POV Video
History
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 is an exceptional electric vehicle that represents the cutting-edge technology and design philosophy of the French luxury car brand, DS Automobiles. This compact hatchback combines efficiency, performance, and style to deliver a unique driving experience.
The history of the DS 4 e-Tense 225 can be traced back to the DS brand’s revival in 2014. DS Automobiles was originally a sub-brand of Citroën, known for producing elegant and innovative vehicles in the mid-20th century. However, in an effort to redefine itself as a standalone luxury brand, DS Automobiles was established.
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 is an important milestone for the brand as it marks the first all-electric compact model from DS Automobiles. The e-Tense 225 is based on the DS 4, which was introduced in 2010 as a premium compact hatchback. The electrified version, however, brings a whole new dimension to the vehicle.
Underneath the sleek and aerodynamic bodywork, the DS 4 e-Tense 225 is powered by a 50 kWh electric motor that produces 225 horsepower. This allows the car to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 8.7 seconds, making it one of the quickest compact EVs on the market. The electric motor is paired with a 50 kWh battery pack, providing a range of up to 217 miles on a single charge.
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 features a regenerative braking system, which allows the car to recover energy while decelerating or braking. This helps to maximize the efficiency of the vehicle and extend its range. Additionally, the car offers multiple driving modes, including Eco, Normal, and Sport, allowing the driver to tailor the driving experience to their preferences.
In terms of design, the DS 4 e-Tense 225 embodies the brand’s avant-garde approach. The car features a sleek and dynamic silhouette, with sharp lines and a low roofline. The front end is characterized by DS’s signature LED light signature and a prominent hexagonal grille. Inside, the e-Tense 225 boasts a luxurious and high-tech cabin, with premium materials, modern infotainment system, and advanced safety features.
Overall, the DS 4 e-Tense 225 represents a significant step forward in the history of DS Automobiles. It showcases the brand’s commitment to electrification and sustainable mobility while retaining its French luxury heritage. With its impressive performance, stylish design, and advanced technology, the DS 4 e-Tense 225 is a compelling option for those seeking a premium compact electric vehicle.
Design
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 is a stunning electric vehicle in the premium hatchback segment. It was designed by the talented team at DS Automobiles, a luxury brand owned by Groupe PSA.
The inspiration behind the DS 4 e-Tense 225’s design can be traced back to DS Automobiles’ ethos of avant-garde style and French luxury. The designers aimed to create a car that exudes elegance, refinement, and a touch of futuristic sophistication.
In terms of design language, the DS 4 e-Tense 225 follows DS Automobiles’ signature aesthetic, which is characterized by a bold and distinctive front grille, sharp lines, and intricate details. The front fascia features the brand’s iconic DS Wings grille, which adds a sense of dynamism and character to the car’s face. The sleek LED headlights and LED daytime running lights further enhance its striking appearance.
Moving towards the rear, the DS 4 e-Tense 225 showcases a sleek and aerodynamic silhouette with a sloping roofline and a refined tailgate design. The combination of sculpted body panels and pronounced wheel arches adds a sense of athleticism and dynamism to the overall look.
Inside, the DS 4 e-Tense 225 boasts a luxurious and technologically advanced cabin. The designers have focused on creating a premium and comfortable interior, with a harmonious blend of high-quality materials and stylish accents. The use of fine leather, chrome finishes, and premium trim elements further enhances the car’s luxurious feel.
Overall, the DS 4 e-Tense 225’s design is a blend of elegance, avant-garde styling, and French luxury, making it a standout option in the premium hatchback market.
Model overview
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 is a stylish and eco-friendly plug-in hybrid vehicle that offers a range of variations to suit different preferences and needs. Here are some of the variations available for the DS 4 e-Tense 225:
1. Trim Levels: The DS 4 e-Tense 225 is offered in different trim levels, each offering its own set of features and equipment. Common trim levels may include entry-level options, mid-range versions, and high-end models with additional luxury features.
2. Exterior Colors: The DS 4 e-Tense 225 comes in a range of exterior color options, allowing buyers to select a shade that best reflects their individual style. Popular color choices may include metallic or solid colors, such as black, white, silver, blue, red, and more.
3. Wheel Options: Customers can choose from a variety of wheel designs and sizes for the DS 4 e-Tense 225. Different wheel options can enhance the car’s aesthetic appeal and customize its overall look.
4. Interior Customization: The DS 4 e-Tense 225 offers customizable interior options, allowing buyers to select different materials, finishes, and colors for the cabin. This enables a personalized touch to suit individual preferences and create a comfortable and inviting interior environment.
5. Infotainment Systems: The DS 4 e-Tense 225 may offer various infotainment systems, including touchscreens, navigation systems, smartphone connectivity, and advanced audio systems. Higher trim levels may come with more advanced and feature-packed infotainment options.
