• E-Tense will be cheaper to run than petrol or diesel versions…
• …if used appropriately
• Eight-year, 100,000-mile battery warranty 

Like all electric cars, the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense promises cheaper running costs than its petrol/diesel counterparts, as long as it’s used appropriately. DS reckons that the E-Tense will cover around 90% of daily driving requirements, given the average commute is around 25 miles on a round trip. Calculate this against the E-Tense’s 200-mile WLTP range and, in theory, many users should be able to do a full regular working week without having to add any extra charge. Motorway speeds reduce the range dramatically, however..

Should you need to top up the E-Tense batteries, a boost to 80% battery capacity takes 30 minutes from a 100kW fast charger. Meanwhile, a full recharge on a dedicated domestic 11kW charging point should take around five hours, with the car able to delay said charge until electricity tariffs are at their cheapest (usually at night). It’s worth noting that without a fast charger, you should prepare for much longer charging times using a three-pin domestic socket. Typically, plugged in to the domestic charger the car will gain around 60 miles of charge overnight at minimal cost.

Is it reliable?

We’ve no major concerns over DS reliability given it uses a shared platform with parts tried and tested on a broad range of other Peugeot-Citroen Group vehicles. It also has the benefit of using fewer moving parts than petrol and diesel equivalents, meaning there should be less to go wrong.  

For added peace of mind, every DS comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile general warranty, 12-year anti-perforation warranty and a three-year paint warranty. Being electric, the E-Tense also features an eight-year, 100,000-mile battery warranty. Should something happen when you’re out on the road, DS also provides new car buyers with three years roadside assistance free of charge.