YOU know something is radically different when it can’t be pigeon-holed. That’s rarely the case with cars though; they usually fall into one category or another. But French manufacturer Citroen wanted to break the mould with its follow-up to the sporty DS3 and embarked on a plan that stretched the marque’s 'Créative Technologie' to the limit. Customer feedback indicated that fans of the brand were crying out for something with the elegance and refinement of a coupe, but with the robust, protective feel of a 4x4. The result is the DS4, a raised five-door coupe that’s based on the C4 family hatch but actually unlike anything else on the road. For instance coupes usually have three doors, the DS4 has five but looks like there are only three thanks to the concealed openings at the rear. You sit high up, well cocooned in body-hugging seats with ample leg, head and shoulder room for five and surrounded by premium materials. And because the designers found the car to be fairly dark inside - and didn’t want it to be completely closed in - they added a large panoramic windscreen to let the light flood through and give drivers a new perspective of the road – a bit like being at the cinema. There’s no doubt the DS4 is an eye-catcher. It has loads of presence with its chrome-finished waistline, dark tinted windows and embossed door handles, while sculpted wheel arches emphasise the 18-inch alloys. Inside, the sports theme is underlined with a flat-bottomed steering, two-tone seats and drilled aluminium pedals, and for convenience there’s a raised centre console with cooled and lit compartment that has a USB port, 12-volt socket and can hold up to four bottles. You also get a decent amount of luggage space, the 359-litre boot increasing to 385 litres using the under floor storage - bigger than many conventional hatchbacks. The DS4’s engine line-up comprises two diesels - HDi 110 and HDi 160 - and three petrol units that were co-developed with BMW - VTi 120, THP 155 and a spirited new THP 200 that gives near hot hatch performance. This version, in mid-range DStyle trim, featured the more potent of the diesels. It’s a terrific cruiser with plenty of punch plus the benefit of added fuel economy – averaging 55.4 miles to the gallon as opposed to 44.1 for the THP 200 petrol. The suspension is on the firm side and thanks to meticulous soundproofing, comparable to more upmarket models, you can really enjoy the advanced Denon sound system fitted to this car. You can even switch the polyphonic sound between four different themes – classic, crystal symphony, jungle fantasy and urban rythmik – for the indicator signals and unfastened seatbelt warning. Or change the colour of the lighting on the instrument dials from blue to white, at the touch of a button. It’s all part of how the DS4 engages on a more emotional level that most – and brings a real joie de vivre to the motoring experience. FAST FACTS Citroen DS4 DStyle HDi 160 Price: £22,950 Mechanical: 163bhp, 1,997cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox Max speed: 132mph 0-62mph: 9.3 seconds Combined mpg: 55.4 Insurance group: 23 CO2 emissions: 134g/km BiK rating: 19% Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles | 
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