2nd-gen DS 4 debuts with new looks and tech

The DS 4 hatchback, which originally came to revive the Citroen DS4 line, dropped from production three years ago and is now coming back at last. Let’s see what it is about.

The car no longer tries to imitate a coupe and has full-fledged rear doors with functional windows, whereas its predecessor had narrow doorframes and fixed glass panes.

The newcomer is 4,400 mm (14.44 feet) long and 1,830 mm (exactly 6 feet) wide. The wheelbase has gained 63 mm (2.5”) and now amounts to 2,672 mm (8.77 feet), while the height has dropped by 65 mm (2.6”) and now makes 1,470 mm (4.82 feet). With 19” and 20” wheels to choose from, the new DS 4 has the largest wheels in class.

Along with the standard version, DS will be offering Performance Line and Cross variants. The former will boast sporty black accents, while the latter will get roof rails, black underbody protection and dedicated off-road assists. The latter category will include hill descend assist and an anti-skid system with individual presets for snow, mud and sand.

Although based on the EMP2 platform, nearly 70% parts are said to be original. The DS 4 uses the same variable-density shocks as the DS 7 Crossback and the DS 9, scanning the road ahead with a camera to determine whether to switch to a different setting.

Customers can pick their hatchback with any of the available Puretech petrol engines. This includes a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-pot good for 130 PS (128 hp / 96 kW) and two turbo-four variants rated at 180 PS (178 hp / 132 kW) and 225 PS (222 hp / 165 kW). There is also a 1.5-liter BlueHDi diesel capable of 130 PS (128 hp / 96 kW). An eight-speed automatic transmission drives the front axle in all cases.

Another alternative comes in the guise of the DS 4 E-Tense PHEV. The car combines a 1.6-liter gasoline engine (180 PS / 178 hp / 132 kW) with an electric motor integrated into the abovementioned transmission (110 PS / 108 hp / 81 kW). The cumulative output is capped at just 225 PS (222 hp / 165 kW), and the drive still stays affixed to the front axle. A 12.4-kWh battery provides power for 50 kilometers (31 miles) of WLTP-rated electric range. While the ICE cars have 430 liters (15.2 cubic feet) of trunk space at their disposal, the PHEV has 390 liters (13.77 cu. ft.).

Depending on your chosen trim, the cabin may greet you with a mixture of leather, Alcantara, wood and carbon fiber. Seats can be equipped with massage and ventilation features. Switching gears succeeds via a compact button pad, and there is a five-inch multimedia screen in front of the gear panel. The main screen measures 10 inches corner-to-corner. A 14-speaker Focal Electra audio system is optional.

Other notable features include Drive Assist 2.0, an adaptive cruise control system that grans SAE Level 2 autonomy, and an infrared nightvision camera hidden inside the radiator grille that scans the area 200 meters (656 feet) ahead. The headlights have rotary central modules that can rotate up to 33.5 degrees.

Sales in Europe start later this year, and prices are pending.