For as long as I can remember, I've had a bit of a soft spot for Citroen. They've always been a quirkier, more leftfield alternative to their rivals and - perhaps strangely - I'm a sucker for that. I like something different from the norm.

But then again, I am a funny one. Whereas my mates are travelling in supreme comfort in a clinical Audi or BMW, I'm far happier being shaken to my core in a French hot hatch. I think having memories of forking out a ludicrous amount to insure a Saxo VTR with its fizzing 1.6 and offset pedals as a 17-year-old started my unhealthy obsession with peculiar cars from across the Channel.

So where did it all go wrong for the company? As falls from grace go, Citroen's well-documented one takes some beating. The wonderful C6, which was far cooler than the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 in my opinion, signalled the end of the marque's genius - until recently.

It all became a bit too try-hard after the C6, a bit too contrived. Thoughts of the first-generation C4 with its fixed-hub steering wheel - which intrigued its driver for about 15 seconds before it became annoying - immediately springs to mind, while attempts at massively diluted sportier versions were trounced by rivals in group tests.

It genuinely became annoying when Citroen revealed a new model because you just knew that it should have been better. After years at the top of rallying with eight-time world champion Sebastien Loeb at the helm, it felt like the manufacturer was holding back and robbing us of something special.

Success on the rally stage has a habit of spawning great road cars, but whereas Mitsubishi and Subaru were feeding our insatiable appetite for race-bred, turbocharged monsters with a multitude of big-winged Imprezas and Evos, Citroen gave us watered down Xsaras with woeful steering and underpowered engines.

But now we have the undeniably cool - and extremely popular - DS range taking them into uncharted territory. Expunged of all Citroen badges, those who aren't in the know want to know more. After having had our test car, the DS4 Crossback, for four days, I lost count of the inquisitive looks it received.

Having had a 30mm hike in ride height over the regular DS4, the Crossback - which starts from £19,495 - is still a five-door hatchback but it has the profile of a sleek coupe and the look of a compact SUV. Typically bonkers, then, but this has a healthy dose of Gallic panache thrown in for good measure.

Swooping lines and intricate design touches - things they used to do well - have made a welcome return but now a new, never-before-seen thing on a Citroen - a quality interior - has opened up the car up to an untapped market who wouldn't have entertained the thought of one before.

Sitting between the ever-popular DS3 and the striking DS5, the DS4 in Crossback form is brimming with equipment. As ever with the DS brand, personalisation remains the key, so distinctive hues and a striking two-tone option have been carried over. Add those to gloss black touches on the 18-inch alloy wheels, its roof-mounted spoiler and bulging wheel arches and you've got yourself a bit of a looker.

Inside, it gets off to a great start with a seven-inch, easy-to-use touchscreen infotainment system which houses the satellite navigation, DAB radio and rear reversing camera. Premium materials cover the dashboard and seats which hug its occupants in all the right places continue the theme. Its overall design isn't particularly game-changing but what it is is clean, clear and functional.

This car's engine, a 120bhp 1.6-litre diesel, is a great match for the Crossback's size. Although a more powerful 178bhp diesel is also on offer, the former's the one to have if you're wanting a frugal companion on long-distance journeys. On a 400-mile round trip to London and back, the Crossback never dipped below 45mpg and registered in the mid-50s at its peak.

Its six-speed manual gearbox is a peach, too, although its huge B-pillars can be a bit of a hindrance, obscuring the driver's blind spot at junctions and on motorways.

Combine its elevated stance and panoramic windscreen when you're on the road and it gives you the impression that you're driving something far larger than you actually are. Despite that, the car never manages to feel like a leviathan on small roads, but its space inside belies its actual size.

Steering feel tends to be a huge bugbear for me when testing new cars, but the Crossback excels. It's direct, it has proper feel and you're never left feeling disconnected from what the front wheels are doing. It might seem like a simple thing to comment on, but so many cars of this ilk come up short so it's a huge plus point for the Crossback.

That higher stance has a knock-on effect on its ride quality, with new-found levels of suppleness and comfort. What should have been an annoying journey down and up the M1 was turned into something which was done with ease.

The DS4 Crossback is another step in the right direction for Citroen and it's a car that could well steal customers from its traditionally more premium German brands.