DS Automobiles is embarking on a new chapter with the launch of its second-generation model line-up, with the brand’s future resting on the shoulders of the flagship No8 crossover and this – the No4 hatchback.
Previously called the DS 4, the premium family car has been the French marque’s best-selling model since 2021, albeit with just 2303 sales since launch.
Such low volumes make you wonder why DS remains committed to the UK, which is its fifth-best-selling market. CEO Xavier Peugeot insists the brand is profitable and hopes its new line-up will help it become an influential player in Europe.
But how is DS going to achieve this when hatchback rivals are selling tens of thousands each year? DS has only sold 321 examples of the 4 this year, while BMW has shifted just shy of 13,000 1 Series; Mercedes has sold more than 10,000 A-Class hatchbacks, too.
Clearly DS is open to the challenge, and is pinning its hopes on the new No4, a heavily facelifted hatchback with a fresh look, new name and, for the first time, a battery-electric powertrain, which we’re testing here.