Citroen DS3 Review (2010-2018)
Citroen DS3 cars for sale
3.0
Expert review
Pros
Sporty looks stand out among bland rivals
The stylish cabin lifts the DS3 above the norm
Strong performance from the more powerful engines
Cons
The ride is harsh and uncomfortable
Rear seats are hard to reach and short on legroom
Cabriolet is more of a hatchback with a full-length sunroof
The CarGurus verdict
The DS3 is a striking looking car and far more appealing to the eye than any number of bland, boxy superminis that readily spring to mind. The candy shop of an interior is a delight, even if those relegated to the cramped back seats might not be quite so enthusiastic, and some practicality aspects have been overlooked.
Apart from the spirited performance from the more eager powertrains, the driving experience is underwhelming. Clunky gearboxes and a punishing ride are particular sore points, while the road noise at higher speeds is tiring on longer journeys.
If you’re prepared to overlook these flaws, then there’s no question that the DS3 provides a level of panache that few rivals can better for this kind of money.
Note, the Citroen DS3 is one of the vehicles involved in a stop-drive recall issued by parent company Stellantis due to a serious airbag issue. Find out more about this in our full guide: Citroen/DS Automobiles issue rare ‘stop-drive’ recall
What is the Citroen DS3?
The DS3 was launched to great critical acclaim in 2010, and it’s a striking-looking car, thanks to its distinctive gaping grille, boomerang front LEDs, shark’s fin B-pillar and the illusion of a floating roof, created by contrasting colour combinations.
In addition to the hatchback, there’s also a convertible version, known as the DS3 Cabrio, but this is a bit of a misnomer, because the roof doesn’t go all the way down, and you let the sun in simply by rolling back the full-length sunroof.
The modern form of DS (the name was originally borne by classic models) started as Citroen’s premium sub brand, and the DS 3 was the first new car to which it was applied. However, DS split from Citroen and became an independent brand in 2015. That meant the Citroen DS3 became known simply as the DS 3 (note the space between the letters and numbers) and it underwent a simultaneous facelift.
How practical is it?
Soft-touch materials, glossy panels, and some funky design touches are all part of the DS3’s appeal inside, but it’s short on practicality features. There are no cup holders, and the glovebox and the door pockets are tiny.
The dials and the switches are all pretty solid, and every model has a height-adjustable driver’s seat and two-way steering wheel adjustment.
At 285 litres, the boot is close to an equivalent Ford Fiesta’s, so the Citroen is more practical than a MINI or a Fiat 500 in this respect, but it isn’t the last word in spacious. Accessing the rear seats is a real contortionist’s act, due to the three-door-only body style and restrictive legroom, while the dinky rear windows make things even less accommodating. They don’t help when you’re reversing into tight spaces, either.
What's it like to drive?
The DS3 has plenty of grip and there’s little body, so it feels alert and agile in corners, but the steering is vague, so it isn’t as engaging or as responsive as a MINI, and the ride is uncomfortable. Throw in high levels of road noise at motorway speeds, and long-distance commuting becomes a bit of a chore.
Early cars came with a series of petrol engines, including a 95bhp 1.4-litre VTi, a 120bhp 1.6-litre VTi, or a 150bhp 1.6 THP turbo. They all perform well and have plenty of power for a car of this size, but the gearchange is notchy. Later models were offered with fizzier 1.2-litre, three-cylinder Puretech petrol engines, and although they are a little flat below 2,000rpm, they’re encouragingly strong above this point and happy to rev long and hard.
There is also a series of 1.6-litre HDi diesel engines, which deliver strong, smooth acceleration and exceptional fuel economy. However, to maximise that economy, flexibility is compromised by very long gearing. These engines are relatively quiet, but overall refinement is compromised by vibrations through the steering wheel and the floor, and a whine from the turbocharger.
Technology and equipment
The DS range was launched in the UK in DSign, DStyle, DStyle Plus, and DSport guises. We’d avoid the DSign model unless you’re happy to drive around with the windows open, because it doesn’t have air conditioning.
