New 2021 DS 4 La Premiere edition on sale now from £39,950

DS has opened order books for the new  DS 4 crossover in the UK, though the model is only available in range-topping La Premiere trim for now, priced from £39,950.

To mark it out from the standard DS 4 line-up, La Premiere models get 19-inch diamond cut alloy wheels, a gloss black radiator grille and ‘Perla Nera’ Black roof. There’s also a unique “1” badge for the bonnet and black replacements for the car’s brightwork.

The bodywork can be finished in either Lacquered Grey or Pearl Crystal paint, and buyers can have a sunroof and 20-inch alloy wheels as optional extras, although the latter is only available on the most powerful 223bhp variants.

Inside, there’s Nappa leather upholstery, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and a head-up display, while the driver’s seat gets ventilation, a heating element and a massage function. A 14-speaker Focal audio system can be specified as another optional extra.

La Premiere models also get a heap of clever technology, such as Matrix LED headlights with directional beams that swivel as you turn the wheel. DS Active Scan Suspension comes as standard, too, adding adaptive dampers controlled by software which constantly monitors the road surface, and adjusts the damping to make the ride as smooth as possible.

As it’s the flagship model, buyers can only have the DS 4’s most powerful petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains. Both are based around the same turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and both have the same output of 223bhp. The PHEV offers an electric range of 31 miles.

New 2021 DS 4: design and platform

The previous-generation DS 4 was launched back in 2010 as a Volkswagen Golf-rivalling family hatchback, based on the Citroen C4. However, the market has changed in the past decade, so this new model has morphed into a crossover in a bid to broaden its appeal.

As it’s still competing in the C-segment, the DS 4 will face some tough opposition from both traditional hatchbacks such as the Ford Focus, and compact crossovers such as the newly reinvented Citroen C4 and the Lexus UX. 

The DS 4 measures 4,440mm long, 1,830mm wide and 1,470mm tall, which makes it slightly longer and wider than the Focus. Its front end is inspired by DS’s flagship model, the DS 7 Crossback, sharing the same slim LED headlamps and daytime running lights (98 in total) which cascade down the bumper and blend into the lower air intake.

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In addition to the new La Premiere launch edition specification, two more DS 4 variants will hit the showrooms in the coming months, called the DS 4 Cross and DS 4 Performance Line.

The Cross gets a rugged-looking SUV redesign with black inserts fitted to the side skirts and the lower section of the front bumper. Buyers will also get roof rails, unique alloy wheels and black window frames, along with an advanced traction control system with dedicated settings for snow, mud and sand.

Performance Line models won’t gain any mechanical upgrades – at least not initially. It does get a sporty visual makeover, though, with black window surrounds, a different front grille and dedicated rear light clusters.

The DS 4’s cabin has gone fully digital with only a few physical buttons remaining. Three displays make up the cabin layout; there’s a digital instrument cluster located behind the steering wheel and a 10-inch screen on the dashboard for media and navigation, which is operated via a new five-inch display on the centre console. The company refers to the setup as the DS Smart Touch.

There’s also a new head-up display, which DS says is closer to augmented reality than any other system on the market. Navigation instructions are projected onto the road four metres ahead and 21 inches wide, rather than just onto the vehicle’s windscreen.

DS is also keen to point out the lack of visible vents – the main air outlet has been integrated behind the strip of physical buttons below the main central display. UK trims and specs are yet to be confirmed, but leather, Alcantara, forged carbon and wood are all options for interior finish.

The DS 4 is based on the same EMP2 platform as the DS 7 Crossback and Peugeot 3008. There’s no pure-electric variant, but the crossover is offered with a plug-in hybrid powertrain which mixes a 1.6-litre petrol engine and an electric motor, for an output of 223bhp and an electric range of 31 miles.

Other powertrain options include three and four-cylinder petrol units from the familiar PureTech family with 129bhp, 178bhp and 223bhp, while a 128bhp Blue HDI diesel is also available to buyers. All models come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard.

What do you make of the new DS 4 crossover? Let us know in the comments section below…