DS 4

Daily life is the acid test of premium aspirations. So did this car pass or fail?

- RACHEL BURGESS

FINAL REPORT MILEAGE 13,407

WHY WE RAN IT

To assess DS's progress as a premium brand and unpick this car's dual identity

Not long after the DS brand's inception in 2015, one of its execs told me it wanted to be the car maker equivalent of French luxury fashion houses such as Louis Vuitton, revered around the world. It was a bold aspiration and, no doubt, a fleeting comment that wasn't meant to be taken too literally. Louis Vuitton was founded in 1854, around a century before the well-liked Citroën DS appeared on the scene. Plus - and I'm no fashion expert - one suspects executing a high-end bag might be slightly easier than a high-end car.

Still, you get the gist. DS wants to be the alternative premium car maker, to convince people that France can do this type of thing as well as the Germans (and, dare I say it, the Brits). DS has come a long way in eight years. Yes, it's still low volume (but you would assume high profit, based on parent firm Stellantis's approach) and not beating the obvious German rivals in out-and-out comparisons, but our time with the DS 4 has cemented its position as a worthy contender.

Where it's easiest to find common ground with Louis Vuitton is quality, which is really quite impressive. Of course, our DS 4 is no Bentley, but the materials are pleasing to touch and its overall design and feel exude a sense of luxury. It's comfortable for long journeys too.