Used Citroen DS4 review and buying guide (2011 to 2018): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Citroen DS4 should you buy?

The 2.0 HDi diesel is the lesser risk. It's the engine singled out as a decent one on this car, and it doesn't carry the timing chain fault that hangs over the 1.6 THP petrol. That said, very little's on record about the diesel either way, and a thin file isn't the same as a clean one, so judge each car on its paperwork and how it drives.

There's no generation split to weigh up across the DS4's 2011 to 2018 run, so the choice comes down to engine, gearbox and wheels rather than year. Go for a car on 17-inch wheels. The 19-inch rims make the ride crashy and take the edge off the handling, and that complaint comes up more than once about this model.

If it has to be a petrol, the 1.6 THP is the risk to weigh up. Its timing chain stretches and the hydraulic tensioner fails, typically between 40,000 and 80,000 miles, and the timing can then jump. Only consider one with receipts showing a new chain and tensioner, and hear it start from stone cold before you commit to anything.

Which DS4 engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The 2.0 HDi diesel is the safer of the two engines on record. It's rated as a decent engine, and no known fault is recorded against it, though that reflects how little has been reported rather than proof of a spotless record. Treat it as the better bet on this car, not a guaranteed trouble-free one, and still ask for its service history.

Be wary of the 1.6 THP petrol. Its chain stretches and the hydraulic tensioner gives up, usually between 40,000 and 80,000 miles, bringing a loud metallic rattle on cold starts, an engine management light and limp mode. Leave it and the timing can jump. The chain has no set replacement mileage, but specialists often renew it within that band, so a car there without a receipt for one is a gamble.

The THP200 version has another niggle: its exhaust is tuned in a way that gives an odd, grating buzz. On gearboxes, there's just one owner's report on the automated manual, describing repeated problems with it. That isn't enough to rule the gearbox out, but it's reason to drive one properly and ask what work it's had before you buy.

What should you check when viewing a used DS4?

Hear a 1.6 THP start from completely cold, with the bonnet up if the seller agrees. A loud metallic rattle on start-up points to the chain and tensioner, and it needs sorting before the timing jumps. Make sure there's no engine management light on the dash, and ask for invoices naming a new chain and tensioner on any car between 40,000 and 80,000 miles.

On an automated manual, drive it in slow traffic and pull away on a slope, checking every change is clean. Ask the seller what gearbox work the car's had, because one owner had repeated trouble with this transmission. Don't let a short run round the block be the whole test, since that won't show you how it copes day to day.

Check which wheels it's on. A car on 19-inch rims will thump over broken tarmac, and one owner of a 2012 DS4 Sport complained about what its 225/40R19 tyres cost to replace, so look at the tread left on all four. Sit in the back too: the rear side windows are fixed and can't be opened, and their pointed corners can catch a passenger in the face.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used Citroen DS4 cost to run?

What do DS4 owners like about them?

The cabin's the high point, and with the optional leather fitted it feels properly classy inside. Quality took a step up over earlier Citroens as well, and that's something you notice every time you get in rather than only on the test drive.

There's plenty of scope to personalise one, so it's worth holding out for a car finished the way you like rather than settling for the first one you see. The 2.0 HDi diesel is a decent engine to live with day to day, too.

• The optional leather trim significantly enhances the interior's perceived quality and luxurious feel.
• The car demonstrates improved build quality and finish compared to earlier Citroen models.
• The 2.0 HDi diesel engine provides good performance and proves to be a reliable choice.
• The DS4 achieved a 5-star NCAP safety rating, with strong scores for adult and child occupant protection.