Crossovers->ke288 are already, as the name implies, a vehicle type that is wedged in between two other types of vehicles. But Citroen->ke22 has taken it upon itself to further confuse the whole classification system with the Crossback, an even more car-like sort of crossover. The 2011 Citron DS4 is already a fashion statement for Citroen, essentially a 2015 Citroen C4 with a more daring look to it, and now it seems that Citroen has added the option of getting a slightly taller one. The Crossback doesn't replace the DS4, even though they are very similar.

Citroen has a whole line of DS->ke3360 sub-models, with the DS4 being the mid-range model in the lineup. This is likely why it has gotten the new Crossback option; Citroen wouldn't want you to overlook its middle child. The range takes its name from the wonderful original DS, one of the most iconic cars of all time, that was produced from 1955 to 1975. The DS was unlike anything else in the automotive world at the time, and an incredibly bold styling statement. This is Citroen's way of making sure that you know these cars are special, hence the much higher prices on DS models.

Continue reading to learn more about the Citroen DS 4 Crossback.

Exterior

The DS4 has just received a facelift, so some of the differences that you might see in the bodywork, particularly the front fascia, aren't specific to the Crossback, and can also be found in the regular DS4. The grille and headlight arrangement has hitherto been shared with the smaller DS3, but the new design is much more similar to the bigger 2011 Citroen DS5.

The Crossback has a special set of black wheels, a bit (though mercifully not much) of body cladding, and rides a whole 1.2 inches higher than the regular DS4. It is otherwise very difficult to tell the two apart, and with the different-colored body components, it would be close to impossible to tell the Crossback apart from the regular car without seeing them parked next to each other. The DS4 is already a pretty tall car, and since the Crossback is short for a crossover, it isn't all that clear why Citroen needs both. Still, they both look good, and the change to crossover-ish vehicle didn't ruin anything.

Interior

The interior of the DS4 is gorgeous. Seriously, just take a look at the photo. The leather interior was already available on Ciroen's DS cars, and even though these cars are a good deal pricier than the C cars they're based on, the interiors still seems to come from much more expensive cars. The layout is fairly similar to the current model, with the only real changes being the simplified center stack with a slightly larger infotainment screen. But the leather is even better executed than before, with the addition of stitching on all the seams. This was already in use for the seats, but it has now been extended to the dash and the doors and it looks fantastic.

The infotainment system now includes Apple CarPlay support, a first for any Citroen vehicle, but no support for Android Auto. There are a number of add-ons available for this system as well, including a tracking system that can be activated in the event that the car is stolen.

Drivetrain

The DS4 currently has six available engines: two gasoline and four diesel. None of these are what you'd call performance engines, with the most power offering only 177 horsepower. But the options will be changing when the new car hits dealerships, and there will apparently be a new top-tier option offering 210 horsepower. And even though the new version of the car is kind of a crossover, the DS4 in all forms will still only be available with front-wheel drive.

Safety

The current DS4 has a solid safety record, what with its five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. The new DS4 isn't such a drastic change from the current car that that rating would be likely to change, and neither is the Crossback all that different either. The new car also offers something called the SOS & Assistance pack, a feature of the infotainment system wherein the car will automatically call for emergency services when it detects that you've been in an accident. Citroen describes it “groundbreaking,” but fails to explain how this can be when OnStar has offered the same thing for nearly 20 years. It is new for Citroen though, and certainly a good thing to have.

Prices

Since we obviously don't get Citroens here in the U.S., the U.K. pricing for the current DS4 starts at about £18,000 ($28,000). The new DS4 will probably have a very similar starting price, and hopefully that leather interior doesn't add too much to it. That part that's still anybody's guess is whether or not the Crossback will be any more expensive than the regular DS4. Hopefully, at least not in any significant way, with it being so similar to the regular car, any major price increase would render it immediately obsolete.

Competition

2015 Mini Countryman

Another of the vehicles that is only kind of a crossover, the Countryman->ke3615 also offers the kind of slightly different looks without getting the crazy styling that the Citroen has. But unlike the Citroen, the Mini->ke57 has available all-wheel-drive, and even better, a high-performance John Cooper Works version. It's the car to beat in this category.

Read our full review here.

2009 Peugeot 3008

The Crossback isn't exactly the first French car of its type. The 3008 has been around since 2008 and has won several Car Of The Year awards. It has available all-wheel drive and a choice of five engines. It's stylish both inside and out, but not quite to the point that the DS4 is. This wouldn't be a big problem if it weren't for the fact that it's nearly as expensive. It does offer a high degree of practicality though, making very good use of space, and here it may have the Crossback beat.

You can read our full review here.

Conclusion

The DS4 Crossback is the best car around with a name that sounds like a type of sports bra. That might not be a very big niche, but the Crossback is probably worth taking a look at anyway. The appeal of these kinds of barely-a-crossover kinds of vehicles has never made sense to me, but they are popular in Europe. But if you were to decide that you wanted one, it does make perfect sense why you would want this one. The interior alone would sell me on it, but it's pretty easy on the eyes from the outside as well. Rumors have been circulating for a while now that Citroen has been considering bringing the DS line to North America, and when I see this, I get it. Even if we Americans don't go quite as crazy over these kinds of vehicles, this is how you would go about changing minds.