REVIEW DETAIL PAGE

Will It Suit Me?

It's always a rather chastening experience when a car that you've had your eye on for ages turns out to be utterly unsuitable for your needs. For me, the latest generation MINI three-door Hatch was just such a car. So I've looked around for something similar but more practical, something like the car I've been trying this week, the sporty DS3 supermini. Here's a car that's still sharp enough in the styling department to be a head turner in town but with enough space inside for me to get on with it on a daily basis. I suspect this cheeky Citroen-derived French contender and me will get on extremely well.

Practicalities

Although the basic silhouette of the DS3 seems typically supermini, I must say that I was instantly in love with the detailing. From that 'shark fin' B-pillar and the contrasting roof panel to the vertical strips of LED running lights that flank the front grille and the distinct sill line connecting the wheel arches, the DS3 is seriously unconventional. It has the look of a concept car but the brand has built it and you can buy it. It's easy enough to park at just 3.95m long and it's about the same width as a Ford Fiesta but you get a bit more interior space. There are three seat belts in the back and Citroen has helped create additional legroom by fitting rather natty lightweight sculpted front seats. In the tail, the boot is 285-litres which is large for the supermini class and 60:40 split rear seats give options for extending that capacity still further.

Behind the Wheel

The DS3 feels pleasantly sparky with a sporty feel to the suspension, which may be a touch busy for some tastes, and direct steering. The chassis provides high grip levels with taut body control and the DS3 can be a hoot on twisty roads where the opportunity to make the most of that engine arises. The gearbox is the slickest unit the parent PSA Group has come up with for a long time. Even though it's slightly notchy, there's good weight and a positive feel to the shifting action. Although the driving position may not suit everyone with its widely spaced and slightly offset pedals, the wide scope of adjustment offered by the steering column and seat should accommodate most body shapes. As for engines, well there are 1.6-litre BlueHDi 100 and 120 variants, but if you really want to see the DS3 at its best, forget about the diesels and head straight to the 1.6 THP engine. This gives the car some real zip and unlike many turbo engines it never feels baggy if you're caught in the wrong gear. Further down the range, there's a normally aspirated PureTech 82 petrol unit and turbocharged PureTech 110 and 130 engines.

Value For Money

The range starts from about £15,500, which doesn't seem unduly expense - and there's the choice of fixed-top or cabrio bodystyles. I'm told that dealers are open to a spot of negotiation and if you're willing to be bold, some quite sizeable discounts can be gained. As usual with most press cars, my test vehicle was laden to the gunwales with optional extras but to spend too much on a DS3 is really missing the point of what should be a relatively uncomplicated car. Safety equipment includes ESP stability control as standard an advanced ABS braking system and six airbags. Like many of the trendier models out there at the moment, the DS3 makes a vast range of personalisation options available so customers can ensure that their car is suitably different to the one down the street. The roof comes in four colours, there are numerous finishes for the mirrors and rubbing strips, there are different wheel colours, six dashboard colours, five gear knobs and whichever bodywork colour you choose, you get a matching key fob. Nice.

Could I Live With One?

The DS3 is exactly my sort of car. It's fun, it doesn't feel as if it ever takes itself too seriously, it won't cost a fortune to run and it even has a halfway practical side. It's hard not to fall for its sheer chutzpah.