
The first offering from the new DS range, the Citroen DS3 was officially launched in 2010 though production began the earlier year. While hints of the DS3 were teased with the concept car DS Inside, the DS3 is most reminiscent of the classic Citroen DS. However, the DS3 doesn’t resemble the classic car in any way except in name. Classified as a supermini, the DS3 was recognized by Top Gear Magazine as the Car of the Year for 2010. A limited-edition Matière Grise line was announced for the DS3, made up of 750 cars that will be just available in European markets, as well as a road version of the rally-specification DS3 R3 called the DS3 Racing.
Pros
One of the strongest selling points that the Citroen DS3 has going for it is the range of options it offers to allow a customer to personalise their car. When you buy a DS3, you can mix and match roof and body colors, as well as place decals of your choosing. Car owners generally consider their vehicles an extension of themselves so being able to personalise your ride is a great bonus. There are also three trim levels available to be considered also.
The DS3 is bigger than a Mini so you can expect cabin space to be bigger as well. Leg and knee room are ample for rear passengers and more could be enjoyed by adjusting the front seats. Very tall passengers may have a bit of trouble though with head room but the DS3 is a relatively small car so that’s forgivable. Boot space is at 285 litres, decent enough compared to other competitors in its class.
It’s easy enough to assume that a small car would be swift but the DS3 is also fitted with engine units to take advantage of that, allowing the car to go from 0 to 62 mph within 7.3 seconds. Power delivery is also refined so the DS3 offers a smooth ride as you speed up. A popular choice for speed and power is a 1.6-litre petrol unit that puts out 154bhp. If you want even more though, the DS3 Racing model with a 204-bhp capacity should fit you nicely.
On the road, there decent body control and comfort is sustained for all passengers. There might be a bit of a push here and there but these are brief and are usually resolved as soon as enough throttle is achieved. There’s also a stability control system that supports your driving with subtlety and eases any sort of trouble you may encounter. All models offer reasonable efficiency too, with an average of 35.8mpg, so fuel economy should not be a concern as well.
Cons
The Citroen DS3 inside is not much different from what you’ll see inside a C3. The customisation option adds a great deal of personality to the interior but it can only do so much. The DS3’s interior is not all that bad but it does make it harder to move upmarket. The Mini has similar problems with the DS3 but it did a better job of making them less obvious.
What do you think?
(Average rating: 5 , Total rates: 2 )