2012 Citroen DS4 on sale in Australia

Priced from $35,990 before on-road costs, the DS4 DStyle turbo petrol is $3000 more than the most expensive Citroen C4 small car, and exactly the same price as the base model of the mid-sized C5 sedan.

Citroen Australia describes the DS4 as “a new type of crossover car”, blending coupe styling with five-door practicality, a tallish ride and premium DS-line features.

As such, it expects the DS4 to compete with cars from a range of different segments, including the Volkswagen Scirocco, Honda Civic, Mini Countryman and the BMW 1-Series.

At 4275mm long, 1810mm wide, 1526mm tall and riding on a 2612mm wheelbase, the DS4 is 54mm shorter, 21mm wider, and 24mm taller than the C4 on which it is based.

The two available models come with three distinct drivetrain options.

Powering the entry-level DS4 DStyle is a 115kW/240Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine. Teamed with a six-speed semi-automatic transmission (Citroen calls it ‘EGS’), the DStyle accelerates from 0-100km/h in 9.9 seconds and uses 6.5 litres of fuel per 100km on the combined cycle.

For an additional $1000, the DStyle can be optioned with an 82kW/270Nm 1.6-litre diesel engine. Combining with the same transmission, it sips just 4.4L/100km, but takes a rather tardy 12.4 seconds to reach 100km/h from rest.

The performance-oriented DS4 DSport gets a high-output version of the 1.6-litre petrol engine. It produces 147kW of power and 275Nm of torque, and is paired with a six-speed manual transmission. It sprints from 0-100km/h in 8.5 seconds, yet despite the added performance, it’s actually marginally more fuel efficient than the DStyle petrol, with consumption of 6.4L/100km.

All models feature a deep-reaching panoramic windscreen, LED daytime running lights, fog lights with cornering function, blind sport monitor, cruise control with speed limiter, electric massaging front seats, and a six-speaker audio system with USB input and Bluetooth connectivity.

The DS4 DStyle comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, multi-function leather steering wheel, aluminium drilled pedals, dual-zone climate control, cloth sports seats, rear parking sensors and auto headlights and wipers.

The DS4 DSport adds 19-inch alloys, grey leather upholstery with watchstrap pattern, heated seats, leather gear knob and lever gaiter and alloy interior door handles.

The Citroen DS4 has earned Euro NCAP’s maximum five-star safety rating, with all models equipped with six airbags and electronic stability control, as well as automatic hazard light illumination for emergency braking and hill start assist.

2012 Citroen DS4 manufacturer’s list prices (excluding government and dealer charges):