Skip advert
Advertisement

Citroen DS3: Fourth report

Long injury lay-off brought enforced break from our hot hatch. So has absence made the heart grow fonder?

Pros
  • I love the DS3’s interior. It looks great and is standing up well to the daily grind. The seats continue to be as comfortable as when new and the gearchange is still slick and precise, even though the car has been subjected to a couple of Auto Express road tests. Above all, the Citroen remains fantastic fun to drive.
Cons
  • The sat-nav isn’t that intuitive and still baffles me with its cumbersome controls. I always seem to knock the radio stalk when taking the key out of the ignition, too: it invariably selects Aux mode, which is very frustrating. And there are no cup-holders.
Find your Citroen DS3
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

After months out of the loop while injured, I’m now back to full fitness – so I can banish my unwieldy crutches to the bin once and for all! Many people would simply look forward to being mobile again, but I’m most excited about getting back behind the wheel of our Citroen DS3.

Advertisement - Article continues below

After breaking my left foot on holiday earlier this year, I’ve been confined to driving autos. Luckily, we’ve had a Ford Mondeo Estate with a PowerShift gearbox on loan, so I haven’t been stranded. Yet while I’ve enjoyed driving the 2.2 TDCi load-lugger, it simply hasn’t been as much fun as our turbo supermini.

So after weeks apart, it was with trepidation that I got back into the driver’s seat. Would I still adore the DS3? Or had my misty-eyed love been playing tricks on me? Well, it seems absence does make the heart grow fonder. The Citroen’s compact dimensions are great in London traffic, and its livewire performance makes nipping through crowded streets much less stressful.

It impresses on open roads, too, where it is incredible fun to drive. Its low-slung red leather seats cosset and hold you in place, while the punchy 1.6-litre engine revs freely and keenly, providing strong acceleration. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Kona Electric

2020 Hyundai

Kona Electric

44,137 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £12,197
View Kona Electric
Puma

2023 Ford

Puma

26,541 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £14,600
View Puma
Fiesta

2021 Ford

Fiesta

11,415 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £14,200
View Fiesta
Fiesta

2019 Ford

Fiesta

23,854 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £11,000
View Fiesta

Our months apart haven’t been without incident, though, as I’ve spotted some scratches in the smart grey paint. Yet I’m confident they will polish out without too much difficulty.

The interior is standing up very well despite having been used for a variety of tasks. I’ve carried garden rubbish and piles of shopping in the DS3, and even transported my family and baby granddaughter in it, with all that entails. There’s not a scuff mark to be seen inside, and the ‘shiny black’ facia still looks glossy and fresh.

The cabin does have its faults, though, however small they are. For example, the tiny glovebox is next to useless, and the gimmicky air freshener ran out in the first month. I haven’t bothered to find out how to change it yet – which shows how much I miss it.

Also, the passenger seat has developed a very loud squeak, which will need to be investigated. And to round things off, the windscreen collected a huge crack recently after being hit by a stone that flew up from a freshly resurfaced road. 

So, having only just got the DS3’s keys back, I’ll have to hand them over to one of Citroen’s dealers. Let’s hope they display the same enthusiasm and effectiveness as the car.

Extra Info

“The flagship DSport is the pick of the DS3 range. Its willing engine, nimble handling and classy interior come into their own on cross country jaunts. But it’s not perfect. The stereo is fiddly to operate – switching to medium wave stations is a chore. Plus, as Lesley says, the sat-nav isn’t as good as rival systems.”

Stuart Morton, Chief Sub-Editor

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £5,115 off RRP*Used from £14,295
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £25,915Avg. savings £2,241 off RRP*Used from £20,921
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,271 off RRP*Used from £12,700
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £2,549 off RRP*Used from £11,890
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Peugeot 208 GTi: electric hot hatch gets stunning looks and plenty of power
Peugeot E-208 GTi - reveal front

New Peugeot 208 GTi: electric hot hatch gets stunning looks and plenty of power

Hot Peugeot E-208 gets racier styling, 276bhp and does 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds
News
13 Jun 2025
New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer
Volvo EM90 - front

New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer

Volvo has made an ultra-luxurious van. Intrigued? You should be, but sadly it’s for China only
Road tests
16 Jun 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Kia Sportage at £255 per month can’t be anything but popular
Kia Sportage - side panning

Car Deal of the Day: Kia Sportage at £255 per month can’t be anything but popular

The Kia Sportage has earned its popularity over the years and deals like our Car Deal of the Day for June 14 won’t do it any harm at all.
News
14 Jun 2025