DS 3 review
The DS 3 is a left-field choice in the small premium SUV segment, and one that’s been developed with comfort in mind
Our opinion on the DS 3
The DS 3 stands out from the crowd with a style that’s all its own, but it’s average at best in most other respects. While there’s a generous amount of standard equipment, DS 3 prices are high for a small premium SUV, especially when it can’t match its rivals for outright quality and polish.
Designed with comfort in mind, the DS 3 is easy to drive and reasonably refined, but it lacks the control you get from its competition. Both the hybrid and electric powertrains are strong enough, though, with the DS 3 E-Tense EV offering a pretty good amount of battery range.
About the DS 3
Although the DS 3 started out as a Citroen supermini, it has since evolved into a small premium SUV which now comes from the DS sub-brand.
The DS 3 shares the same Common Modular Platform as Peugeot’s 208 supermini and 2008 SUV, and is offered with a choice of hybrid or electric power. A mid-life saw a number of changes made to the DS 3, including the ‘Crossback’ part of the model’s original name being dropped and the addition of a new infotainment system.
The fully electric DS 3 E-Tense also received significant improvements as part of this update, most notably a larger 54kWh battery and more power. As a result, it now offers up to 248 miles on the WLTP combined cycle – around 60 miles more than the old model.
Used - available now
We’ve tested various versions of the DS 3 over the years, including a twin-test with the DS 3 E-Tense against the Volvo EX30. While we did like the quality of the materials in its interior and smooth ride, we ultimately gave the Volvo the win because of its superior practicality, performance, and electric charging and driving range.
DS 3 prices and latest deals
The DS 3 is quite pricey, with the base Pallas variant starting from around £33,000. The mid-range Performance Line ups this number to nearly £33,500, while the poshest Étoile is almost £35,000.
These prices apply to the hybrid-powered cars, with the electric E-Tense costing even more. However, the EV does qualify for Band 2 of the Government's Electric Car Grant (ECG). This equates to a £1,500 discount, which is applied automatically when you buy. Prices for this model start from around £37,000 for the Pallas, £37,500 for the Performance Line, and £39,000 for the Etoile.
Whether you’re attracted to hybrid or electric power, you can save money by building your dream DS 3 via the Auto Express Buy a Car service. We also have a selection of DS 3 leasing deals to choose from, as well as used DS 3 models in stock and ready to be driven away.
Performance & driving experience
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As with all other DS models (as well as most Citroens), the DS 3 has been developed with comfort in mind, rather than sportiness. It’s relatively light on its feet, with soft, compliant suspension and reasonable refinement. It isn’t the most engaging small SUV to drive; the Ford Puma sets the benchmark for this class in that respect, but even the Peugeot 2008, with which the DS shares its basic platform, feels sharper to drive.
Meanwhile, the electric DS 3 E-Tense doesn’t leap forward or pin you back in your seat like many other EVs. Instead, it feels more natural when accelerating, with a similar off-the-line progression to a petrol DS 3 with an automatic transmission.
| Model | Power | 0-62mph | Top speed |
| DS 3 1.2 Hybrid 145 Pallas | 142bhp | 9.2 seconds | 126mph |
| DS 3 1.2 Hybrid 145 Etoile | 142bhp | 9.2 seconds | 126mph |
| DS 3 E-Tense Pallas | 152bhp | 9 seconds | 93mph |
Performance, 0-60mph acceleration and top speed
The DS 3’s engine line-up has been cut right back over the years, and today you only have the choice of the Hybrid 145 if you want a car powered by petrol. This powertrain produces 142bhp and 230Nm of torque for a 0-62mph time of 9.2 seconds and a top speed of 126mph. While it’s no speed machine, this should still suffice for most of the DS 3’s intended buyers.
The alternative to hybrid power is the fully electric DS 3 E-Tense. Unlike some EVs, this car isn’t that much faster than its combustion-powered counterpart. The single electric motor sends an equally sensible 152bhp and 260Nm to the front wheels. Due to the extra weight of the 54kWh battery pack, the E-Tense takes nine seconds to hit 62mph, and it’ll then max out at a limited top speed of 93mph.
