The Finest the French have to Offer
It is easy to fall in love with the Citroën DS4. After all, it was voted the Most Beautiful Car of the Year at the 26th International Automobile Festival in Paris last year.
From its dynamic front (which houses superb xenon headlights which boast a “see around the corner” function), to its large panoramic windscreen, the DS4 exudes style and head-turning good looks.
However, modern cars need more than just sexy looks to make consumers open wallets and chequebooks, and in this respect the DS4 more than matches the opposition.
Performance wise it has a 1.6 litre four cylinder engine which drives the front wheels through a super smooth six-speed manual shift gearbox. Developed in conjunction with BMW, this engine produces an eye watering 147 kW, and will outperform most so-called sports cars under acceleration. Citroën’s heritage as World Rally Champion shines through in this car’s dynamics.
Its handling is exemplary, braking is superb – thanks to four huge disc brakes – and the DS4’s chassis deals adequately with all the power the car develops.
At a recommended retail price of R319,900, the DS4 oozes luxury and safety. Besides the folding mirrors, the superb all-leather front seats, and a great sound system, the DS4 also features such thoughtful items as a matt finish for the top of the dashboard (which means no glare is reflected onto the driver’s face).
The huge alloy rims, fitted with Hungarian built Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tyres, add to the car’s dramatic looks.
With the price including a five-year/100,000 km service plan and a three-year/100,000 km warranty, the Citroën DS4 should be on the shopping list of a motorist with a taste for stylish, if somewhat quirky, cars.
Having sung its praises, I need to point out that, inexplicably, the rear windows are fixed and cannot open. There is also no spare wheel. Instead, a strange looking inflation kit in the boot will have to do the job in the event of a flat tyre.
The driver, while appreciating the accuracy of the instrumentation (an indicated 120 km/h is a true 117), will also have to take note of the fairly impressive torque-steer going through to the front wheels. Although not scary, this feature underlines the car’s huge power outputs from its 1.6 litre engine, which is a notable achievement.
In summary, it needs to be said that the Citroën DS4 is a worthy successor to the DS, which first saw the light of day in 1955. It is beautifully put together and has a huge luggage compartment. It also offers braking and cornering dynamics at least as good as, if not better than, its rivals. In my view, Citroën is the premier French brand, and deserves its accolades as the World Rally Champion.
Story by Bernard K Hellberg