However, it does have cruise control, front fog lamps, and a leather steering wheel with audio controls, as well as remote locking and electric front windows. DStyle brings aircon, Bluetooth and alloy wheels, plus LED running lights. The DSport trim adds more exterior styling features, along with climate control, a USB socket, and an eight-speaker stereo.
Citroen DS3 running costs
The Citroen DS3 is cheap to run. The earlier 1.6-litre blue HDI diesel engines claim an official MPG in the high 70s, but this was calculated under the old NEDC test regime, which has since been replaced by the more realistic WLP standard. In real life, expect more like mid-50s MPG.
The petrol engines return between 35-40mpg but adding an automatic gearbox will reduce that figure by about 5mpg. Excluding the high-performance Racing model, the thirstiest petrol engines are the punchy 1.6 THP turbos, but many consider this a price worth paying, because they turn the DS into a pocket hot hatch.
Choose a facelifted DS 3 with the 1.2-litre 110 petrol engine and its 60mpg look pretty impressive, but like most three-cylinder engines, it needs to be driven quite hard a lot of the time, so you’re unlikely to see much more than mid-40s MPG.
The DS is no more complex than the C3 hatchback on which it’s based, so your local garage will have no problem servicing it. Even going to the main dealer won’t break the bank, because Citroen is known for affordable parts and maintenance costs.
Citroen DS3 reliability
Many of the engines found in the DS were co-developed with BMW and can also be found in a range of MINIs. A few high-mileage petrol models have had issues with light and temperature sensors, turbocharger pumps and cam chains. Some versions of the 1.6-litre THP engine, can suffer from stretched timing chains and excessive oil consumption. Make sure these engines don’t rattle or stutter at idle or smoke under acceleration.
A few owners have reported electrical faults with their DS3s, including wiring harness issues and the odd blown fuse. Trim rattles – of which there are reportedly plenty – will likely be a more common irritation.
Note, the Citroen DS3 is one of the vehicles involved in a stop-drive recall issued by parent company Stellantis due to a serious airbag issue. Find out more about this in our full guide: Citroen/DS Automobiles issue rare ‘stop-drive’ recall
- The DS3 comes from humble origins, and many critics accuse it of being little more than a C3 supermini in a party frock. They’re not necessarily wrong, so bear in mind that the more sober C3 represents more car for the money.
- The 2015 facelift and change from DS3 to DS 3 not only resulted in the loss of the Citroen badge, but also an upgrade in equipment. Even the entry-level Chic trim has some neat features, including a 7.0-inch colour touchscreen, cruise control and a leather-bound steering wheel with audio controls, as well as air-conditioning, Bluetooth, and alloy wheels to add to the remote locking and electric front windows.
- It’s worth keeping an eye out for the later top-end models, which add even more goodies. Elegance trim includes darkened rear windows and LED front foglamps, while moving up to Prestige trim adds 17-inch alloys, nav and Alcantara seat trim. As well as its additional design fripperies, top of the range Ultra Prestige adds a reversing camera and full leather upholstery.
- The best all-rounder: Go for the 150bhp 1.6-litre THP or the peppy three-cylinder, 110bhp PureTech petrol engines. They’re easy to live with, perform well, and relatively light on insurance, fuel, and tyres. If they have a weakness, it’s that they’re generally fitted with clunky manual gearboxes. If you fancy an automatic, then the later six-speed transmission fitted to post-2016 three-cylinder cars is a big improvement. The older four-speed automatic gearbox is jerky and sluggish.
- If you want a convertible: The worst aspect of the DS3 is its ride quality, and this is especially true of the Cabriolet, which loses some rigidity over the standard car, and it’s more of a hatchback with a full-length sunroof than a full-blown convertible. Despite having softer suspension and retaining both its roof pillars to stabilise the body, it’s still wobbly.
- The best performance: The rarest and by far the most extreme DS 3 is the special-edition Racing model. You’ll certainly recognise one when you see it, because they wear gaudy colour schemes and extravagant graphics. It’s not all show and no go, either, with a 204bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, a lowered ride height, wider axles, and bigger brakes. It can certainly get a move on, but the suspension is so stiff that its tyres spend more time skipping than gripping.