By way of comparison, a Volvo EX30 Single Motor (which is a similarly-priced small electric SUV) pumps out 268bhp, making it a far quicker car at 5.7 seconds from 0 to 62mph.
Town driving, visibility and parking
The DS 3 is well suited to smaller city streets, we feel, because faster driving really is not its forte. There aren’t many thrills to be had, given that the light steering is devoid of feeling, but this does at least make this small SUV easy to manoeuvre around town. The suspension keeps things nice and comfortable, too.
However, the hybrid’s eight-speed automatic gearbox isn’t as smooth as we’d expect when trundling through traffic and parking. The DS 3’s unique design also means visibility isn’t exactly great, with both the side and the rear views compromised by chunky pillars. Thankfully, every model comes with a 360-degree camera as standard, but you’ll find yourself depending on this technology quite a lot when parking.
Country road driving and handling
Light steering and a softly sprung suspension set-up are seldom a recipe for sporty driving, and the DS 3 is no exception to this rule. However, this small SUV is perfectly adequate at handling twistier roads and while you won’t be grinning from ear to ear, but you won’t be holding on for dear life, either.
Motorway driving and long-distance comfort
The aforementioned soft suspension contributes towards a generally calm and comfortable cruising experience. Quite a lot of tyre roar can be heard in the cabin, which is a bit disappointing considering this car’s premium aspirations. Both the hybrid and EV do at least offer enough power to get up to and stay at motorway speeds with little fuss.
“The DS 3 is fairly relaxing to drive. There’s a greater focus on comfort here than in the EX30, and on slower urban roads, there’s a touch more compliance over big bumps. As the speed increases, that translates into a little less body control, because there’s an additional bounce before the car settles after each bump.” - Alex Ingram, former chief reviewer.
MPG & running costs
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The hybrid-powered DS 3 is capable of returning up to 62.1mpg on the WLTP combined cycle, depending on your chosen specification, and emissions dip as low as 102g/km. These are respectable figures, and it means the DS 3 is ever so slightly more frugal on fuel than the Nissan Juke Hybrid (60.1mpg).
| Model | MPG | CO2 | Insurance group |
| DS 3 1.2 Hybrid 145 Pallas | 62.1mpg | 112g/km | 21 |
| DS 3 1.2 Hybrid 145 Etoile | 62.1mpg | 112g/km | 21 |
Electric range, battery life and charge time
Of course, if you’re concerned about tailpipe emissions, the DS 3 E-Tense is the model to go for. This small electric SUV uses a 54kWh battery, which is capable of returning up to 248 miles on the WLTP Combined cycle. This is a longer range than the standard Volvo EX30, which only manages 214 miles. The Extended Range models surpass the DS 3 E-Tense, provided you’re willing to part with more money.
One thing we’re particularly pleased to see is that every DS 3 E-Tense comes with a heat pump as standard to help maintain your electric driving range by providing a more efficient way of heating the car in cold weather.
Recharging the 54kWh battery (51kWh usable) can be done at speeds of up to 100kW using a suitable rapid charger, and should take around 30 mins to top up from a 10 to 80 per cent state of charge. If you’re using a 7.4kW wallbox charger at home, it’ll take 7.5 hours to fully charge a flat battery.
| Model | Battery size | Range | Insurance group |
| DS 3 E-Tense Pallas | 54kWh (51kWh usable) | 248 miles | 29 |
| DS 3 E-Tense Etoile | 54kWh (51kWh usable) | 245 miles | 29 |
Insurance groups
The DS 3 occupies insurance group 21 (out of 50) for the hybrid models, moving up to group 29 for the E-Tense.
The closely related Peugeot 2008 is a bit cheaper to insure as it starts from group 16. The electric Peugeot E-2008 is also a bit lower, starting from group 26. The Volvo EX30 is much costlier to cover, ranging from groups 35 to 40.
Tax
The DS 3 narrowly avoids the luxury car tax of £40,000 for hybrid versions or the higher £50,000 for electric cars, even if you are a bit too enthusiastic when choosing your trim level and adding options. It’ll only be subject to the standard VED road tax bill.
Company car drivers will need the electric DS 3 E-Tense if they’re to reap the biggest tax-related rewards, because this qualifies for the lowest applicable Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rates.
