MODEL ON TEST: DS PERFORMANCE LINE E-TENSE – MILEAGE – 2,473

It’s happened. I’ve gone electric. Which seems like a big leap of faith, idiocy or maybe bravery – delete as necessary – going straight from ‘comfortable pair of slippers’ diesel power in the now departed Skoda straight into a brand-new pair of French designer stilettos. Especially given the mileage that I can accumulate and that I don’t have a home charger yet.Those stilettos are feeling really rather snug suddenly. But I’m inquisitive and like adventure and that’s exactly what I’m looking at this as.An adventure.

So what am I sharing this adventure with? It’s the new DS No4 – a new name for a facelifted car.Allow me to explain.The 4 should be quite familiar to those of you that read the magazine last year when our editor Ian also ran a DS. That was a DS 4. This is a DS No4. DS Automobiles (to give the full and correct name) have, going forward, started naming their models as No *insert model number*. This began with the flagship No8, the No4 and most recently the DS 7, which is now, yup you guessed it, the No7. And presumably the next DS 3 will become No3, too.

With a new name, it’s also had a new face. The headlights remain the same, but everything else is updated with a fresh bumper and grille. I think the standout change for me is the running lights feeding into the grille, which now lights up, including the DS badge.It’s pretty neat.This new front is a massive improvement to my eyes as I always thought the old 4 was a little awkward at the front, but now it’s looking sorted and all works with the rest of the No4’s lines. Well done DS. New face and name aside, the main headline is the No4 launches with the option of pure electric power for the first time. I guess it makes sense we try the latest car with the newest power option – you can still choose a mild hybrid or plug-in hybrid which is carried over from the old car, but the diesel option has been axed – quelle surprise! DS call the electric option ‘E-Tense’, like they did the old plug-in hybrid, but the moniker has been dropped from the petrol plug-in versions.

There are four specifications to choose from, starting with the Pallas and Pallas Plus, and topping out with the Étoile. Then there’s the attention seeking (some say forgotten) middle child, the ‘DS Performance Line’, which is what we’ve bagged here, with a few options, of course. So far as I can tell, the Performance Line is DS’ subtle nod at a more sporty specification with the Alcantara dashboard instead of a leather one in the other models and gold mirrors and stickers on the rear quarter panel.The jury’s still out on the stickers, but the gold mirrors look great against the black paintwork.
Ah yes, and I said options. The box was ticked for an electrically opening boot and panoramic opening (yes, opening) sunroof, as well as Perla Nera black metallic paint. No upgraded Focal sound system, but the standard setup isn’t half bad. I can take or leave the electric boot, but the sunroof is right up my street. It looks great and genuinely helps add to the premium badge and the in car experience.

I’m a fan. Oddly though, DS has axed it from the options list for now, but maybe it’ll return in the future.

Let’s talk the number one go to question with an electric car; range. I’ve done 1,000 miles in the No4 and DS quote 279 miles. It’s too soon to say exactly what I’m getting, as I haven’t had a chance to do a proper range test but given the remaining charge in the battery when I’ve stopped to charge, I reckon the No4 would have given me around 220 miles. Some way off the quoted range I hear you say, and you’d be correct, but 90% of my journeys so far have been on motorways travelling at motorway speeds. For those who don’t know, the two biggest range killing attributes with electric cars are high speed driving and cold weather. Happily, I don’t have to worry about the latter yet, but the No4 does come with a heat pump as standard, which, I’m told, helps efficiency in the winter.

I’ve also watched enough YouTube videos on electric car driving – and read enough of the comments too
– to know sticking below 65mph on the motorway is best, with some even saying 50mph.That latter figure sounds barbaric to me, but I’m willing to go with 65. If I drove at 50, I think I’d lose the will to live pretty quickly, or concentration, so 65 to 70 works just fine for me. So yes, mostly motorway driving at normal motorway speeds and around 220 miles in return, I am not complaining about. 200 to 250 miles of real world range works for me.

SIMON THOMPSON

WHAT’S HOT: Back in a DS, back to my happy ‘left of centre’ place.

WHAT’S NOT: It has a Stellantis ‘parts bin’ key.

STANDARD EQUIPMENT:

10-inch digital instruments, 19-inch alloy wheels with Michelin e-Primacy 225/50 R19 tyres and tyre repair kit, 60/40 split/fold rear seats, Adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, Alarm system, Alcantara upholstery, Ambient lighting, Anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist, Auto-dimming rear-view mirror, Automatic headlights, Autonomous emergency braking system, Blind spot warning, DAB radio with 10-inch touchscreen, navigation, 6-speakers, USB-C sockets, voice control and steering wheel controls, Drive mode selector, Driver, passenger, side and head airbags with passenger side de-activation, Dual-zone climate control, Electric and heated mirrors with power folding, Electric front seats, Electric park brake, Electric windows front and rear, Electronic stability programme with traction control, Emergency e-call system, Head-up display, Heat pump, ISOFIX child seat safety fasteners for rear outer seats, Keyless entry and start, Lane keep assist, Leather steering wheel, LED daytime running lights, LED headlights, LED taillights, Parking sensors front and rear, Rain sensing windscreen wipers, Rear privacy glass, Rear cross traffic alert system, Reversing camera, Traffic sign recognition, Tyre pressure monitors, Wireless Android Auto,Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth smartphone compatibility and a Wireless smartphone charger

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT:

Electrically opening sunroof (£800)

Motorised tailgate (£350)

Perla Nera Black metallic paintwork (£645)

FACTS & FIGURES

PRICE (NEW): £40,495

PRICE (AS TESTED) £42,290

ELECTRIC CAR GRANT ELIGIBLE? Yes, £1,500

COLOUR:  Perla Nera Black metallic

BUILT IN: Rüsselsheim, Germany

CODENAME: D41

GENERATION: 1 Facelift

PLATFORM: EMP2

BODYSTYLE: 5-door hatchback, 5-seats

LAYOUT: Front-wheel drive

POWERPLANT: Single electric motor and 61kWh lithium-ion battery pack

GEARBOX: 1-speed automatic

MAX POWER: 157kW/211bhp/213ps

MAX TORQUE: 254lb ft/345Nm

TOP SPEED: 99mph

0-62mph: 7.1secs

CO2 EMISSIONS: 0g/km

ECONOMY (COMBINED): 4.79 miles/kWh ECONOMY (ON TEST) 4.1 miles/kWh

RECHARGE TIME:
AC 7.4kW (20-80%) 5 hours 20 minutes
AC 11kW (20-80%) 3 hours 35 minutes
DC 100kW (20-80%) 31 minutes

RANGE: 279 miles

INSURANCE GROUP: 31

BIK RATE: (2026/2027 TAX YEAR) 4%

SIZE: (LENGTH/WIDTH WITH MIRRORS/HEIGHT/ WHEELBASE) 4,400/2,061/1,470/2,675mm 

BOOT SPACE: (MIX/MAX) 390/1,260 litres

KERB WEIGHT: 1,793kg

TOWING WEIGHT: 0kg

EURO NCAP RATING: four stars

SPARE WHEEL: (FULL-SIZE/SPACESAVER/RUN-FLAT/ SELF-SEALING/REPAIR KIT) No/no/no/no/yes

WARRANTY: 3 years/60,000 miles

BATTERY WARRANTY: 8 years/100,000 miles

DATE ARRIVED: 19th June 2026

COSTS: None

FAULTS: None