News under the hood: The new DS N°4 – now also purely electric

The compact DS4 becomes DS Automobiles N°4. But it's not just the name that's changed. The most important innovation, however, is the introduction of an electric version.

DS No. 4 – that's the name of the facelifted version of the compact car. A reference to the exclusive fashion house Chanel, it's also the spirit that pervades the entire brand, or at least is intended to pervade it: DS Automobiles is the haute couture of the automotive world. It's all about the glittering world of French design, chic, and fashionable sensuality.

Now, DS isn't Bugatti, let's face it. But the manufacturer does operate a bit outside the mainstream, occasionally using unusual decors or fine materials like nappa leather. And ultimately, the DS interiors turn out quite neat, even though the budget-conscious Stellantis Group is limited.

Thus, the visual changes to the modified "four" remain manageable, although the illuminated DS logo in the slightly redesigned front fascia is striking and looks somewhat cool. A quick test drive in the comfortable seats doesn't reveal anything new, since they're hidden under the metal.

Electric motor is more powerful

Some things are obvious. The diesel engine no longer appears in the price list. And it quickly becomes clear that the entry-level model, with a list price of €38,640 and a system output of 107 kW/145 hp, is now rolling out in a hybrid version. Its 100 kW/136 hp 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine is now supported by a 21 kW electric motor – a line of technology well known within the company.

The devil is in the details with the plug-in hybrid, which is still available. While it retains its system output of 165 kW/225 hp, as does the 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 132 kW/180 hp, the electric motor's power has increased from 81 kW/110 hp to 92 kW/125 hp, which should be noticeable when driving in electric mode.

In addition, the eight-speed automatic transmission has been removed and replaced with a seven-speed dual-clutch. The engineers have also tweaked the battery. The net capacity is now 14.6 kWh instead of 10 kWh. This means the 1.7-ton vehicle should now travel up to 77 kilometers in the average WLTP cycle.

No bargains

The all-electric variant also features innovations – but not in the model series, which is now the first to come without a combustion engine. However, the powertrain wasn't simply taken from the Citroën ë-C4 or Peugeot 308 candidates. With a capacity of 58.3 kWh, a new battery expansion stage is being introduced for the first time in the EMP2 candidates. And the charging power increases from the previous 100 to 120 kW. How well the electric car, with its rated 156 kW/213 hp engine output, actually charges with this power will become clear later. The data sheet remains vague about charging times for the time being.

With a base price of €45,900, both the BEV and PHEV aren't exactly bargains, but both models benefit from more favorable tax legislation than the more lenient hybrid – this is particularly relevant for company car drivers, of which there are quite a few in this country. For example, the company car tax for plug-in hybrids is calculated based on half the gross list price, and for electric vehicles, it's even based on a quarter of the gross list price.

The newcomer follows the trend of large letters on the trunk lid. Incidentally, the slightly hybridized model still offers the most space under the lid, with 430 liters, while the PHEV (360 liters) has to make the most of the space. The electric model's 390 liters should still be enough for a family vacation.