THE Crossback is the DS 4 that can lay the biggest claim to being new.

It’s a move towards the lifestyle look that’s such a hit with British buyers, adding dark plastic trim extensions and a black central portion to the front bumper.

It also sits 10mm higher than its predecessor, which makes it 30mm taller than its sister car today.

Apart from the trim changes it has practicality-boosting roof rails and has its own name spelled out across the boot lid. The black lettering on the test cars looks pretty good but the jury’s out on the black wheels.

I’d say this is the better-looking of the two new DS 4s.

It wears its trim addenda like it was born with them, and to be fair this is perhaps the look that Citroen should have gone with in the first place. Now the car is under the DS brand, more design adventurousness is perhaps seeping through.

Its image will depend on whose opinion you ask for. For some it will be a chic alternative to the mainstream while others will just shrug. The point is that it’s different, and the Crossback’s aesthetic is on a proven track.

The boot is a straightforward affair with no adjustable floor or hidden compartments.

The load lip isn’t too much of an issue and the overall quota of space and shape is good.

Parents might wish for a bit more room if they’re planning on squeezing a chunky pushchair into it, but for most duties the Crossback is fine.

Roof rails are potentially useful extras. Depending on the engine up front, the towing capacity hovers either side of 1.5 tonnes – enough to cover smaller caravans.

It’s unsurprising how similar the Crossback is to drive compared to its 30mm lower counterpart. There’s a tiny bit more body roll through corners but the springs are as firm as ever, not coping especially well with sharper bumps and sometimes making a meal of choppy B-roads.

Find a smooth route, though, and it corners with confidence and stability that most crossover rivals can’t match. It just never quite settles itself on rough roads like the regular DS 4 does.

The steering wheel is the same large, roughly oval hoop that previous owners will know, complete with flattened base for more knee clearance, which you’ll need.

With 177bhp and 295lb/ft on tap the flagship diesel is a great match for the car, pulling strongly through the gears. The automatic gearbox works well on the move, too, although it can be a bit snatchy on the uptake from a standstill.

For £1,000 extra over an equivalent DS 4 hatchback you get a car that’s arguably more stylish, and one that definitely looks better in bolder colours. It’s also quite different in concept to most other crossovers. Its downfall is that in some areas the car looks or feels a bit dated, and for this price there are some really formidable alternatives.

Given the competition it’s probably fair to say that Crossback buyers will simply want something a bit different. The ideal target buyer would be someone who doesn’t want the full height and sometimes roly-poly feeling of a full crossover or compact SUV, but does want something that’s lifted up compared to common hatchbacks. It looks good, though, and that can’t hurt.

This car summed up in a single word: Quirky If this car was a…: city centre bar it would be one that served all manner of slightly unusual drinks, but one that a niche population really loved.

FACTS AT A GLANCE
DS 4 Crossback, from £26,495

  • Engine: 2.0-litre turbodiesel producing 177bhp and 295lb/ft
  • Transmission: Six-speed automatic driving the front wheels
  • Performance: Top speed 127mph, 0-62mph in 8.6 seconds
  • Economy: 64.2mpg combined
  • Emissions: 115g/km