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DS AUTOMOBILES IS the new premium arm of Citroen. This means that the Citroen DS 3 of old is now just the DS 3 – and it competes in the premium supermini segment against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI.
The DS 3 starts at €21,345. But this test car was the Prestige model, powered by a 130hp 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. It will cost you €30,745.
The DS 3 is a very stylish car with plenty of interesting exterior design elements that catch the eye – including a floating roof, two-tone body and roof colours, side body line with a shark fin and chrome accents on the sides and surrounding the grille.
My favourite part of the exterior is the vertically stacked daytime running lights and the funky 3D LED rear lights. They make the car look even more snazzy.
Inside, the cabin is just as fashionable with plenty of glossy surfaces, soft-touch plastics and soft leather.
The front seats are large and seriously comfortable, with a good amount of adjustment. The seats in the test car were finished in a rich Nappa leather with ‘watch strap’ stitching, which gave the cabin a very classy feel – but that is a €2,500 option.
All-round visibility is great thanks in part to the far back B-pillar but this does limit visibility for rear passengers and makes the back a little dark.
Rear parking sensors come as standard and the €250 optional reversing camera is a nice added extra but unnecessary in a car this small with such good visibility.
There is quite a lot of leg and headroom for those riding up front but although there are three seat belts in the back it is a tight squeeze for three adults back there. Having said that, rear seat passengers will have more leg room in the DS 3 than the MINI and more headroom than the Audi A1.
The boot is nice and large though with a 285-litre capacity with the seats up. This is bigger than the MINI’s 210 litres and the Audi A1′s 270 litres.
The cabin features a seven-inch touch screen (standard on both trims), from where most of the car’s functions are operated. However, the air-con controls are placed underneath this, as are the stereo volume buttons.
This is quite confusing and a little annoying, as the stereo is operated via the touchscreen or buttons on a stalk hidden away behind the steering wheel. Furthermore, when you turn off the heating the ambient lights on the heating and volume controls go out, so you are left fumbling around in the dark to try and find the buttons.
The other aspect that lets the cabin down for me is the lack of storage. There is only a small glovebox, narrow door bins down around your ankles, a small space under the volume controls, a narrow space in the armrest… and there are no cup holders. Not one.
But for me, those little gripes disappeared once I started driving. You see, the DS 3 offers a decent, mature ride and although it looks like a city car, it feels at home on windy country roads and motorways, too.
The 1.2-litre 130hp engine is a pretty perky performer and delivers 230Nm of torque from just 1,750rpm and supplies generous amounts of torque over a broad powerband. This, combined with the long throw manual transmission, means quick starts, easy overtaking and being able to let the car rev a little bit longer than normal.
I really like the suspension set-up too as it is a little taut. The car handles really well, too and is surefooted and confident on corners. And I liked how weighted the steering felt. It has a nice bit of give and feedback, and isn’t too light as some small cars tend to be – and yet it is still easy to manoeuvre.
Is this the right car for you?
If you are looking for a car with lots of character and good value for money in terms of spec but storage isn’t that much of an issue for you then the DS 3 could be the car for you.
However, if you are just after a car that’s really fun to drive, with a great chassis and engines and you don’t care about passenger or cargo space then take the MINI Cooper for a test drive.
Want a car that is light and easy to drive, comes well specced and you have a bit more money to spend? Then check out the Audi A1.
If you need something cheaper but still has character and personalisation options, then check out the Opel Adam.
Why attempt to compete with YouTube. Just create something completely different and own it. YouTube is stuck in people’s heads and will be the go-to place for generations to come.
@The Girl: Perhaps not! They are making a hell for themselves with censorship. Only people themselves should be sensors. New one on the block with freedom is GAB.ai
@The Girl: lol just like Alta Vista and Yahoo were stuck in people’s heads in 1997 as the place to go for Search.
You innovate to compete or you are left behind.
@Brehon Law: exactly. This could be a game changer if done correctly. Many notable channels could depart YouTube due to the demonetisation for supposed infractions.
@The Girl: people said the same thing about MySpace. And then we ALL know what happened next. Bebo came along…
@The Girl: strategically this isn’t a bad idea, Instagram has a large installed base and can leverage existing users on the new platform
@Conor Paddington: Yes, but, remember Google Video? Despite all the money that they threw at it, it was still more financially viable for Google to spend €600m to buy YouTube than compete with it!
I expect it will go the same way all the new “products” they’ve launched in the last 2yrs have gone ….. rise like a lead balloon.
Everything facebook touches is turning to ashes because of greed and the disrespect they show for users and their data,
@Passing through this life: Their share price would suggest otherwise.
@Passing through this life: people don’t care, they post stuff on a website and they truly don’t care about it. If you did, you wouldn’t post.
How many accounts has face book lost? I believe the amt is insignificant
Youtube is easily the best website in the world. Good luck with that.
@Dave McCrea: you spelt Red wrong.
@Decko Kelly: That gave me a chuckle
Full screen and vertical – yuk
You lost me at full screen and ‘vertical’
In order for this to take off they will need to secure the big channels from YouTube which will be very difficult since they already have established fan bases on YouTube. Also they don’t seem to be offering anything that YouTube is not for viewers, based on this at least.
Creators/influencers sicken me to my very core eg Neistat, McKinnon et al
Any alternative platform to Youtube, that is more supportive and financially rewarding for the core content creators, that create the vast array well made content that viewers with many diverse interests enjoy, rather than just the corporate sponsored creators with millions of subscribers, it is to be welcomed.
But the stated belief that people using phones or mobile devices want to watch video in portrait rather than landscape view seems like a great way to self sabotage it at start and make it a very poor approximation of any currently available video platform, not least Youtube…
When will it happen?
Źzzzzz
@Steven Turner: Yyyyyy?
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