Hands Free Function for Electric Tailgate
• Laminated Acoustic Insulated Glazing - Front and Rear
• Massaging front seats
• Reversing Camera - 360° Vision
• Ventilated front seats
• Wireless Charging for Smartphone
• DS Active Scan Suspension

DS 4 Final Thoughts

The DS 4 is a solid choice for those looking for a vehicle that stands out in terms of design and offers you a blend of hatchback and crossover traits with a touch of premium feel.

So why not unlock the full potential of the DS 4 with a comprehensive test drive at our nearest DS 4 dealership!