Comfort zone

Hi-tech DS4 is all about a smooth ride

- COLIN GOODWIN

A pilot pal of mine was recently transferred to flying the Airbus A350, which involved a steep learning curve following years on Boeing 747s. And after tackling the infotainment system on the new DS4 Cross, I know how she felt.

The car is DS Automobiles’ new crossover/hatchback rival to the Audi A3, the Mercedes A-class and BMW’s 1 Series.

There are two versions – the regular DS4 and the DS4 Cross. The latter has the same suspension and ride height of the DS4 but has plastic cladding and roof rails to make it look more adventurous. We’re driving the Cross, and a very appealing looking machine it is too.

A delivery driver admired it greatly but I ran out of puff trying to explain that DS Automobiles was part of the Stellantis group, while also trying not to say that DS was once Citroen’s posh brand because the people at Stellantis set phasers to stun if you imply that DS has anything to do with Citroen.

Which in fairness to them it doesn’t, apart from sharing platforms and hardware.