THE Citroen DS4 is one cool customer.

From its chic exterior to snappy interior it oozes style and now, with the recently launched DSport diesel model, it offers the fuel efficiency of an oil burner coupled to the driving ease of an automatic transmission.

It is maximum visual impact for those who like minimum driving fuss and low running costs.

The catch is a price-tag just north of £25,000 - some £1,600 more than the manual gearbox version - but Citroen are confident filling in this gap in the DS4 line up will yield extra sales.

For the money you get a two-litre diesel offering a decent amount of power - 0-62mph in under ten seconds on the way to a top speed of 129mph - and a fuel consumption figure closing in on 50mpg. It is mated to a six-speed sequential automatic transmission that boasts silky smooth gear changes in pure automatic mode. There is the facility to manually shift gear but I doubt you'll do it any better than the car.

The ride and handling are sharp and precise thanks to informative steering and a suspension that just avoids being on the uncomfortable side of firm. All but the worst humps and hollows are absorbed while corners can be taken with confidence as there's plenty of grip available.

You'll not run short of admiring glances either as the glossy DS4 sits on natty 19-inch alloys. Everything is colour co-ordinated and there are fancy chrome inserts and dark tinted rear side and back windows making it a real glamour puss. The front door sill protectors have a brushed alloy effect and there are drilled alloy pedals as well as hidden rear door handles giving the car a coupe feel.

The classy cabin is a treat both to look at and spend time in thanks to soft touch plastics, comfortable seats and dual zone, automatic digital air conditioning.

The view out of the car is excellent thanks to the panoramic windscreen and a raised driving position, while a blind spot monitoring system is a useful addition to the usual array of equipment designed to keep you and yours safe from harm.

The boot is a deep well capable of swallowing a family's weekly supermarket shop or a couple of suitcases while front seat occupants get plenty of space to play with. There is a small price to be paid for the beautiful lines of the DS4 as rear leg and headroom are not as abundant while intruding wheelarches can make entering and exiting a little awkward.

The in-car entertainment is provided by a radio/CD player sporting surround sound via six speakers. There's also an auxiliary socket and connections for Bluetooth and whichever portable music device you wish to attach.

Other bits of kit included on the DSport model are cruise control, electric front windows, front a rear parking sensors, LED daytime running lights, hill start assist and a leather steering wheel with snazzy chorme inserts.

Optional extras include sat nav and a Denon hifi system if you happen to have any money left.

As well as the top-of the-range DSport model there are two other trim levels - DSign and DStyle with generous levels of equipment fitted.