DS 4 Crossback BlueHDi 120, 2015: review

So you take a Citroen, then turn it into a separate brand and you produce the DS 4. Then you take the DS 4 and add a hint of off-roading to the mix. So is that heading in the right direction or just going round in circles?

The key point is visible from the exterior. You get roof bars, wheelarch extenders and new wheels but the clincher is that the ride height has been raised by 30mm compared to the standard DS 4. Naturally in so doing they’ve softened off the suspension to suit. What in theory is meant to make this crossover a more acceptable vehicle on dirt tracks actually makes it a more acceptable car on the road.

Where the standard DS 4 would crash and thump over road irregularities, the more compliant suspension in the Crossback allows the car to negotiate rough roads with a bit more composure. It does tend to lean more in the corners, but the ride is improved. On the other hand it needed to be, and while it’s better, it’s still not that good.

However the 1.6-litre 118bhp diesel does a good job. It’s not exactly a flier, but it copes well with most road conditions and has a broad spread of power. The manual gearbox has a nice action but you can let the torque do its stuff as well. It’s economical too, even if not as economical in the real world as the official figures, so that gets a thumbs up.

The cabin in standard DS 4, albeit viewed from slightly higher up. The big and wide windscreen is great, and there are some nice plastics around. But some not so nice, and they’re all within touching distance. It’s a cabin of two halves. The front is light and airy with comfortable seats and decent space. The rear is a claustrophobic’s nightmare. The rear windows don’t open, legroom is limited, the roof feels low and if you have any kind of back problems you simply won’t be able to manoeuvre through the silly rear doors to get in at all.

So the Crossback does improve on the DS 4, albeit with only the one trim level that puts the price perilously on a par with something like the Nissan Qashqai. But the DS 4 was starting from too low a base and the improvements have not been dramatic enough. This Crossback is not a good crossover for the money.

DS 4 Crossback BlueHDi 120

Engine size: 1.6-litre diesel

Price: from £23,495

Power: 118bhp

Torque: 221lb ft

0-62mph: 10.9 seconds

Top speed: 117mph

Fuel economy: 72.4mpg

CO2: 103g/km