Test drive Citroen DS4 – Road test
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Citroen DS4 - Road test
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Citroën's new offering has its best qualities in wealthstandard equipmentand in behavior on the road. IN the engine is quite powerfulbut it's not lightning and road keeps well... Have a mole? Yes this not enough spacethere are five people some creakand it is not clear why it is necessary to raise the building. A sort of little grand tourer. It could have been successful, maybe more than C4 itself ...
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The Citroën DS4 is a strange object. However, they like it, given the views of people and the questions we received. We say it right away, the lines convinced us too. It's the "philosophy" of the car that seems a little hard to understand. It is true that it is these vehicles with a somewhat hybrid, diverse personality that very often become market phenomena: they know how to be noticed. Consider the success of the Nissan Qashqai: the right lines, that touch that makes it look like an SUV, and under the clothes, a car with very traditional furnishings (4×4 versions are a minority). And if for the small DS3 in Citroën they were thinking about a sporty, young audience (with a defiant look at the Mini), then for the DS4 they ventured into a rather successful look in terms of aesthetics. With some originality that grabs attention and leaves room for reasonable doubt. Example? Ground clearance has increased compared to the C4 sedan from which it is derived. Perhaps Citroën technicians would like to offer an off-road DS4? Difficult, given that the car does not even have an all-wheel drive version on the list ... In short, an indefinite character, also because the oddities have not yet ended. And, fortunately, not even qualities.
city
Driving around town can help us figure out what kind of car we are trying to find out. To begin with, the rather stiff suspension, which bounces dry on bumps, poles, and other urban traps, is sporty. But the engine is a little empty in the first centimeters of the gas pedal travel: for a real shot, you need to keep it at a low speed. The rest of the DS4 performs well in urban environments. At 4,28 meters long, the car was not born to challenge Smart and Panda, but it is definitely not a bulky machine. On the contrary, the raised suspension (3cm more than its twin sister C4) improves visibility while on the move and at the same time helps when parking. In this regard, it should be said that one of the characteristics of the car is the sun visors, which are raised, freeing up a large area of the windshield. It is true that it offers more light, but is it really necessary? On the other hand, there are (standard) parking sensors very useful to avoid damage (besides, Easy Parking calculates if there is a required space). And in this regard, the presence of body protection is also welcomed.
Outside the city
Let's get back to the engine aspect. Speaking of calmness at low revs, it should be noted that closer to 1.800 rpm it changes personality. He gradually wakes up and demonstrates all his power of 163 hp without jerks. In short, the 4-litre HDi turbodiesel is a complete engine that can get noticed on the road… for those who are not familiar with the car. And once the initial impasse is overcome, it will also be elastic enough. The gearbox is a six-speed manual, not very sweet in vaccinations, but not inaccurate either. As for gear spacing, there's not much to say: you practically always have the right gear at the right time: six well-spaced gear ratios that don't result in power drops when shifting. Going to analyze our instrumental measurements, the DS4 doesn't deny the driving experience. The characteristics are not the same as those of a supercar, but confirm the lively character of the car, the most noticeable quality of which is precisely the elasticity of the shots. All of this contributes to a positive experience: behind the wheel you can enjoy the driving pleasure that a car with a detached personality like the DSXNUMX should put among its main goals. In conclusion, a few words about the steering. Which we found a bit too complex, but generally quick in responses and generally accurate. Less pleasant is the effect of sharper acceleration on the steering.
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An engine with a capacity of more than 160 hp, a rather large diesel tank of 60 liters, the manufacturer's promised autonomy of more than 1.100 km: all the conditions for a calm and long journey are there. So we're driving on the highway. Immediately appreciated the sound insulation, in general they took care: the noise of a two-liter turbodiesel is not intrusive; some aerodynamic rustle is heard, but not very annoying. And then the DS4 delivers on what it promises: It comes across as a decent traveler by offering a positive sense of security. Braking, as we will see later in a specific chapter, is more than satisfactory, but modulation of the pedal action is not exactly the French car's strong point (too harsh). As far as suspension comfort goes, we have already mentioned their sporty stiffness, not quite like a big routine. However, tuning has a positive effect on the driving performance of the vehicle.
