DS No 4 review

You can get into the DS No 4 for £32,300, which is for the 1.2-litre 3cyl mild hybrid. It’s £39,900 for the 1.6.litre 4cyl plug-in hybrid. The electric version kicks off at £36,995, but gets its own entry-level trim to ensure it qualifies for the government’s plug-in car grant (eligible on vehicles below £37,000). So you can immediately knock £1,500 off that.

Of course, if you're like most people you'll be leasing instead. On a PCP deal through DS you’re looking at £370, £572 or £548 per month for the hybrid/PHEV/electric No 4 respectively.

However, you've got to really want the DS for it to make sense over anything else. The related Peugeot 308 and Vauxhall Astra are several grand cheaper. And it's a similar story for its so-called more premium rivals too. An Audi A3 and Mercedes A-Class both also undercut the No 4. And a BMW 1 Series is only a couple of hundred quid more.

What’s the kit list like?

Entry-level Pallas trim – exclusive to the electric model – gets 19in alloys LED headlights, heated and folding door mirrors, 10in driver’s display and touchscreen, wireless smartphone mirroring, dual zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, front and rear sensors with reversing camera. Not a lot wrong with that.

Then you’re into Pallas+ (available across all powertrains) which gets slightly different styled alloys, 3D navigation, wireless smartphone charging and keyless entry and start, as well as a heat pump on electric E-Tense variants. Big selling point, that.

Next up, Performance Line, gets black alloys (why that’s meant to signify performance we’re not sure), gold colour accents (including wing mirrors and C-pillar), a head-up display, tinted rear windows, and an Alcantara interior.

Étoile trim, gets matrix LED headlights, scrolling indicators, electrically adjustable front seats, and aluminium door sill protectors and pedals, head-up display, and electric front seats. Étoile Nappa, unsurprisingly, adds a Nappa leather interior with ‘pearl’ stitching, plus heated steering wheel and front seats.

Help me pick one…

It would be easy to have your head turned by the fancy tech and material finishes on offer as you climb the pricing tree, but we would suggest that you stay strong and opt for the Pallas+ trim. It's got a strong amount of kit as standard, and includes the all-important heat pump if it’s the electric one you’ve got your eye on, which most suits the No 4.