Everyone expected Citroen's new DS3 'premium supermini' to be quirky, but few could have predicted how good it is to drive; SHANE O'DONOGHUEbrushes up on his Leaving Cert French
WE’RE A couple of hours away from the bustling streets of Paris, stopped in a lay-by in a nondescript village when a stereotypically elegant Frenchwoman (with her equally well-groomed poodle in tow) approaches. It’s been a while since I sat my Leaving Cert, but it’s clear from the off that she’s very impressed with the car we’re testing. She helps herself to the passenger seat, checks out the boot space and leaves in a perfumed flourish exclaiming: “Très jolie!”
Not everyone that saw the new Citroen DS3 had the same reaction, but few failed to notice it, even in the rush hour in Paris. It’s simply one of the most distinctive cars on the road right now and it’s set to remain so thanks to a vast array of colour and customisation options available to the buyer.
For starters there are 38 different body and roof colour combinations, plus the option to have the alloy wheels, mirrors and centre caps in other shades, while the more daring purchaser can choose to garnish their car with one of the tattoo-like decals. Most Irish buyers are – sensibly – likely to choose a single paint colour and even so the DS3 will stand out, thanks to its “floating” roof design and the “shark’s fin” B-pillar. The car looks different from every angle and is really colour sensitive. In conclusion, we’d call it quirky.
Quirky is a word that used to go hand-in-hand with Citroens of old, at a time when the French company thrived on innovation. The DS3 takes its name from one of the most loved Citroens of all time (the DS), which was built from the late 1950s into the 1970s. However, the DS3 is not the only model to bear this weight of expectation, as the DS4 and DS5 are due to go on sale within two years.
In spite of the historical significance of the name, there is nothing retro about the DS3. While the exterior may divide opinion, the cabin lives up to the “premium supermini” billing Citroen has given its new baby. Naturally, the DS3 is based on the underpinnings of the new five-door C3, but Citroen has done a lot more than just seal up two doors and add equipment.
Along with additional sound proofing, the DS3 receives more tactile interior materials, plus its own set of stylish instruments. As with the exterior, buyers can opt to customise the cockpit, with different colours for the dashboard, key fob and gearknob, along with notably sumptuous leather trim and a neatly integrated colour satnav unit.
Importantly, Citroen has got the basics right. The driving position is good – and adjustable; there is more legroom in the back than in the MINI and Alfa Romeo MiTo; and the boot is a decent size for the class. On top of all that, even before you turn the ignition key, it’s clear that the driving controls and switchgear are all well damped and good to use.
It doesn’t take long to realise that the DS3 is good to drive either. The steering wheel is a nice leather-bound design and it’s attached to a direct steering rack that instantly gives the impression of agility. The suspension seems to be engineered in favour of body control and a feeling of light-footedness rather than outright comfort, though it never crashes or bangs into potholes. Meanwhile, the gearchange is fast and slick, yet moves with a satisfying action through the gate.
Admittedly, our test car in France was the top-of-the-range turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol version, fitted with a six-speed manual transmission. Irish buyers will initially have to choose between a 1.4-litre petrol engine and a 1.6-litre turbodiesel, both of which come with a five-speed manual as standard.
Citroen is slow to compare the DS3 to the MINI, but it’s obviously a direct rival, as it is to the Alfa Romeo MiTo and perhaps even the Fiat 500 in terms of style. The DS3 actually uses the same engine line-up as MINI does, though the range is laid out so that it’s difficult to make a straight comparison. First impressions suggest that the Citroen has its competitors licked in terms of practicality and is at least a match for the MINI’s interior quality.
Where the DS3 surprised the most was in its driving dynamics. Citroen has quietly developed a car that moves away from the company’s legendary pillow-like ride comfort in return for a more engaging experience at the wheel. Whether we’ll say the same about the more common entry-level models when they arrive in Ireland late in the summer remains to be seen, but for now we have to agree with our friend in rural France: “Très jolie!”