In 2025, DS awakens. After a long period without any real news, the French premium brand of the Stellantis group will launch its DS Number 4 at the end of the year, just a few months after the launch of its new flagship, the Number 8.
A restyling that not only brings the second generation of the DS4 to this new designation number, but also provides a series of new features, first of all a new 100% electric motor.
Launched in 2021, the DS4 II inaugurated production at the German cousins of the Stellantis group, at the Opel factory in Rüsselsheim. This will continue to be the case with this redesigned version, with a very good level of finish.
However, this foreign production is somewhat incompatible with the French luxury DNA of the DS. All in the context of a French automobile industry in free fall in recent years and even, at the end of 2025, some Stellantis factories temporarily closed due to lack of demand, including Poissy and Mulhouse in France.
A production relocated also for Number 8, in Italy. It is not a problem in itself, with our two neighbors, on the other side of the Rhine or the Alps, who continue to be leaders in the production of premium, even luxury, automobiles, but rather an industrial strategy that is more difficult to assume when we position ourselves as specialists in high-end French automobiles.
The stakes are high for DS: the DS4 still accounts for 30% of the brand’s sales this year, behind the DS7 SUV at 50% and ahead of the DS3 at 20%. A premium compact sedan, 4.40 meters long, that has found its audience in this practical format while remaining versatile.
Therefore, we expect to find a high-end level of quality in this DS Number 4. A model that quite clearly reviews its exterior design, especially at the front. The grille expands and reveals an LED surround that leads to a new illuminated DS logo. A quite successful visual effect.
From premium to French
The other changes are more subtle, with “detox chrome” and a DS logo on the rear that gives way to the word “DS Automobiles.” Just below we find a “N°4” badge and in a third line, the name “E-Tense” for our 100% electric version. A little overloaded and not necessarily very legible, this accumulation of denominations on the back, but it is still a detail. And the taillights with their scale design remain as attractive as ever.
Inside, the Alcantara finish reinforces the impression of being aboard a premium vehicle. The numerous leather and chrome touches, the elegant and comfortable seats and the attention paid to details all go in the same direction. We can also celebrate the disappearance of the overuse of “piano black”, this smooth black surface that is quite flattering to the eye but tends to get dirty quickly.
The touchscreen in the center is well integrated and the animations on the counter screen also give a high-end look. It is a shame, however, that the system still suffers from certain slowdowns and ergonomic problems. Fortunately, there are physical shortcuts to the climate controls, but to activate the heated seats, for example, you have to swipe through the screen, which requires several clicks.
A new electric version
But it is above all in the range of engines where this DS Number 4 e stands out: the new 100% electric version offers 450 km of autonomy with a 58.3 kWh battery. During our test, our consumption of 15 kWh per 100 km on a mixed route allows us to predict a “real” range close to 400 km. Much less on the road, of course, although the sedan silhouette helps improve aerodynamics.
On the road, this version invites you to drive quite calmly with a very good level of comfort and soundproofing. The 213 horsepower and 343 Nm of torque still allow you to have enough power under the right pedal when needed.
The paddles on the steering wheel allow the intensity of the regenerative braking to be varied in three levels, without reaching the “single pedal”, making it pleasant to only use the brake pedal, especially in the city. On the other hand, as in all the latest Stellantis models, the “autohold” function has unfortunately disappeared and, therefore, it is necessary to remain depressed on the brake pedal to remain stopped.
Fast charging is still quite limited, with 120 kW direct current, but DS still promises to go from 20% to 80% battery in just over 30 minutes. Trickle charging works best with 11 kW of AC power, enough to recover a full charge more quickly during a work day or overnight at home, for example.
An offer that is completed with a 225-horsepower plug-in hybrid engine, with a range ranging from 62 to 81 kilometers of autonomy, but also with a 48V and 145-horsepower mild hybrid version. During 2026, DS will even add a diesel version to the catalog, something that is increasingly rare.
Advantages over German competition
An unprecedented multi-engine in this category of premium sedans in the C segment, compared to the German trio formed by the BMW 1 Series, the Audi A3 and the Mercedes A-Class. The volume of the trunk, between 360 and 430 liters depending on the version, also represents an advantage of this DS Number 4 compared to its direct competitors.
In terms of prices, the light hybrid version opens the price at 39,300 euros. For a 100% electric vehicle you have to have a starting price of 46,990 euros, just below the ecological bonus ceiling in France. The plug-in hybrid version is the most expensive, starting at 48,200 euros.
Source: BFM TV
