Citroen DS4 THP 200 DSport 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The Citroen DS4 THP 200 Dsport’s 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine produces just shy of 200bhp, and 203 lb-ft of torque at 1700rpm. This is sufficient for an 8.5 second 0-62mph time, and a top speed of 146mph.

Over rougher surfaces the ride can be described as either harsh or sporty, depending on your tastes, although it is perfectly acceptable on smoother road surfaces. The steering could be lighter and more involving too. Stability feels good unless pushed over exuberantly on rougher surfaces, and the gear change offered by the 6-speed manual gearbox is smooth and responsive.

Cosmetically, the front elevation of the Citroen DS4 THP 200 Dsport shares the looks of other cars in the Citroen range, notably the C4. Further back, the styling becomes a little more unusual. Its bold styling does hint at an identity crisis however, as it is a 5-door hatch, but with a high stance reminiscent of a people carrier, and a plunging roofline and hidden rear door handles projecting the image of a coupe. Despite this strange combination, Citroen have managed to pull off a design that is good looking, even if it is in an unconventional way.

The high stance of the car does lend itself to a more commanding driving position than you would find in most 5-door hatchbacks. The standard of the interior is generally good, but the cabin is similar to other cars in the Citroen range and not as daring as the outside of the car. The plush leather seats deserve a lot of plaudits however.

The Citroen DS4 THP 200 Dsport has a list of standard equipment which includes power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control, rear parking sensors, leather sensors, driver airbag, passenger airbags, front side airbags, alarm & immobiliser, CD player, MP3 connectivity, and bluetooth.

The bold styling has led to some compromises. Rear visibility is certainly not the best you’ll get in a 5-door hatchabck, and the swooping roofline means that, bizarrely, the rear windows do not open. This means that, despite ample rear seat room on paper, it does feel smaller in the back than it actually is. Boot capacity, however, is a very practical 359 litres.

The Citroen DS4 THP 200 Dsport performs admirably in Euro NCAP safety testing, with an overall 5-star rating, and the car comes with driver, passenger, and front side airbags as standard.

The Citroen DS4 THP 200 Dsport has, as standard, a 60,000 mile, 3-year warranty.

At £23,650, cheap is not an adjective you would throw at the Citroen DS4 THP 200 Dsport. Running costs are unexceptional. It has combined fuel economy returns of 44.1mpg. C02 emissions ratings of 149g/km see the Citroen DS4 THP 200 Dsport fall into Road Tax Band F. It has an insurance group of 31. These figures mean that, although generally commensurate with other cars in its class, there is nothing here that makes the Citroen DS4 THP 200 Dsport stand out in the same way its styling does.