6. Safety and Driver Assistance Features: Different variations of the DS 4 e-Tense 225 can offer various levels of safety and driver assistance features. These may include adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and more.
It is important to note that the specific variations available may differ by market or dealership. Prospective buyers should consult with a local DS dealership or visit the official DS website to get accurate and up-to-date information on the available options for the DS 4 e-Tense 225 in their region.
Everyday use
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 is known for its practicality and suitability for everyday use. This plug-in hybrid hatchback combines comfort, efficiency, and a generous range of features that make it a great choice for daily commuting and general driving.
One of the standout features of the DS 4 e-Tense 225 is its electric range. With a fully charged battery, it can travel up to 30 miles solely on electric power, making it ideal for short urban trips or commutes. For longer journeys, its petrol engine kicks in, providing a total range of around 360 miles, ensuring you won’t have to worry about finding a charging station on every trip.
In terms of performance, the DS 4 e-Tense 225 delivers a smooth and refined driving experience. Its hybrid powertrain combines a 1.6-liter petrol engine with an electric motor, producing a combined output of 225 horsepower. This enables the car to accelerate swiftly, making merging onto highways and overtaking on country roads effortless.
When it comes to practicality, the DS 4 e-Tense 225 offers a spacious interior and a decent-sized boot, capable of accommodating everyday needs. The rear seats can also be folded down to further increase cargo space when required. Additionally, the car is equipped with various storage compartments and clever solutions to keep your belongings organized.
In terms of technology and convenience features, the DS 4 e-Tense 225 doesn’t disappoint. It comes with a user-friendly infotainment system, offering smartphone connectivity, navigation, and various entertainment options. Safety features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking are also included, making it a safe and reliable choice for daily driving.
Overall, the DS 4 e-Tense 225 provides a great balance between practicality, efficiency, and performance. Whether you are commuting to work or running errands, this model offers the necessary features to make your everyday driving experience enjoyable.
Trunk
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 boasts a spacious trunk for its class. It offers 430 liters of cargo space with the rear seats in place, which is quite impressive for a compact car. Additionally, the rear seats can be folded down to create even more room, expanding the cargo capacity to 1,290 liters. This makes it a versatile option for those looking for a practical and stylish vehicle with ample storage space.
Interior
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 boasts a high-quality interior with premium materials used throughout. The cabin exudes a sense of luxury and sophistication, offering a comfortable and pleasing environment for both the driver and passengers.
The seats are upholstered in plush leather, which not only adds to the luxurious vibe but also provides excellent comfort and support during long drives. The leather continues on the dashboard, door panels, and other surfaces, adding an upscale feel to the interior.
In addition to leather, soft-touch materials are also used on various surfaces, further enhancing the overall quality of the interior. These materials not only feel great to the touch, but they also contribute to reducing noise and vibration, creating a serene cabin atmosphere.
Furthermore, the DS 4 e-Tense 225 comes with a range of modern and tech-forward features, including a digital instrument cluster and an infotainment system with a large touchscreen display. These sleek and intuitive interfaces further elevate the interior’s appeal and enhance the overall driving experience.
Overall, the DS 4 e-Tense 225 showcases exceptional attention to detail and employs a combination of premium materials to create a luxurious and comfortable interior space.
Safty
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 is equipped with several safety features designed to ensure the wellbeing of its occupants. Some prominent safety features include automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, rearview camera, traffic sign recognition, and driver attention monitoring.
In terms of safety ratings, the DS 4 e-Tense 225’s performance has not been specifically evaluated by major testing organizations such as Euro NCAP or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as of the time of writing this article. However, it is worth noting that the DS 4 e-Tense 225 is built on the same platform as the Peugeot 308, a vehicle that achieved a five-star rating in Euro NCAP’s crash tests, providing a certain level of confidence in the DS 4 e-Tense 225’s safety capabilities. Nonetheless, it is always recommended to refer to official safety ratings from reputable testing organizations for more specific and detailed information on a vehicle’s safety performance.
Maintenance Costs
The costs for maintenance, insurance, and general upkeep of a DS 4 e-Tense 225 can vary depending on various factors, including location, driving habits, and insurance providers. However, here is a general overview of the expected costs:
Maintenance: Electric vehicles (EVs) typically have lower maintenance costs compared to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. EVs have fewer moving parts, which means less wear and tear. Routine maintenance tasks like oil changes, transmission repairs, and exhaust system replacements are not required for EVs. However, EVs still require regular service for items like tire rotations, brake pad replacements, and battery system inspections. Overall, maintenance costs for a DS 4 e-Tense 225 should be lower compared to its ICE counterparts.
