Formerly known simply as the DS 4, the car competes in the crowded premium hatchback space that also includes the likes of the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and Mercedes A-Class. While many of those rivals take more of a ‘hot hatch’ approach, the No.4 tries to blend hatchback proportions with subtle crossover styling and a heavy emphasis on comfort and design. Having been given a pretty major refresh in 2025, the car now offers a striking body, a lavish interior and a good range of electrified powertrain options, making it a real option for buyers who want a touch of class without following the crowd.
In a world full of bland SUVs that all look the same, you have to admire the DS way of doing things. The brand’s hatchback – the No.4 – is a genuinely distinctive alternative at the premium end of its class. It majors on comfort, style and individuality, and while it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, it offers a refreshing break from the usual German choices.
Jack is an experienced motoring journalist who has been covering the latest new-car releases for the last 10 years.
Read bioThe DS No.4 has been built to compete with some established names in the premium market and it has been priced broadly in line with its German rivals. A look at the brand’s online configurator shows entry-level cars starting at £32,200, rising to £41,860 for the most expensive trim level. These prices rise slightly if you opt for a plug-in hybrid powertrain, with the fully electric version having a base price towards the top of the list at £39,160 – including a £1,500 discount via the government’s Electric Car Grant. While post-facelift cars are yet to trickle down into the used market, plenty of other second-hand examples can be found listed via AA Cars. Prices get underway around the £15,000 mark, representing excellent value for buyers, with values then rising all the way to around £30,000.
DS offers the No.4 in a range of electrified powertrains from a self-charging hybrid all the way through to a full EV. The self-charging hybrid pairs a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with a 28 bhp electric motor to produce a combined 145 bhp. Elsewhere the PHEV gets a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor for a total output of 225 bhp. The EV partners a 213 bhp electric motor and a 58.3 kWh battery, which gives the car a top speed of 99 mph and a 0–62 mph time of 7.1 seconds.
Whichever powertrain you do go for, it is clear to see that the No.4 has been tuned with comfort in mind over any kind of sportiness. Around town, it feels refined and easy to drive, with light steering and a calm demeanour that suits urban environments well. Compared with traditional hatchback options, it offers a raised driving position for improved visibility, although the view from the back is often thwarted by awkwardly positioned thick rear pillars. While comfortable around town, it is perhaps out on the motorway where the No.4 is at its strongest, with an overall sense of refinement shining through. The EV in particular offers good acceleration and getting up to motorway speeds is a doddle. When you do reach 70 mph, the car settles down into being a relaxed and composed cruiser, with wind and road noise kept well under control.
With such a focus on comfort, it is perhaps unsurprising that its ride ranks among the very best in its class. The suspension feels supple and soft, without veering into wallowing territory and is able to soak up potholes, speed bumps and broken road surfaces with ease. Even on long journeys, you can easily get out of the car without the aches and pains in your back that a lot of firmer cars in this class leave you with. The trade-off for this is that the No.4’s handling does lag behind the likes of BMW, Audi and Mercedes. While the DS feels secure enough, you could never describe it as engaging or sporty. The light steering – so useful around town – lacks any sort of feedback when the road gets twisty, meaning pure driving enthusiasts are unlikely to get too much excitement from behind the wheel of the No.4.
Step inside the No.4 and it is clear to see that DS is taking a different approach to the majority of the industry. Whereas most carmakers are swinging towards an understated and minimalist approach, the cabin of the No.4 feels distinctive and memorable. Everywhere you look there are high-quality materials, bold shapes and intricate detailing. There are soft-touch surfaces, leather upholstery and elegant stitching, all of which contribute to a genuinely premium feel that DS likens to ‘timeless watchmaking’. Up front, the dashboard design feels crisp and modern, dominated by a 10-inch central touchscreen as well as a smaller display used for shortcuts and climate functions. The setup looks great, although when it comes to usability, it does feel slightly over-reliant on touch-sensitive controls, which can be distracting on the move. In the past, more luxurious French cars like this have suffered at times with a lack of build quality, but inside the No.4 everything feels solid and well assembled, with DS focussing on craftsmanship to set the car apart from its more conservative rivals.
While looking good and having a plush interior is great, it all counts for nothing if a car like this fails when it comes to practicality. In the No.4 things are competitive rather than class-leading, although it should represent a strong enough all-round package for most buyers. At the back, there is between 360 and 430 litres of boot capacity, depending on which powertrain you go for, placing it largely in line with many of its key rivals towards the middle of the pack. The opening itself is also pretty high compared to most hatchbacks, making it more inconvenient to get heavier items in and out of the back. Inside the cabin itself, head and legroom is fairly limited in the rear, making long trips a bit of a squeeze for taller passengers and storage also lags behind most other electrified cars of this size. Despite this, there are still just about enough cubbies, cupholders and door bins for everyday use.
Buyers have come to expect a good level of tech and equipment from DS models and the No.4 is certainly no exception. Standard cars come with LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, a digital instrument cluster and smartphone connectivity, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As you move through the trim levels, the brand adds further luxury touches including larger alloy wheels, leather upholstery, upgraded audio systems and more advanced driver assistance technology, with the very top-spec versions also benefitting from adaptive cruise control, heated seats, a head-up display and DS’s impressive matrix LED headlights, which automatically adjust to avoid dazzling other road users.
The No.4 is available in four main trim levels – Pallas, Pallas+, Étoile, and Étoile Nappa. Each adds an extra layer of comfort and tech, with the Étoile probably representing the sweet spot for getting the best level of equipment for your money. Colour options include Night Flight, Perla Nera Black, Pearl Crystal, Cashmere and Pearl White.
The DS No.4 has earned a four-star Euro NCAP rating, although that testing was carried out prior to the 2025 upgrade. Standard safety features include autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, traffic sign recognition and driver attention monitoring. Higher trims add adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Reliability has improved significantly for DS in recent years, and early reports suggest the upgraded No.4 is proving dependable.
With a range of electrified powertrains, the No.4 does particularly well when it comes to efficiency. According to official figures, the self-charging hybrid can do up to 54.3 mpg, with the PHEV returning a whopping 232.3 mpg under test conditions – which do involve stopping regularly to charge and using electric power only. Elsewhere, DS claims that the full EV can do up to 280 miles between trips to the charger. Emissions are also good across the range, resulting in low running costs and favourable company car tax rates.
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