What we're driving: Citroën DS4 Citroën might as well do away with the bog-standard C4 now they've got this great-looking piece of kit. It's a stylish hatchback, with a windscreen that rises into the roofline, and a clever mixture of bulk and finesse in the design. I spent the weekend loading and unloading kids and car seats and was conscious of those sharply pointed rear door frames, but they failed to poke my son's eye out so they passed our brief Health and Safety test. What a shame, though, that for the honour of a stylish DS badge, you pay through the nose. A whopping £22,950 for a family hatchback. Where's that brochure for a Focus? For many people, buying a French car is still a gamble, and you won't find many cash-strapped families willing to gamble £24k. If you're feeling lucky, and to be fair, purchasing a Citroën is a safer bet than ever before in terms of reliability and servicing costs, this is a fine choice. The 160 HDi model has a 2.0-litre diesel engine that spins almost as quietly as a petrol, and is full of sweetly delivered oomph. The movement of the six-speed manual gear lever is short and smooth. Despite the car's feeling of hidden bulk, it was surprisingly easy to park in a tight space, although the sensors go too abruptly from a warning beep to flatlining. Satisfying bits of design in the cabin include the chunky electronic handbrake button, and sun visors that slide down the windscreen. The suspension is slightly Jekyll and Hyde - over some innocuous ridges the damping feels bargain-basement, while through more gradual undulations the chassis rides almost undisturbed. Weird. A bit like this car. Citroën DS4 150 HDi Price: £22,950 (£26,340 as tested)