Insurance: Insurance costs for an electric vehicle can vary based on several factors, including your location, driving history, age, and specific insurance provider. Generally, electric vehicles tend to be more expensive to insure due to the higher costs of repair and replacement for EV-specific components like batteries. However, there may be insurance discounts available for EV owners, so it’s recommended to shop around and compare quotes from different insurance companies to find the best deal.
General Upkeep: Electric vehicles have specific upkeep requirements related to their battery systems. The DS 4 e-Tense 225, being an electric vehicle, will require periodic battery maintenance, including recharging and potentially replacing the battery pack over the vehicle’s lifespan. The cost of replacing a battery pack can be significant, so it’s advisable to check the warranty on the battery system and inquire about any applicable maintenance plans or extended warranties offered by the manufacturer.
It’s important to note that these are general guidelines, and actual costs can vary. It’s always beneficial to consult with a local DS dealership or a trusted mechanic to get more accurate estimates for maintenance, insurance, and general upkeep costs specific to your situation.
Fuel Consumptions
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 has a fuel consumption rate of approximately 57.6 miles per gallon (mpg) in combined city and highway driving conditions. It is worth noting that the e-Tense 225 model is a plug-in hybrid car, which means it can also be powered by its electric motor alone for shorter journeys, reducing reliance on gasoline and further improving its overall fuel efficiency.
Motor Layout
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 is equipped with a hybrid powertrain that combines an electric motor with a traditional internal combustion engine. The engine layout in the DS 4 e-Tense 225 is a front-mounted transverse configuration. It features a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that works in conjunction with an electric motor. The electric motor is integrated into the transmission system.
As for the transmission, the DS 4 e-Tense 225 comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This transmission provides smooth shifts and efficient power delivery. The combination of the petrol engine and electric motor, along with the automatic transmission, offers a balanced and responsive driving experience in the DS 4 e-Tense 225.
Motor
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 is powered by a hybrid powertrain combination. It includes a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine paired with an electric motor. The gasoline engine produces 180 horsepower, while the electric motor generates 110 horsepower. Together, they offer a combined power output of 225 horsepower, giving the DS 4 e-Tense 225 its name. This hybrid powertrain also allows for electric-only driving, offering a practical and efficient driving experience.
Transmission
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 is equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This transmission offers smooth and efficient gear shifting, enhancing the overall driving experience of the car. The automatic transmission provides greater convenience, especially in urban driving conditions, as it eliminates the need for manually shifting gears.
Breaks
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 comes equipped with ventilated disc brakes at the front and solid disc brakes at the rear. Ventilated disc brakes are designed to improve heat dissipation, reducing brake fade and improving overall braking performance, particularly during prolonged or intense braking. Solid disc brakes, on the other hand, are simpler in design and offer reliable braking performance for everyday driving situations.
Suspension
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 is equipped with a sophisticated suspension system that enhances both comfort and handling. It features MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam setup at the rear. The front suspension incorporates a hydraulic compression stop system, which works by using hydraulic cushions to absorb impacts and provide a smoother ride. Additionally, the DS 4 e-Tense 225 offers optional Adaptive Suspension with Dynamic Control, allowing the driver to adjust the suspension settings according to their preference or driving conditions. This combination of suspension components helps to deliver a balanced and comfortable driving experience in the DS 4 e-Tense 225.
Common Issues
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 is an all-electric compact car that offers a stylish design, impressive performance, and advanced technology. However, like any other vehicle, it has its share of weaknesses and common issues that potential buyers should be aware of. Here is a detailed overview of some of the common criticisms and weaknesses of the DS 4 e-Tense 225:
1. Limited Electric Range: One of the main criticisms of the DS 4 e-Tense 225 is its relatively limited electric range. With a fully charged battery, the car offers an estimated range of around 180 miles (290 km) on a single charge. While this might be sufficient for most daily commutes and short trips, it falls short compared to some of its competitors that offer longer ranges.
2. Long Charging Time: Another weakness of the DS 4 e-Tense 225 is the time it takes to fully charge the battery. Using a standard 7.4 kW home charger, it can take up to 8 hours to charge the battery from 0% to 100%. DC fast charging options are available, which can significantly reduce the charging time, but they are not as widely accessible as regular charging stations.
3. Lack of Rear Space: The DS 4 e-Tense 225 is a compact car, and as such, it comes with limited rear-seat space. While the front seats offer a comfortable and spacious experience, the rear seats might feel cramped for taller passengers, especially during longer journeys. Additionally, the sloping roofline reduces headroom in the back, further impacting the rear passenger comfort.
4. Limited Practicality: Despite having a relatively spacious boot, the DS 4 e-Tense 225 suffers from limited practicality due to its small rear hatch opening. This can make it challenging to load larger items into the boot, and the overall cargo capacity might not be sufficient for those who frequently travel with bulky luggage or have specific storage needs.