Life on board
Among the oddities that we mentioned at the beginning, the rear doors stand out. Not only do they have a somewhat pronounced and dubious line (we are talking about this in a separate box), but it was precisely the style requirements that did not allow equipping them with window lifters: the windows cannot be lowered. And access to the rear seats is not as favorable as a 5-door car can have. In truth, even the hospitality is not at the highest level, if you need to seat three adults on the back sofa: there is not much free space, especially in height. For the front seat, definitely better. In our richer version, the driver's seat is not only height-adjustable, but also offers massage and lumbar support. In addition, the steering wheel is adjustable in height and depth. It's a shame that, despite everything, the driving position remains a little high. Overall, the interior makes a good impression. Even the cheapest materials are pleasing and above all seem durable, emitting a slight creak only on the most bumpy sections of the road. The Sport Chic finish demonstrates the Maison's commitment to offering a welcoming, almost sophisticated vehicle. So, leather upholstery (standard), as well as some details, such as a 220 V socket, just like at home (for a hairdryer, shaver, charger ...). Thus, the audio system has an Aux jack for iPod. But the setup is tricky, and using the Apple player is not straightforward. On the other hand, the ergonomics of the controls are noticeable.
Price and costs
Luxurious leather upholstery and sport pedals, racing cars ... the DS4 is still difficult to interpret. But he knows how to make himself loved with real generosity in endowment. Just to name a few examples. The standard Sport Chic package includes dual-zone automatic climate control, alloy wheels, on-board computer, cruise control. In practice, only the navigator (€ 900), bi-xenon headlights (850) and the Denon Hi-Fi super system (€ 600 more) are missing. All this corresponds not even to the prohibitive price of 28.851 4 euros. Given the young age of the model, it remains to be seen how it will behave in the market in order to understand what the level of devaluation will then be. But the recognition that the Citroën brand enjoys in the Italian (and European) market today could make DS15,4 buyers sleep well. Which, in turn, adds a rather positive expense item to the economic balance: in the test, we checked an average of XNUMX km with a liter of diesel fuel.
safety
There are conditions for safety. DS4 is equipped with front, side and curtain airbags. But Isofix child seat extensions, LED lights and fog lights that illuminate the inside of the bend are already included in the price. And then there's dynamic safety, ESP, ABS and hill climb assistance. By paying, you can get useful tools such as one that checks the intersection of the carriageway and one that checks the blind spot (we'll talk about this on the next page). One more point should be added that DS4 has already successfully passed the EuroNCAP crash exam: 5 stars and more than 80% protection for adults and children. Only the collision with a pedestrian is not at its best. In terms of dynamic behavior, the vehicle remains within safe limits. When cornering, pushing the DS4 to its grip limit, the electronics intervenes, cutting off power to the engine: the car slows down and understeer returns. The reaction to the rear is more goribaldin: cornering at speed is quiet, while when released, the rear tends to become lighter, allowing itself to be thrown in. However, no problem even if you get carried away: ESP fixes everything. Eliminate any driver errors.
Our findings
Acceleration
| 0-50 km / h | 3,32 |
| 0-100 km / h | 9,54 |
| 0-130 km / h | 13,35 |
recovery
| 20-50 km / h | 2a 2,79 |
| 50-90 km / h | 4a 7,77 |
| 80-120 km / h | 5a 8,11 |
| 90-130 km / h | 6a 12,43 |
Braking
| 50-0 km / h | 10,3 |
| 100-0 km / h | 36,8 |
| 130-0 km / h | 62,5 |
noise
| least | 44 |
| Max Air conditioning | 70 |
| 50 km / h | 55 |
| 90 km / h | 63 |
| 130 km / h | 65 |
Fuel consumption
Achieve
Journey
| Media | 15,5 |
| 50 km / h | 47 |
| 90 km / h | 87 |
| 130 km / h | 127 |
Diameter
Kettlebell
engine
