Item: Used DS 4 2015-2018
Rating: 2
Author: What Car? Team

If you’d like your SUV to be compact and car-like, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q2/estate/used-review/n17573">Audi Q2</a> might just fit the bill. It isn’t as eager to change direction as the A3 family hatchback upon which it is based, but it's still nice to drive, offers plenty of decent petrol and diesel engines and features&nbsp;a high-quality interior.

For those looking for a bit more interior space, there’s the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ateca/estate/used-review/n840">Seat Ateca</a>.&nbsp;It doesn’t have a premium image or the finest interior plastics, but that means you can afford to go for a more highly specified version for the same money as the Q2,&nbsp;plus it will have exactly the same engine and be just as good to drive.

While it may&nbsp;be the old-timer here, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x1/estate/used-review/n812">BMW X1</a> is still a very fine premium family SUV. If&nbsp;you find a diesel version with the excellent eight-speed automatic gearbox, you’ll have a cost-effective and very relaxing motorway cruiser,&nbsp;and all models come with a powered&nbsp;tailgate.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">What Car? Newsletter here</a>

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<h3 dir="ltr">Starter motor wire</h3>

The position of the starter motor supply terminal might not conform to specification and could short circuit against nearby components. Dealers are to check the position of the terminal and reposition the wire to prevent this from happening. If the wire is chaffed, it might need replacing.

<h3 dir="ltr">Seatbelt failure</h3>

Lower seatbelt mountings on the right hand side of the car might not be torqued down to the correct settings and could therefore&nbsp;detach in a collision, increasing the risk of injury to occupants. DS dealers are to inspect the mounts and rectify any faults they find.

<h3 dir="ltr">Oil leak</h3>

An oil leak might develop from the turbocharger because a union retaining bolt doesn't conform to the manufacturer’s specification.

<h3 dir="ltr">Unexpected bonnet opening</h3>

The striker that holds the bonnet closed can corrode on some models and will fail if left&nbsp;untreated, with the potential for the bonnet to open when the car is in motion. Check that the bonnet latches correctly when you go to view the car.

<h3 dir="ltr">Loss of engine performance</h3>

A small number of DS 4 models&nbsp;can suffer from reduced engine performance and potential engine failure. Ask your local DS dealership if your potential purchase is affected, because you might need to have the engine replaced in extreme circumstances.

There wasn’t enough data to include the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/ds">DS</a> 4 or DS as a brand in our most recent Reliability Survey, but Citroën, where DS sources most of its&nbsp;technology and engineering,&nbsp;came in a lowly 25th out of 31 manufacturers.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2018-what-car-reliability-survey/n17798">What Car? Reliability Survey</a> pages for more information. 

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Hatchback

DS has only existed as a standalone manufacturer since 2015&nbsp;(prior to that the badge was used on upmarket&nbsp;Citroëns), but it is now the premium brand in the PSA Group, which also includes&nbsp;Citroën, Peugeot and Vauxhall.

In 2018, DS stated that it planned to launch a new model every year, with all of these influenced by the French fashion industry and&nbsp;designed&nbsp;to take on the ubiquitous offerings of Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

First to arrive (that same year) was the&nbsp;DS 7 Crossback – a large SUV that competes with the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. Then in 2019 this was followed by the smaller DS3 Crossback SUV, which is not only available&nbsp;with petrol and diesel engines, but also in fully electric E-Tense form.

More recently, DS&nbsp;unveiled its answer to the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class luxury saloons. And while this DS 9 won't now go on sale until 2021, when it does arrive it will be offered with a choice of petrol, hybrid and fully electric power.

DS 4

Plentiful equipment and unique styling aren't enough to eradicate the DS 4's&nbsp;inadequacies in refinement and driving dynamics.

Used DS 4 2015-2018

Fuel costs for the DS 4 should be reasonably low. The most efficient engine is the 1.6-litre diesel, with an NEDC combined fuel economy figure of 72.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 103g/km. Both 2.0-litre diesel units are remarkably economical:&nbsp;the 148bhp variant gets&nbsp;67.3mpg and 111g/km, while the 178bhp gets 64.2mpg and 115g/km.

The 1.2-litre turbo petrol is fairly parsimonious, at 56.5mpg and 116g/km, while the 207bhp 1.6-litre turbo petrol will be the most costly to run at 47.9mpg and 138g/km. Anyone needing a petrol automatic will need the 163bhp 1.6-litre turbo&nbsp;unit that should be good for 50.4mpg and 130g/km.

Road fund prices vary depending upon CO2 emissions of vehicles registered before 1 April 2017;&nbsp;anything younger than that will be charged under the current flat rate fee of £145 per year.

Servicing costs aren’t the cheapest around, but they’re not the worst&nbsp;either. However, if you look at the cost of maintenance items compared with the Citroën equivalents, you’ll notice a marked mark-up on <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/ds">DS</a> parts.

To find out more about the latest road tax costs, follow this link <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2019-%E2%80%93-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">here</a>.

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Plentiful equipment and unique styling aren't enough to eradicate the DS 4's inadequacies in refinement and driving dynamics.

Prices for the DS 4 start at just below&nbsp;£9000 for a 2015 or 2016 example with a 1.6-litre diesel engine and slightly above-average mileage. A 1.2-litre turbo petrol with fewer miles under its belt will be a little bit expensive, at around £9500.

If you need the bigger diesel engine, you’ll need to increase your budget to at least £10,000. A 4 with the 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine is rare on the used market and can command as much as £14,000.

