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DS 3 facelift Test Drive Review

Date: 07 March 2016   |   Author:

Category: Supermini
P11D price: £18,740
Key rival: Mini hatch
On sale: February 2016
Equipment: 17in alloy wheels, LED and xenon headlights, electric-folding heated wing mirrors, automatic headlights & wipers, front & rear parking sensors, satnav, Active City Brake
Engines: Petrol: 82hp/110hp/130hp 1.2, 165hp/210hp 1.6
Diesel: 100hp/120hp 1.6
Trims: Chic, Elegance, Prestige,
Ultra Prestige, Performance, Performance Black
Transmissions: 5-spd manual, 6-spd manual, 6-spd auto

Business drivers after a stylish three-door small car are spoilt for choice with the popular Mini and Audi A1, along with the chic Seat Ibiza and sensible VW Polo.

The DS 3, however, is a much more left-field choice, launched in 2010 with a Citroen badge on the bonnet and now updated with a more striking exterior design and a pared-down interior, which has jettisoned numerous buttons in favour of a simple layout with a touchscreen media system. The Citroen badge has also disappeared, with DS now being spun-off as its own brand.

New petrol engines add extra fleet appeal, with 110hp and 130hp versions of the 1.2-litre turbocharged unit now available. Both return more than 60mpg, with the former emitting 100g/km of CO2 for 15% benefit-in-kind and the latter netting 16% charges. Other DS 3 engines include petrols with 82hp to 210hp and 100hp and 120hp diesel units.

Fitted with the 130hp unit the DS 3 feels quick and responsive, being perfectly at home darting around town and at higher speeds on the motorway. The engine is also very refined, even when worked hard, although plenty of tyre noise gets into the cabin, making for noisy progress on rough roads.

The ride is also a little firm, not absorbing bumps and scarred tarmac as well as rivals including the Mini and Seat Ibiza. In our test we found the 1.2-litre motor very economical, though, chalking up just under 50mpg, according to the trip computer, despite enthusiastic driving and hitting traffic.

The seats could be more supportive and comfortable, though, while there's not much head or legroom in the back seats for even average-height adults, and access is a little tricky.

The simplified dashboard also poses problems, with DS having ditched a number of useful buttons, hiding basic controls instead at the bottom of the dash and behind the steering wheel on an unintuitive stalk.

Costs don't help the DS either, with our well-specified 1.2 130 Prestige weighing in at 44.3p per mile - partly due to its high purchase price - compared with 43.1ppm and 41.0ppm for much faster versions of the Volkswagen Polo and Mini Cooper, 42.5ppm for the Audi A1 1.4TFSI 125, and 39.8ppm for the Ford Fiesta 1.0 125.

Inflating costs for the DS include mediocre residual values of 31.2%, which lag way behind the Audi's 40.7%, the Mini's 39.3% and the Polo's 33.3% figure.

The high purchase price also means that BIK costs can't match some rivals, with the Polo liable for £40/£80 (20%/40% taxpayers) BIK charges compared with £50/£100 for the DS 3, although the DS 3 does just beat the Mini, with the higher-emitting Audi liable for £57/£113 charges.

The DS 3 may appeal to drivers after a less common, design-led hatchback, but the flawed interior and high prices mean that numerous rivals make more sense for fleets.

DS 3 1.2 PureTech 130 Prestige

Model price range £13,995-£24,795
Residual value 31.2%
Depreciation £12,890
Fuel £4430
Service, maintenance and repair £1820
Vehicle Excise Duty £40
National Insurance £1397
Cost per mile 44.3p
Fuel consumption 62.8mpg
CO2 (BIK band) 105g/km (16%)
BIK 20/40% per month £50/£100
Warranty 3yrs/60,000mls
Boot space (min/max) 285/980 litres
Engine size/power 1199cc/130hp

Verdict


Striking DS 3 appeals to heart over head, but higher-quality rivals are available for lower prices
6/10
  • Distinctive styling
  • Plenty of standard kit
  • Strong petrol and diesel engines
  • Cheap-feeling interior prioritises style over usability. High purchase price

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