FOLLOWING a hard to fathom phase of producing cars with an alarming degree of anonymity the big three French manufactures are firing on all cylinders again with impressive ranges that simply shout Gallic style.

And though Citroen are showing sense of imagination and flair with many models it's the DS sub-brand where its pace-setters are to be found.

While the DS4 might not share the design DNA of the DS3 and DS5, which bear a distinct family resemblance, it certainly stands out when compared to other family hatchbacks.

Citroen launched it to give premium models like the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series a run for their money and the DS4 is well equipped to do battle.

Styling is certainly its strongest point with looks that are sleek, elegant and classy - and very different. too.

Clever coupe inspired styling mated to a higher ride height create a presence it's hard to ignore and one could easily believe its sumptuous lines had been dreamt up in a famous Italian design house.

It's more than just a good looker though, with a cabin that impresses as soon as you sit in. Sophisticated and upmarket with a premium feel throughout you get the feeling the Citroen designers have put a lot of effort into making it special.

Three trims are on offer - DSign, DStyle and DSport - and whichever one you opt for you'll get a decent amount of standard equipment. All come with air-conditioning, cruise control, amultifunction steering wheel and much more besides.

There's a choice of engines, two 1.6-litre petrols and a diesel and the higher-powered turbocharged petrol unit fitted to this model is very much the pick of the bunch when it comes to performance, though it's unlikely to be the biggest seller.

It's an excellent engine that delivers power sweetly and smoothly and packs quite a punch, travelling from 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds.

The DS4 is based on the C4 but other than a bonnet and a few other bits and bobs they don't share a great deal in common as far as bodywork goes and the suspension has been modified beyond recognition to deliver a car that handles with poise and agility, even if the ride is a little of the firm side.

As far as practicality goes the DS4 doesn't do too badly, though from the outside it looks bigger than it actually is. There isn't a huge amount of space in the rear seats and another downside is rear windows that are fixed and can't be opened. A plus point is a decent-sized boot.

Whether any of the current DS crop have enough about them to become classics like some of the famous Citroen models of the past remains to be seen but the DS sub-brand is a real breath of fresh air. It shows Citroen getting back to what it does best and the DS4 is a car that certainly won't disappoint, particularly if you like the idea of something that's just that little bit different.