DS 4 gets new hybrid tech, still just as stylish

• New 134bhp mild hybrid engine
• Revised trim structure
• Prices start from £32,450

French carmaker DS has announced a host of tweaks for its upmarket hatchback, the DS 4, ranging from a revised trim structure to a new mild hybrid engine option. 

The DS4 is aimed at the premium end of the hatchback market, competing against the likes of the Mercedes A-Class and BMW 1 Series with a unique French twist. It certainly stands out from its German rivals in the styling department, and DS hopes that the new mild hybrid system will provide the DS 4 with the technology to match them, too.

What’s new for the 2024 DS 4?

We’ll touch on the new hybrid system in a moment – first, let’s start with the revised trim structure. The existing Performance Line, Rivoli and Opera models have been replaced by two new models, named Pallas and Étoile, the former taken from the Citroen DS Pallas of the mid-1960s.

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While that model was the most luxurious car that Citroen offered at the time, the DS 4 Pallas serves as the new entry point to the range. Despite being the cheapest of the two trim options, it still gets wireless smartphone charging, adaptive cruise control, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Chat GPT integration and LED headlights and tail-lights – all things you wouldn’t have found in 1965.

The DS 4 Étoile swaps the fabric upholstery of the Pallas for Alcantara, and gets electrically adjustable seats, a head-up display and matrix LED headlights. You can upgrade to Nappa leather upholstery with heated seats and a heated steering wheel, but you’ll need an extra £2,400 to hand.

What about that new hybrid system?

The new mild hybrid option joins the current petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid engine lineup. Named Hybrid 136, it’s the same system used across a variety of models from parent-brand Stellantis, from the Peugeot 308 to the new Alfa Romeo Junior. It pairs a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with a 21bhp electric motor for a combined power output of 134bhp, driving the front wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

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With the added electrical assistance, the Hybrid 136 engine delivers an 8mpg improvement over the standard petrol engine, as well as a reduction of 20g/km of CO2. That’ll make it a slightly more appealing option for business drivers, although the plug-in hybrid E-Tense 225 is still the most attractive with its Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rate of 12%.

How much does the new DS 4 cost?

Prices for the updated DS 4 kick off from £32,450 for the petrol-powered Pallas model – £345 less than the outgoing entry-level model. The new mild hybrid DS 4 adds £1,350 to the bill, while the diesel model costs £34,400. The plug-in hybrid is a bigger step up at £40,680. Upgrading from Pallas to Étoile costs an extra £2,800 for each engine option. 

Read our list of our favourite hatchbacks to find out how the DS 4 stacks up against the competition…