CITROEN'S DS 4 is a beautiful looking stylish car from every angle with a high stance that makes it stand out from the crowd.

And the interior is also different and special - something out of the ordinary.

Of course, three years ago, Citroen decided to build the DS name into a standalone marque separate from the rest of its cars, and I think that's no bad idea because they are different in many ways, even though they are based on the same floorpans.

I've driven petrol and diesel versions of the DS 4 (or DS4 as they were badged beforehand) and they have decent to superb performance with very good handling and roadholding.

Petrol engines are 1.6 turbos shared with Peugeot and other car makers, giving power of 120, 156 or 200bhp, and after 2015, a 1.2 with 130 and a 1.6 with 210.

Diesels are a 1.6 with either 110 or 115bhp, and a 2 litre with 135, 160 or 180.

All have a six speed manual gearbox as standard and some are available with an automatic that's rather slow changing before 2015 and much improved after.

Those diesels are capable of 50-plus miles to the gallon in real driving with a careful right foot, and the 2.0-litre 160 and 180 also bring very good performance.

But it's the two more powerful petrol models you want if you really enjoy your driving. They are smooth and beautifully tuneful power units and while never intrusive, rev sweetly up a wide rev range.

The 210bhp range topper covers the 0 to 60 sprint in an excellent 7.6 seconds, and even the 1.2 can do it in under 10.

The clutch is light, the gearchange sweet, the brakes superb and the higher than average driving position marvellous.

But make sure you can put up with the sometimes jittery ride. There is an unsettled feel both at slow and high speeds on rougher surfaces, and I sometimes found it hard to live with.

After 2015, all models came with an alarm, traction control, audio remote controls, electric heated mirrors, aircon, front foglights, alloys and cruise.

Mid-range Elegance adds lumbar support, a good sat nav system and parking sensors, while the ‘1955' model - a reference to the original DS from that era - has heated and electrically adjusted sports seats, headlight washers and full leather.

Although the rear door apertures are a little narrow, there is enough space for one six footer to sit comfortably behind another.

Pay about £6,800 for a '14 14-reg DStyle 1.6HDi with start stop, or £10,300 for a '16 16-reg Elegance 1.2 PureTech petrol.