Citroen DS4 1.6 THP 155 EGS Review: Anything but ordinary

What we like:

Quirky looks and character

high quality interior

well-equipped

competent handling

sufficient performance

What we dislike:

No proper automatic gearbox

firm low speed ride

limited rear visibility

over assisted brakes

Step into the DS4’s cabin and you’ll immediately appreciate the effects of the vast and steeply raked windscreen that extends right up to the roofline like on the C3. For the first time in a French car, the description ‘high quality and luxurious’ can be used to describe a cabin. The DS4’s interior not only sets new standards in quality and luxury for French cars but also for mid-sized mainstream family cars. The exposed surfaces on the dashboard and centre console feel softer to the touch than in even some premium German models while the new switch gear for the climate control and other functions are much improved over those in earlier Citroen models like the C5.

The cabin is also full of delightful design touches that only Citroen can execute – that miniscule gear selector and the part digital part analogue instruments are just some of these unique design touches. The colour for the illumination of the instruments can be customized via the press of a button while up to four choices can be made for the indicator chime – some might say that this is al too gimmicky but I reckon that these will undoubtedly enlighten the DS4’s occupants. For the first time in a Citroen here, a large LCD screen dominates the centre console, which further adds a premium feel to the cabin overall. The myriad of buttons on the steering wheel can be a tad confusing to use though.

The DS4 cabin’s premium feel is further lifted by the superb looking seats with their ‘Bracelet’ design leather, which someone mentioned, is akin to a Chanel handbag. The manually adjustable front seats offer massage function and are extremely comfortable and supportive as well. The rear offers leg and headroom that is at least on par with the class best but a quirky detail is that the rear windows are fixed like in a two-door coupe. Storage spaces are plentiful throughout the cabin – there are deep and wide door pockets, a deep set chilled compartment in front of the gear selector and so on.

The DS4 is not all perfect – the stubborn EGS gearbox is its Achilles’ heel. For those who want a family car that is not short of character and style and something out of the ordinary though, the DS4 might just be the car.

Credits: Story by Raymond Lai Photos by Yang and Raymond Lai