- The new DS N°4 is a stylish replacement for the DS4.
- It looks like a shrunken version of the N°8 crossover and only comes with electrified powertrains.
- It needs to be successful to ensure the DS brand's continued existence.
DS is a little-known name in the United States, but it wants to be seen as the Louis Vuitton of the car industry. It is a luxury spinoff from Stellantis’ Citroen brand, which is in the process of moving upmarket with a new product portfolio and a new naming scheme for its models.
After unveiling the flashy N°8 flagship, DS has revealed a smaller, more affordable electrified crossover, the N°4. This elegant, tall fastback is just a restyling of the existing DS4 with an even bolder design than its bigger brother. You'll be able to order it as a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid or a fully electric car. All are front-wheel drive and are mechanically related to the Peugeot 308 and Opel Astra.
The hybrid model is the weakest of the trio, with its 1.2-liter turbocharged engine producing just 145 horsepower, aided by a 28 hp electric motor. DS says that in urban driving, the car should run in EV mode for up to 50% of the time.
Gallery: DS N°4 (2025)
Next up is the plug-in hybrid, which is considerably more powerful. It pairs a 180 hp turbo engine with a 125 hp electric motor. Their peak combined power is 225 hp, which enables the N°4 PHEV to sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 7.1 seconds.
Its 14.6 kilowatt-hour battery pack is good for an electric WLTP range of 50 miles (81 km), which is around 30% more than its predecessor. It charges at 3.7 kW as standard, but you can opt for a more powerful 7.4 kW onboard charger, which cuts the charging time in half.
The fully electric N°4 E-Tense has a single 213 hp electric motor driving the front wheels. Its relatively small 58.3 kWh battery is good for a claimed WLTP range of 280 miles (450 km). DS says it features a new, more efficient heat pump and three levels of brake regeneration.
Its peak charging power isn’t particularly high, just 120 kW, but the 20 to 80% charge should happen in around 30 minutes, adding around 62 miles (100 km) every 10 minutes. DS says it’s been lowered by 10 millimeters to improve its aero coefficient, efficiency and range.
DS is going through a makeover right now after the brand failed to live up to expectations the first time around. With its move upmarket, it is renouncing tall SUVs and has revealed that it plans to infuse future models with a retro-inspired aesthetic that harks back to famous old Citroens like the DS and SM.
The DS SM Tribute concept shows where the brand could take its design next, but DS stopped short of confirming that it would put something like this into production. Being a Stellantis brand with a spotty sales record, DS could face the chopping block at any time. The former Stellantis CEO, Carlos Tavares, announced that the group was ready to discontinue unprofitable brands. That includes DS, which is among the brands with the weakest sales performance.
Now, Stellantis has a new CEO who seems less inclined to get rid of brands and is giving them one more chance to make money. DS, Lancia, Maserati and Chrysler are all under threat in this regard and are scrambling to bring out cars that they hope people will actually buy. We'll see if the DS N°4 can live up to that mission.
