DS NO4 1.2 HYBRID 145 Etoile Nappa 5dr e-DSC

Ten Second Review

The DS No4's ideal engine might just be the 48V Hybrid self charging unit we look at here. This aspirational premium Gallic compact hatch makes a good partner for this clever petrol/electric powerplant.

Background

If you're considering a premium badged aspirational family hatch, you're probably not considering the DS No4. Perhaps that rather stylish Gallic contender's worth a second look though, especially in its most affordable form where it comes with a rather appealing Hybrid engine. This isn't one of those Hybrids you can plug-in; the DS No4 line-up also provides one of those. This instead, is the same 48V self charging powertrain used across a wide variety of Stellantis Group models, which claims to be able to allow the car to run solely on battery power for a significant amount of time in urban traffic. Sounds promising. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience

The DS No4 Hybrid uses the uprated 145hp version of this 48V Hybrid powertrain that we've lately seen fitted to other Stellantis models. This engine drives the seven-seat Peugeot 5008 along very happily, so doesn't struggle with this premium Gallic family hatch, thanks to a useful 230Nm of torque. It's coupled with a clever six-speed dual-clutch e-DSC6 automatic gearbox that incorporates a 28hp electric motor. A 0.9kWh NMC lithium-ion battery powers the self-charging electric system. In town, up to 50% of your low speed driving can be done on battery power alone. 0-62mph takes 10.9s en route to 129mph. The petrol engine is a major evolution of the old DS4's PureTech 130 unit, with special development for the Hybrid system. Using three-cylinders with 1,199cc, it works on the Miller cycle, which provides higher thermodynamic efficiency and, therefore, a significant reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The engine is also fitted with a special timing chain and a clever variable geometry turbocharger to maximise sustainability and responsiveness at low revs. The permanent magnet synchronous electric motor is integrated into the compact e-DCS6 six-speed dual-clutch transmission and can run on electric power alone at low speeds and under moderate loads. During deceleration, the electric motor acts as a generator to recover kinetic energy and fuel the 0.9kWh battery located under the floor. The system also easily provides power to start the petrol engine. The e-DCS6 gearbox contributes to the comfort and efficiency of this Hybrid model too. Limiting breaks in torque, it gives the feeling of a super smooth ride. The electric motor, inverter and computer are integrated in it to save space and mass.

Design and Build

The visual updates which have evolved the MK2 DS 4 into this DS No4 are quickly covered. There's what the brand calls 'a bold new front end' which features a wider, more intricately-detailed black grille. That's flanked by headlamps offering new light theatrics, their more distinctive illuminating signature apparently inspired by both the larger DS No8 and the DS E-TENSE performance concept car. This sees a segmented light beam spanning the bumper that meets an illuminated DS logo in the centre. As before, this is a moderately good looking sharply-angled lower mid-sized would-be premium hatch, measuring 4,400mm in length and riding on wheel rims between 19 and 20-inches in size. Not much has changed inside compared to the original second generation DS 4. Basalt trimming and bronze inserts try to lift the cabin above the generic volume brand norm. And in a top model fitted out with alcantara and Nappa leather, you might even feel the cabin to be quite luxurious. As with the previous DS 4, you get a fully digital cabin made up of no fewer than three displays, There's a 10-inch instrument cluster screen. And an infotainment display of the same size in the centre of the dash for media and navigation. This is controlled by a third 5-inch screen further down the centre stack known as the 'DS Smart Touch'. If that's not enough screen tech for you, top 'Etoile' trim gets a head-up display claimed to be closer to augmented reality than any other system. The information viewed doesn't just get projected onto the windscreen; it instead gets projected further out onto your view of the road in a range 4-metres ahead and on an image 21 inches wide. Another interesting touch is the lack of visible air vents; the main ventilation unit is integrated behind a strip of physical switches that sit just below the main control screen. Out back, rear seat space is reasonable but unremarkable. Boot space varies with powertrain choice; you'll get most (430-litres) in this Hybrid. It's 360-litres for the PHEV and 390-litres for the E-TENSE EV version.

Market and Model

Just how serious DS is about improving its faltering market share is evidenced by the fact that this No.4 model is significantly cheaper than its DS 4 predecessor. The brand claims to be offering customer savings of £2,430 across all Hybrid trims and that means pricing beginning from £32,200 for the most affordable hybrid 145 'Pallas+' model. Add £2,800 more to that figure if you want top 'Etoile' spec (so £35,000). And £2,400 more if you want an 'Etoile' variant with full nappa leather upholstery. Mainstream 'Pallas+' No4 variants get an interior completed with diamond tungsten fabric and DS black canvas seats. The dashboard and door panels have basalt black trim with a tortoiseshell effect, as well as bronze inserts. Standard No4 equipment includes dual-zone automatic climate control, LED headlamps and full-LED rear lights, heated and folding door mirrors, along with a safety pack featuring adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking. Plus there's front and rear parking assistance with a reversing camera and acoustic laminated front side windows. You also get the brand's DS Iris system, plus 3D connected navigation with natural voice recognition, wireless smartphone charging and keyless entry and start, as well as a heat pump on E-TENSE variants. Top 'Etoile' trim adds an alcantara-trimmed cabin, a head-up display, DS Matrix LED vision headlamps and scrolling rear indicators, along with a rear traffic detection pack, powered front seats, laminated and tinted rear glass, aluminium door sill protectors and pedals and the DS Drive Assist pack.

Cost of Ownership

Compared with the old conventional DS 4 PureTech 130 Automatic, the Hybrid system in this No4 Hybrid claims a gain of nearly 15% in efficiency terms (0.9 fewer litres of fuel needed to travel 62 miles) and a reduction of 21g/km CO2 (or 19%) to 117g/km CO2. Expect 54.3mpg on the combined cycle. In a DS No4 Hybrid, you set off silently using just electric energy, driving without any CO2 emissions and the petrol engine contributing if more power is required. Behind the wheel, as the switch from one motor to the other is imperceptible, the speed indicator turns blue when driving on electric power alone. On the digital instrument display, the energy flow can be shown, along with battery charge level and its operating status, via a power meter. The percentage of distance travelled just on electric energy is shown by the onboard computer and also at the end of the journey. The Hybrid system is designed to operate on its own. The battery charges automatically while driving, thanks to the petrol engine and deceleration phases are controlled automatically to recover energy so the use of the mechanical braking system is also greatly reduced, resulting in a reduction in fine particle emissions. Quiet operation in town benefits the environment and local residents. For pedestrian safety, a slight AVAS noise is emitted when the car passes by at up to 18mph.

Summary

If you're considering a DS No4, this is really the engine we think most customers should be looking at first. This French model will probably continue to get overlooked by customers considering cars like the BMW 1 Series, the Audi A3 Sportback and the Mercedes A-Class. Here at least though, it offers a better engine for real-world use than any of those German contenders can offer. Yes, the engineering here is shared with mainstream-branded volume models - but you could say the same of the Teutonic rivals just mentioned too. And none of those can offer the rather special cabin ambiance you get at the wheel of a DS No4. Before, that wasn't quite enough to move us to recommend this car. But if we were choosing in this segment and prepared to look beyond the obvious contenders, the availability of this 48V petrol/electric powerplant might just be enough to encourage us to give it a chance.