Citroen DS3 Review
3 minute read | August 1, 2016
This month Chris Sharrock and Dan Wilton, a former ADI, give their take on the new Citroen DS3. What will they make of French manufacturers latest chef-d’oeuvre?
The DS3 is Citroen’s answer to the MINI and Audi A1, something that isn’t lost on you when you look at the specs. The demo model the guys had the privilege of driving was the Prestige 1.6HDI. Featuring 120hp, cruise control, active city brake, LED lights and a touch screen display, the DS3 is designed with luxury in mind.
With curves to rival a Kardashian, the DS3 is deceptively beautiful. The low, flat waistline of the car, coupled with the relatively rectangular shaped back window, make rear visibility excellent. From the outside, boot space appeared to be at a premium, but once opened up the actual size really stands out. You can fit luggage for a family of four into the boot with ease, something to think about when taking advantage of a long weekend away.
The seats in the prestige looked great, but in practice were a bit narrow. Perhaps the seats in the lower spec DS3 would be better suited for day to day driving, or maybe the good people at Citroen prefer salads and yoga to football and pizza. If you are lucky enough to fit snugly in the seats you will be held tighter than a pair of 70s bellbottoms in the corners thanks to the large bolsters on the seats.
The diesel engine is one of the best in its category, offering great performance without feeling slow or sluggish, something that a lot of small diesel engines suffer from. With this being the 120hp diesel, you are granted a six speed gearbox over the five gear one that comes with the 100hp option.
While driving, the DS3 handled well, although it didn’t quite have that ‘point and go’ feeling you get with the MINI. The larger wheels made sure you felt every inch of the road, which would have been great on roads not littered with pot holes, speed bumps or minor stones…
The interior of the DS3 has clearly been given a premium touch up as the dashboard incorporates a soft touch, with glossy black plastics around the touch screen and climate control unit. For those who tend to have passengers of the odorous variety, the integrated air freshener should make those long journeys bearable.
Technophiles may find the revamped entertainment system a joy with Bluetooth streaming, USB connectivity, auxiliary input, DAB and FM radio offering a greater degree of control, but for technophobes it may be one option too many, even astronauts have fewer controls to worry about.
Learners will have a great time with the 1.6 diesel engine as there’s loads of torque for idling speeds, so even slow manoeuvres can be undertaken without having to use the accelerator. Add to that the solidity and positive feel to the gearbox and you have a car that is well suited to the future road user.
As a whole, the Citroen DS3 is a great looking car, with decent build quality and tons of additional space. The move up to premium has certainly helped the image of this car, although it may not be quite the standard of its main competitors, Audi or MINI.
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