5. Ride Quality: Some reviewers have mentioned that the DS 4 e-Tense 225’s ride quality can be quite firm, especially over rough or uneven road surfaces. The suspension setup, while offering good handling characteristics, can transmit more road imperfections into the cabin than desired. This might impact the overall comfort for both driver and passengers, particularly during longer journeys.
6. Price: The DS 4 e-Tense 225 is positioned as a premium compact car, and this is reflected in its pricing. Compared to some of its competitors in the electric compact car segment, the DS 4 e-Tense 225 can be considered relatively expensive. This might make it less appealing to budget-conscious buyers or those looking for more affordable electric vehicle options.
While the DS 4 e-Tense 225 has its weaknesses and common issues, it also has its strengths, including its stylish design, strong acceleration, and advanced technology features. Ultimately, potential buyers should carefully consider their priorities, preferences, and specific needs to determine whether the DS 4 e-Tense 225 aligns with their requirements and budget.
Assessment
FAQ – DS 4 e-Tense 225
1. What is the DS 4 e-Tense 225?
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 is a premium compact hatchback car that combines electric power with a combustion engine. It is a plug-in hybrid vehicle designed for efficiency, performance, and style.
2. How does the DS 4 e-Tense 225 drivetrain work?
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 features a 1.6-liter petrol engine and an electric motor that work in tandem. The car can operate in electric-only mode, using the electric motor for emission-free driving, or it can combine the power of both the petrol engine and electric motor for increased performance.
3. What is the electric driving range of the DS 4 e-Tense 225?
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 has an electric driving range of up to 30 miles (WLTP combined cycle). This allows for shorter commutes and urban driving without using any petrol.
4. How long does it take to charge the DS 4 e-Tense 225?
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 can be charged using a standard domestic power socket, but it is recommended to use a dedicated wallbox charging unit for faster charging. With a 7.4 kW wallbox, the car can be charged from 0-100% in approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
5. What performance can I expect from the DS 4 e-Tense 225?
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 delivers a combined power output of 225 horsepower, providing swift acceleration and responsive handling. It can go from 0 to 62 mph in just 8.7 seconds, making it a sporty and enjoyable car to drive.
6. What are the main features and technologies in the DS 4 e-Tense 225?
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 comes with a range of advanced features, including a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, DS Active Scan Suspension for a comfortable ride, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
7. Is the DS 4 e-Tense 225 eligible for government incentives or grants?
Yes, the DS 4 e-Tense 225 is eligible for government EV incentives in many countries, such as the UK’s Plug-In Car Grant and reduced taxation benefits. It’s always recommended to check with local authorities or dealerships for specific incentives in your region.
8. Is the DS 4 e-Tense 225 spacious and practical?
Yes, despite its compact size, the DS 4 e-Tense 225 offers ample space for passengers and luggage. The trunk has a capacity of up to 430 liters, and the rear seats can be folded down for additional storage.
9. What is the warranty coverage for the DS 4 e-Tense 225?
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 comes with a comprehensive warranty package, including a 3-year/60,000-mile vehicle warranty, an 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty, and a 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance package for added peace of mind.
10. How does the DS 4 e-Tense 225 compare to its competitors?
The DS 4 e-Tense 225 competes with other plug-in hybrid hatchbacks like the Volkswagen Golf GTE and BMW 330e. It offers a unique design, a comfortable and refined driving experience, and advanced technology features that set it apart from the competition.
Please note that the information provided may vary depending on the specific model and market. It’s advisable to consult the official DS Automobiles website or contact a local dealership for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
Datasheet
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| DS 4 e-Tense 225 Datasheet |
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| Model Variant | Engine Specifications | Curb Weight (kg) | Trunk Volume (liters) | Fuel Consumption (km/L) |
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| DS 4 e-Tense | 1.6L Turbo Petrol | 1,615 | 430 | 16.1 |
| 225 | (Gasoline) | | | |
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| DS 4 e-Tense | Electric Motor | 1,680 | 430 | 4.4 (Electric Only) |
| 225 | 50 kWh | | | |
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| DS 4 e-Tense | Hybrid System | 1,790 | 360 | 25.6 |
| 225 | 1.6L Turbo Petrol + | | | |
| | Electric Motor | | | |
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| DS 4 e-Tense | Hybrid System | 1,800 | 360 | 30.3 |
| 225 | 1.6L Turbo Petrol + | | | |
| | Electric Motor | | | |
| Performance | | | | |
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Note: The above table includes the available model variants, engine specifications, curb weight, trunk volume, and fuel consumption for the DS 4 e-Tense 225. Please note that the fuel consumption values mentioned are approximate and may vary based on driving conditions and other factors.