2013 Citroen DS4 DSport And DStyle Snapshot Review
2013 CITROEN DS4 REVIEW
What’s Hot: Hot-hatch handling with diesel torque and economy
What’s Not: Overly firm suspension, EMG auto not the smoothest out there
X-Factor: Certainly stylish and unique enough in the small hatch market to warrant some attention
Vehicle Style: Small hatch
Price: DSport HDi diesel $40,490 (plus on-roads)
DStyle HDi diesel $37,990 (plus on-roads)
Engine/trans: 120kW/340Nm 4cyl diesel | 6spd auto
Fuel Economy (listed): 5.7 l/100km; (tested) 6.4 l/100km
OVERVIEW
No question, the Citroen DS4 is in every sense a hot-hatch. It's not as hot as the hottest, but certainly hotter than merely 'warm'.
Under the DS4 DSport HDi diesel's snout lurks a modern 2.0 litre turbo-intercooled diesel. It puts out a very robust 340Nm of torque and 120kW of power.
Those are good numbers in a relatively small hatch. Enough, we'd expect, for Citroen's DS4 to keep a Volkswagen Golf GTi honest around a mountain pass.
While the new Golf GTi is considerably more powerful, and much quicker off the line, the little Citroen has quite a bit more torque (and in the real world of driving, it's torque that perhaps matters most).
The fairest match of course would see the Citroen lined up against Volkswagen's Golf GTD, but that's now gone leaving the Golf 110TDI as the snappiest diesel in the Golf range. (And which, incidentally, is quicker to 100km/h than the DS4.)
So, handling and performance, yet diesel economy. Can the Citroen DS4 DSport HDi rightly wear the hot-hatch tag?
INTERIOR
The DS4 is available in two models - DStyle and DSport - in both petrol and diesel. Then there are five leather interior trims to choose from, with style and colour variations including black, red and white.
As with the DS4’s big sister, the DS5, the seats offer a massage function and are also available in hand-made 'watchstrap' leather finish, which certainly adds character.
The DStyle interior features a digital tachometer, climate control, retractable sun visors (which we like), drawers under the seats, USB, auxiliary and Bluetooth connectivity and aluminium pedals.