These days it’s plain to see that anything goes, from architecture, food and fashion, through to art, sport and conversation. So let’s move our collective minds to Europe and France in particular, where the first electric street lights were used in 1875, where Joseph Oller gave Parisians the Moulin Rouge and upon whose stage the can-can was born. Some lights, a little show and dance, all very French and a little risqué. It’s not surprising then, that French manufacturer Citroën, are repeating history with their new DS4 – they’ve added some lights and are performing the can-can on top of the C4 stage.

Part hatchback, part coupé, part SUV, anything now goes in the automotive industry too. The Citroën DS4 tries to capture something from these three body types and does an admirable job on the styling front. Chrome detailing is everywhere, but is tastefully employed, together with 18-inch wheels, along with bold wheel arches and crisp creases of the bodywork. The raised ride height (30 mm more than the C4), upswept window line towards the C-pillar and hidden rear door-handles, portray a coupé on stilts. Bordering on the eccentric, the DS4 is interesting to look at and pulls its various design elements together in an elegant and self-confident manner.

Inside, the DS4 borrows much from the C4, but there’s more detailing in the form of chrome highlights, funky two-tone leather covered seats and aluminium drilled pedals, to name a few. The seating position is comfortable and adjustable in all the right ways, while electronically adjustable lumbar support, a massage function and seat heating are standard. Visibility is good, helped by the added ride height of course, but the coupé-like roofline creates a sizable blind-spot when looking over your shoulder. To remedy this, the DS4 is fitted with park-distance control as standard, as well as blind-spot monitoring – functions that make life a little safer and easier.

The ability to change the colour of the dials, from white to various shades of blue, together with the choice of audible warning and information tones, is novel, but also a little gimmicky. Interestingly, the driver’s instrumentation, within three circular dials, remains difficult to see regardless of the chosen colour and conventional white was found to be the least illegible. As far as the interior feel goes, the DS4 lacks nothing in the way of substance. The materials are high quality, well put together and are on par with more expensive luxury and executive saloons.

Storage areas are a plenty, with the trays beneath the front seats proving particularly useful for storing valuables away from prying eyes. The boot offers a reasonable amount of space too, with 359-litres, as well as the flexibility of a load-through hatch and the ability to fold down the rear seats – although not completely flat. While headroom is generous throughout the cabin, rear passengers are short on legroom and the oddly shaped, but stylish rear door, means a modicum of thought is required when climbing in and out. Fixed rear windows, (yes, you read correctly, they cannot be opened), mean rear passengers could feel a little claustrophobic.

The Citroën DS4′s 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine produces 120 kW and 340 Nm of torque, but the car’s performance is more than the sum of its parts. Pulling from low down in the rev range, the DS4 is no slouch around town or on the open road, gaining speed briskly as the tacho reaches for the 5 000 r/min limit. With torque peaking at a lowly 2 000 r/min, the car responds best to early up shifts, allowing the engine to make better use of its mid-range grunt. The engine is smooth, responds well to throttle inputs and offers little noise or vibration to speak of in diesel terms. Together with the 6-speed manual transmission, the engine lends the DS4 a lively and self-assured character that is well matched to that of its outgoing exterior. Economy is very good too, with Citroën claiming 5.1 L/100km on average.

Another surprise comes from the DS4′s handling capabilities. The DS4′s taller than usual ride height brings with it expectations of a roly-poly driving experience. In fact, the opposite is true, as Citroën have bolstered the DS4′s running gear considerably. The springs are 10 percent stiffer and the anti-roll bars have been stiffened by 25 percent over the C4. The payoff is a sporty ride, good body control and accurate steering, all of which combine to put a smile on your face when zipping through a couple of corners – a revelation compared to the ‘soft’ image of Citroën’s in general. There is a down side though, as the DS4 can be unforgiving over sharp bumps around town, such as road joints or cracks, which can send a jolt into the cabin. For the most part though, it’s the car’s dynamics that outweigh the occasional jolt, which make you wonder whether a lower ride height wouldn’t make the DS4 even more enjoyable to drive. (Let’s keep our fingers crossed in the hope that the DS4 Racing Concept comes to market.)

The DS4 is an asset to Citroën’s model range. It’s enjoyable to drive, has a powerful, smooth and economical diesel engine, as well as unique styling, together with a well appointed and refined interior. Take into consideration the asking price, long-term warranty and suddenly the Citroën DS4 makes almost as much sense as the metric system, which, as it happens, was developed in France in 1799.

What we like…

• Elegant and refined interior.
• Capable handling for a raised body car.
• Good engine and gearbox combination.

What we would like…

• More rear legroom.
• Rear windows that can be lowered.
• Improved high-speed suspension damping to smooth out the occasional jolt.