Drive la revolution
With French flair, style and great gear, the DS 4 Crossback has a certain je ne sais quoi
Fine wine, haute couture, impeccable cuisine – it’s the kind of package France is renowned for. Definitely the good life.
Now DS Automobiles are joining the mix with an upmarket line of luxury French-designed cars.
Launched with the sumptuous DS 5, they are probably best known for the pretty and sprightly DS 3, the kind of stylish city car that always attracts a second look.
And when it comes to SUVs, there is the lovely DS 4 Crossback, an elegant addition to the DS range and the kind of car that just looks good sitting in the driveway.
With one in four of us opting for an SUV as our car of choice, it makes sense for DS to offer us their version of the crossover and, as ever, because it is French, it is decidedly chic.
There are more rugged cars and more efficient off-roaders but, for sheer delight in looks as well as a smooth and effortless drive, the DS 4 is a very hard act to beat.
I have been driving one for a couple of months and I still smile every time I walk up to it in the car park.
It sits high off the ground, higher than its stablemate the DS 4 saloon, with the signature DS wings on the grille.
The chrome of the gr i l le surround runs into the headlights for a very attractive front nose. The chrome continues round the windows and on the roof bars, giving the car an upmarket finish. A lot of the contrasting designde cues are in black – the 18in alloyal wheels, the rear of the door mirrorsm and the back spoiler, theth wheel arches, the name on theth rear of the car. And, if you want,w you can also have a contrastingco black roof.
What all this means is that whilew the DS 4 is pretty, elegant andan French, it also has a bit of a wickedw side.
Inside, the version I have been drivingd is stunning in contrasting blackbl and white leather, which made even my daughter “oooh” in pleasure.
The ride height is good and the cabin layout is pretty with brushed aluminium cues continuing the feeling of luxury.
The Crossback comes in only one trim level which, fortunately, is Prestige, the top of the range. This means you get some very nice touches such as the aluminium sports pedals, keyless entry, a colou r - rever sing camera , Crossback sill protectors and dark tinted rear windows.
For a few dollars more, you can opt for the Denon sound system in this car.
It comes with sat nav, cruise control, a 12v socket and the DS Connect Box. It also has Mirror Screen, which means you can sync your phone to the car’s information and entertainment system.
The 1.6litre turbocharged diesel engine gives you plenty of power too and the version I was driving was an automatic – yet sti l l managed to deliver official figures of 68.9mpg with just 103g/km of CO2 emissions.
It is a lovely drive, smooth and quite nippy. It handles well on motorways and is an absolute standout for the school gates.
The DS 4 Crossback is a lovely car and a great example of French knowhow when it comes to designing and delivering essential style.