Check the value of a used DS 4 with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-valuation/">What Car? Valuations</a>

The 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine will be more than sufficient for most needs unless you do lots of motorway miles. If that’s the case, the 1.6-litre diesel should fit the bill nicely. The bigger 2.0-litre diesels are quite rare, because they were a lot more expensive to buy new.

Of the two trim levels, we’d go with entry-level Elegance, because this still gets you all the equipment you'll need, including dual-zone climate control, automatic&nbsp;wipers, sat-nav and a 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity. Prestige models have LED headlights and a rear-view camera but also larger 18in alloy wheels that&nbsp;make the ride worse.

Our favourite <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/ds">DS</a> 4: 1.6 BlueHDi Elegance

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Comfortable ride </li> <li>Feature-filled infotainment </li> <li>Space for child seats </li> <li>Robust build quality </li> <li>Practical storage spaces </li> <li>A boot fit for a family holiday </li> <li>Fuel-efficient engines</li></ul>

While we define a small SUV&nbsp;as something&nbsp;less than 4.3 metres long and a large SUV as measuring more than 4.5 metres, family SUVs tread the middle ground.

As the name suggests, the vast majority are&nbsp;designed for family duties rather than serious off-roading, so practicality is paramount. However, that&nbsp;shouldn't come at the expense of a decent drive; the best examples combine tidy handling with smooth engines&nbsp;and a ride that's comfortable&nbsp;enough to ensure the kids aren't left feeling queasy.

The Seat Ateca and&nbsp;Skoda Karoq should definitely be on your shortlist. But if you have a bit more to spend,&nbsp;the Range Rover Evoque is another strong option. If money is a concern, then the Dacia Duster provides comfortable, spacious and well-equipped transportation for an affordable price.

&nbsp;

Family SUV

Aside from the obvious external checks for damaged paint, scuffs on bumpers and kerb damage to the alloy wheels, you should also make sure you can live with the restrictive rear door openings.&nbsp;Families with young children&nbsp;might&nbsp;find it rather difficult to get their little ones into their child seats.

Also, check the condition of the seat fabric for any tears and general wear,&nbsp;ensure all the electronics work as they should and look around&nbsp;for any bits of broken or loose plastic.

Family SUVs seem to be flooding the used market these days, but truly premium ones aren't quite so prevalent. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x1/estate/used-review/n812">BMW X1</a> was one of the first, but it’s still quite a pricey car. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/ds">DS</a> 4, however, has been around a while and was even sold as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/citroen">Citroën</a> before being rebranded in 2015, so there are plenty of second-hand examples to choose from.

The 4 offers two petrol and three diesel engines. Everyday driving is well catered for by the 128bhp 1.2-litre turbo petrol, but there’s also a 207bhp 1.6-litre turbo petrol if you need more performance. Likewise, the 118bhp 1.6-litre diesel has plenty of torque for relaxed cruising, but there are&nbsp;a 2.0-litre units with 148bhp and 178bhp that offer similar running costs.

As long as you’re just pottering, the 4 is okay to drive. Demand more from it and its soft suspension will make you experience body roll around even fairly shallow corners. Potholes also pose a problem, because they send shocks straight into the interior. On faster roads, the 4 floats a lot, and its slow steering means you’ll have to make plenty of additional adjustments to keep it on the right path.

In isolation, you’ll probably find the 128bhp 1.2-litre turbo petrol to be an agreeable engine, and it’s true that it doesn’t feel lacking in performance in regular driving, thanks to&nbsp;the relatively short gearing. However, it isn’t the most refined unit out there, and it sends&nbsp;plenty of vibrations through the pedals, steering wheel and seats. Wind and road noise are also very noticeable at speed, to the point that you&nbsp;will have to crank up the volume on the stereo.

Practicality is another weak point of the 4, because while those in the front seats have plenty of adjustment and there’s a nice panoramic windscreen that allows in plenty of light, the rear seats are very cramped for taller passengers&nbsp;and the door openings are very narrow, restricting&nbsp;access. Head room isn’t good enough&nbsp;either, due to the sloping roofline. To top it all off, the rear windows don’t open at all, which makes the air conditioning a necessity in even mild weather.

 
The boot is similar to that of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/used-review/n776">Volkswagen Golf</a>, but there’s a significant load lip and the rear seats&nbsp;don't fold flat, making it awkward to load longer items. You do get plenty of tie-downs and a handy rechargeable torch, though (make sure the previous owner of the car you're looking at hasn’t half-inched the latter). 
 
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Used DS 4 2015-2018 review

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Looking for alternatives to the used DS DS 4 2005 - 2018? The expert What Car? review team guide you through some great options.

If you’d like your SUV to be compact and car-like, the Audi Q2 might just fit the bill. It isn’t as eager to change direction as the A3 family hatchback upon which it is based, but it's still nice to drive, offers plenty of decent petrol and diesel engines and features a high-quality interior.,For those looking for a bit more interior space, there’s the Seat Ateca. It doesn’t have a premium image or the finest interior plastics, but that means you can afford to go for a more highly specified version for the same money as the Q2, plus it will have exactly the same engine and be just as good to drive.,While it may be the old-timer here, the BMW X1 is still a very fine premium family SUV. If you find a diesel version with the excellent eight-speed automatic gearbox, you’ll have a cost-effective and very relaxing motorway cruiser, and all models come with a powered tailgate.For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter here,Page 5 of 5

Available to order now >

Used DS 4 2015-2018 review

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