It’s great to feel 17 years old again. That’s how I felt driving the Citroën DS3 – and it’s no bad thing because it shows that the French offering is a fun, funky and lively motor. All good
things as far as I’m concerned.
The 1.6i 16v 150 sport version, on test here, was a blast to drive. It rips up the black stuff with aggression and grips corners with ease. Its 17 inch alloy wheels let some road rumble into the cabin at speed and the interior is a bit cramped, but it’s no big deal, because the DS3 delivers such an engaging drive that you forget all about the niggles.
However, the DS3 isn’t all about being a boy-racer. The car delivers a sophisticated and comfortable ride, and quality is evident inside and out. On the ever important safety front, the Citroën DS3
has a five star Euro NCAP rating for occupant protection; high levels of standard safety equipment include six airbags, a reinforced body structure and two IsoFix child seat anchorage points.
One of the best aspects of the compact Citroën is that it redefines ‘bespoke’ motoring with an unrivalled choice of personalisation options – to reflect each driver’s individual performance, style and technology preferences. That means no DS3 need ever be the same, thanks to the array of different option combinations available. Customers can specify exterior and interior colour variations, materials, finishes, trims and
equipment – even the key fob is tailored to the driver’s chosen body or roof colour. So, the Citroën can be masculine and sporty or feminine and chic. My test car was in sport red and onyx black with ‘urban-tribe’ roof graphics, white wheels and a personalised number plate spelling out ‘BOY’. That was enough to satisfy me that I was in a more male oriented car!
The DS3 is also packed with technology to further entertain and assist the driver. For portable music players, the car can be kitted out with auxiliary, USB and Bluetooth connectivity. MyWay,
Citroën’s integrated widescreen colour satellite navigation system, can be specified – and for excellent acoustic performance, a new eight-speaker Hi-Fi system creates a rich audio experience in the cabin.
The Citroën DS3 is a great alternative to other ‘premium’ small cars like the Mini, Fiat 500 and Alfa Romeo MiTo. It is also competitively priced, starting at just £12,100 for the petrol VTi 95hp DSign, rising to £16,300 for the top-of-the-range petrol THP 150hp and diesel HDi 110hp DSport models. The DS3 certainly doesn’t look like any other car on the road today – so if you’re in the market for a supermini, and being noticed
is on the agenda, then this charismatic Citroën could be for you!
PROS ‘N’ CONS
- Fun √
- Performance√
- Grip √
- Road noise intrudes X
FACTS
- Max speed: 133 mph
- 0-62 mph: 7.3 secs
- Combined mpg: 42.2
- Engine layout: 1598cc 4 cylinder 16v petrol
- Max. power (bhp): 155 at 6000 rpm
- Max. torque (lb.ft): 177 at 1400 rpm
- CO2: 155 g/km
- Price: £16,300 OTR
Follow this link to read the review distributed by Quay Pages to magazines nationwide, August 2013
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