Used DS 4 2015-2018 review

Family SUVs seem to be flooding the used market these days, but truly premium ones aren't quite so prevalent. The BMW X1 was one of the first, but it’s still quite a pricey car. The DS 4, however, has been around a while and was even sold as a Citroën before being rebranded in 2015, so there are plenty of second-hand examples to choose from.

The 4 offers two petrol and three diesel engines. Everyday driving is well catered for by the 128bhp 1.2-litre turbo petrol, but there’s also a 207bhp 1.6-litre turbo petrol if you need more performance. Likewise, the 118bhp 1.6-litre diesel has plenty of torque for relaxed cruising, but there are a 2.0-litre units with 148bhp and 178bhp that offer similar running costs.

As long as you’re just pottering, the 4 is okay to drive. Demand more from it and its soft suspension will make you experience body roll around even fairly shallow corners. Potholes also pose a problem, because they send shocks straight into the interior. On faster roads, the 4 floats a lot, and its slow steering means you’ll have to make plenty of additional adjustments to keep it on the right path.

In isolation, you’ll probably find the 128bhp 1.2-litre turbo petrol to be an agreeable engine, and it’s true that it doesn’t feel lacking in performance in regular driving, thanks to the relatively short gearing. However, it isn’t the most refined unit out there, and it sends plenty of vibrations through the pedals, steering wheel and seats. Wind and road noise are also very noticeable at speed, to the point that you will have to crank up the volume on the stereo.

Practicality is another weak point of the 4, because while those in the front seats have plenty of adjustment and there’s a nice panoramic windscreen that allows in plenty of light, the rear seats are very cramped for taller passengers and the door openings are very narrow, restricting access. Head room isn’t good enough either, due to the sloping roofline. To top it all off, the rear windows don’t open at all, which makes the air conditioning a necessity in even mild weather.

The boot is similar to that of the Volkswagen Golf, but there’s a significant load lip and the rear seats don't fold flat, making it awkward to load longer items. You do get plenty of tie-downs and a handy rechargeable torch, though (make sure the previous owner of the car you're looking at hasn’t half-inched the latter).

Prices for the DS 4 start at just below £9000 for a 2015 or 2016 example with a 1.6-litre diesel engine and slightly above-average mileage. A 1.2-litre turbo petrol with fewer miles under its belt will be a little bit expensive, at around £9500.

If you need the bigger diesel engine, you’ll need to increase your budget to at least £10,000. A 4 with the 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine is rare on the used market and can command as much as £14,000.

Check the value of a used DS 4 with What Car? Valuations

Fuel costs for the DS 4 should be reasonably low. The most efficient engine is the 1.6-litre diesel, with an NEDC combined fuel economy figure of 72.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 103g/km. Both 2.0-litre diesel units are remarkably economical: the 148bhp variant gets 67.3mpg and 111g/km, while the 178bhp gets 64.2mpg and 115g/km.

The 1.2-litre turbo petrol is fairly parsimonious, at 56.5mpg and 116g/km, while the 207bhp 1.6-litre turbo petrol will be the most costly to run at 47.9mpg and 138g/km. Anyone needing a petrol automatic will need the 163bhp 1.6-litre turbo unit that should be good for 50.4mpg and 130g/km.

Road fund prices vary depending upon CO2 emissions of vehicles registered before 1 April 2017; anything younger than that will be charged under the current flat rate fee of £145 per year.

Servicing costs aren’t the cheapest around, but they’re not the worst either. However, if you look at the cost of maintenance items compared with the Citroën equivalents, you’ll notice a marked mark-up on DS parts.

To find out more about the latest road tax costs, follow this link here.

The 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine will be more than sufficient for most needs unless you do lots of motorway miles. If that’s the case, the 1.6-litre diesel should fit the bill nicely. The bigger 2.0-litre diesels are quite rare, because they were a lot more expensive to buy new.

Of the two trim levels, we’d go with entry-level Elegance, because this still gets you all the equipment you'll need, including dual-zone climate control, automatic wipers, sat-nav and a 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity. Prestige models have LED headlights and a rear-view camera but also larger 18in alloy wheels that make the ride worse.

Our favourite DS 4: 1.6 BlueHDi Elegance

If you’d like your SUV to be compact and car-like, the Audi Q2 might just fit the bill. It isn’t as eager to change direction as the A3 family hatchback upon which it is based, but it's still nice to drive, offers plenty of decent petrol and diesel engines and features a high-quality interior.

For those looking for a bit more interior space, there’s the Seat Ateca. It doesn’t have a premium image or the finest interior plastics, but that means you can afford to go for a more highly specified version for the same money as the Q2, plus it will have exactly the same engine and be just as good to drive.

While it may be the old-timer here, the BMW X1 is still a very fine premium family SUV. If you find a diesel version with the excellent eight-speed automatic gearbox, you’ll have a cost-effective and very relaxing motorway cruiser, and all models come with a powered tailgate.

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