Stand out from the crowd
IF THE funky and stylish DS 3 is a car that appeals, you should be able to find yourself a fairly individual version. That’s because there are loads of ways these cars can be personalised at new, as well as an excellent range of petrol and diesel engines and a huge range of special editions, each of which has added equipment over the car it’s based on.
When you’re looking for one, you may have to hunt around two or three dealers to find just the right car for your tastes, but when you do find it, you won’t be disappointed.
The DS 3 is fun and modern with loads of bright colours, and many have a different colour for the roof and pillars, striping, or alternative interior colours to help them stand out from the crowd in any car park.
This was Citroen’s answer to cars like the MINI and Vauxhall Adam and having driven a fair few of them, they certainly bring plenty of pizzazz.
The petrol choices are a 1.2, with either 82, 110 or 130bhp, or a 1.6 with 165 or 210bhp. There is also a 1.6-litre turbo diesel with 100 or 120bhp. All apart from the base 1.2 offer good to excellent performance, and every model in the range brings brilliant economy.
That cheapest 1.2 covers the zero to 60 miles an hour sprint in 11.9 seconds and is rated at 61 miles per gallon, while the 110bhp version does the sprint in
9.3 seconds and the 130 in 8.6. Both these are also rated at around an excellent 60 miles per gallon.
The 1.6 petrol is obviously the quickest in the range, getting to 60 in 7.3 or 6.3 seconds, and both models are still rated at around 50mpg.
The diesels are good performers and have superb economy. The BlueHDi 100 reaches 60 in just
10.5 secs and can still do 83mpg, while the 120 brings the sprint down to 9 secs and can do 78mpg.
Top-performing models are the THP 1.6 turbos, both of which offer scintillating acceleration from any speed.
That much power in a fairly small and light body gives tremendous verve in any of the six gears and the engine is smooth and reasonably quiet unless provoked.
For a car with sporting pretensions, comfort in the lower order cars is quite reasonable, but the THPs have stiffened suspension making them firmer and more unsettled.
Grip and roadholding are very good across the board with great poise and precision through the corners and responsive steering.
The front seats hold well and the dash layout is great to use and stylish to live with.
As I’ve said, there is a wide choice of paint colours, with 38 body and roof combinations alone, and door mirrors and wheels can also be chosen in a wide range of different colours and styles.
Inside, the dash can be black, white, blue or red, or even a sporty carbon fibre effect.
Access into the back seats – even though the front ones tip and slide – is never easy in any three door, and legroom and comfort do not match up to that in the front.
Basic trim levels are DSign,
DStyle, DSport, Prestige and Performance but there is a huge range of special editions with added kit. Mid-range DSport comes with alloys, air con, sports seats, traction control, parking sensors, DAB stereo with aux and Bluetooth, audio remote, alarm, cruise and plenty of airbags.
Pay about £5,400 for a ’16 16-reg 100bhp 1.2 PureTech DStyle, or £8,450 for a ‘18 18-reg 120bhp 1.6 BlueHDi Prestige.