Citroen DS4 1.6 THP 200 Review: Better in Stick

What we like:

Slick Manual gearbox fills the gap in the smoothness that the DS4's EGS gearbox lacked

What we dislike:

A pity that Manual transmission will only appeal to keen drivers here in Singapore

Complementing its unique exterior, the DS4’s cabin has been styled impeccably with a vast and steeply raked windscreen that can be extended right up to its roofline. Soft touch leather and plastics throughout the interior also give the DS4 a very luxurious feel, accentuated by the leather ‘bracelet’ design on the seats, patterned chrome detailing and aluminium pedals.

But that’s not all because the colours on the instrument panels are also changeable to suite the driver’s mood. Even the notes on the left and right turn signals can be changed from the available tunes.

Making way on the front of the centre axle, the round head gear knob takes up the space of what was previously storage space in the EGS variant. At a glance, the only missing feature would perhaps be a conventional handbrake. Like many upmarket cars these days, the DS4 is equipped with an electronic parking brake that I needed some getting used to.

In our previous review, we concluded that the DS4’s EGS gearbox was its Achilles heel, compromising the performance of what is otherwise a stellar performer. With this six-speed manual gearbox, the DS4 really feels complete, finally offering the slick shifting performance that its 200bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged engine promises and complementing its suave exterior styling.

However, in auto-loving Singapore, the preference for cars with automatic transmission and an additional $8,000 premium and sky-high COE prices might see buyers overlook this great car simply because of their preference for convenience. Perhaps when the regular six-speed automatic version is available next year, the DS4 may get the sales figures it deserves.

Credits: Text: Jonathan Tan, Photos: David Goh