The revised DS 3 has been revealed at an exclusive event in Paris this week and Parkers was there to get the full lowdown on the new car.
Citroen’s premium brand relaunched itself in 2015 and the final DS of the existing line-up to join the fold is the 3 hatchback and soft-top Cabrio – the biggest-selling of all the DS cars.
This revised DS 3 is immediately noticeable by its new vertical grille design – dubbed “DS Wings” – and LED Vision headlights with scrolling directional indicators.
Trademark features like the floating roofline and shark-fin B-pillar detail carry over from the old car, while new customisation options and colour schemes (including four roof colour choices for the Cabrio) offer a possible three million different combinations.
Petrol and diesel options
Big news for company car drivers is the BlueHDI 100 diesel engine which emits just 87g/km of CO2, placing it in an 18 percent BIK tax band for the 2016/17 tax year.
There are five petrol choices. New to the range is the 1.2-litre PureTech 130 which emits from 105g/km and offers a combined fuel economy of 62.8mpg. This means the PureTech 130 slots into the same BIK tax band as the diesel above for the 2016/17 tax year.
Company car drivers will have a choice between manual or revised six-speed automatic gearboxes.
A higher-performance version will join the range in April 2016, appropriately named DS 3 Performance, with a 1.6-litre petrol engine under the bonnet offering 205bhp and 300Nm of torque.
All DS 3 Performance models will come with a limited-slip differential, suspension lowered 15mm, twin tailpipes and larger brake discs with special callipers. They’ll sit right at the top of the DS 3 and DS 3 Cabrio range.
More equipment and refinement
The latest DS 3 is a big step forwards in terms of interior quality and premium appeal. Inside is more luxurious and there’s plenty of modern kit available.
Available in five trims – Chic, Elegance, Prestige, Prestige Plus and Performance – P11D prices are expected to rise across the range, with entry-level models approximately £700 more than today’s range. That points to a starting price of just under £14,000.
As standard all cars will come with a seven-inch colour touchscreen, Bluetooth, air-con and Active City Brake (a system which helps to prevent low-speed collisions).
Other new equipment available in the range includes Apple CarPlay, MirrorLink, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera as well as new interior design schemes like a topaz dashboard and the excellent watchstrap leather previously seen in the DS 4 and 5.
Drivers can also download the MyDS app, which will inform you when the car is ready for a service, where it is parked and fuel economy figures. With MirrorLink you can also use the app to send text messages hands-free.