Our Car Tax Checker tool lets you check your tax status and renewal date in seconds. Check your VED car tax now...
Depreciation
Our market data show that this small SUV barely clings to around 35 per cent of its initial value after three years or 36,000 miles in hybrid form, while the E-Tense electric will only retain 31 per cent of its original value.
For comparison, the hybrid Lexus LBX maintains between 52 and 56 per cent over the same period, while the electric Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica retains between 50 and 52 per cent.
To get an accurate valuation on a specific model check out our free car valuation tool...
Interior, design & technology
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From the outside, the DS 3 looks the part thanks to a bold front end with a large grille, a usefully lofty ride height, and a distinctive kick in the windowline on the car’s profile. In other words, it won't be mistaken for anything else. The party-piece deployable door handles also pop out when you unlock the car, and a pair of vertical LED strakes on either side of the grille really help this small SUV to stand out.
Interior and dashboard design
Things are just as interesting inside. The interior is a cacophony of tactile materials, geometric shapes and (unfortunately) oddly placed buttons. It looks unlike anything else on the market, but the design clearly prioritises aesthetics over ergonomics in some places. Lots of key features are controlled via the car’s infotainment screen, and instead of any physical buttons, the DS 3 uses touch-sensitive diamond-shaped tiles that offer no haptic feedback to let you know you’ve pressed them hard enough. This isn’t helpful on the move, especially considering we had to press some buttons multiple times before anything happened at all.
Of the few physical controls there are, the electric door mirror controls are hidden behind the steering wheel and are difficult to see. Meanwhile, all the window switches are located around the gear lever, and their geometric pattern may look nice, but it is impossible to distinguish between them at a glance. It all takes a bit of getting used to the DS 3’s strange layout.
Materials and build quality
One bit of good news is that the premium material choices don’t suffer significantly in lower-spec models compared with higher trim levels. In our view, the entry-level Pallas model is fancy enough inside to make you question the worth of opting for the higher-end variants.
Infotainment, sat-nav and stereo
All DS 3s use a 10.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. There are plenty of features, and the updated infotainment system is easier to use than the one found in older DS 3 Crossback models. The main screen is much more responsive, and the smartphone-style menus work rather well. However, navigating through menus to use the climate control system can quickly become frustrating.
“There’s no question that the DS 3’s cabin design is unique, and for some buyers, that will be enough for them to place a deposit. The standard of finish is lifted by the close attention to detail that DS has paid to the cabin, such as the wonderfully soft leather that covers the seats and steering wheel.” - Alex Ingram, former chief reviewer.
Boot space & practicality
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The DS 3 is a small five-door SUV, but it doesn’t offer much more in the way of practicality over larger superminis. There’s seating for five and an average-sized boot, but you’ll find more overall space inside a Volkswagen Polo.
We’re not fans of the driving position, either. Hard seats and a limited range of adjustment to the driver’s seat and steering wheel mean you may find it hard to get comfortable behind the wheel.
Elsewhere, the DS 3’s odd ergonomics continue with cupholders located behind the gear selector, a wireless phone charger pad (where fitted) that might not fit larger phones, and small door bins. It may look interesting, but user-friendliness wasn’t a major priority when this car was designed.
Dimensions and size
The DS 3 is a bit shorter than a number of its rivals, but the decent ground clearance of 170mm is worth noting, as this could be helpful on farm tracks or large speed bumps.
| Dimensions comparison | |||
| Model | DS 3 | Peugeot 2008 | Volvo EX30 |
| Length | 4,118mm | 4,304mm | 4,233mm |
| Width | 1,802mm | 1,770mm | 1,940mm |
| Height | 1,534mm | 1,550mm | 1,555mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,560mm | 2,610mm | 2,650mm |
| Boot space | 350 litres | 434 litres | 318 litres |
Seats & passenger space
Space for the driver and passenger in the front of the DS 3 is decent, and it should prove comfortable sitting here, provided you can adjust the seats to suit. It’s a different story in the rear, where space for passengers’ legs and heads is limited and certainly below average for the class. If you plan to regularly carry adults in the back, rivals like the Renault Captur and Volkswagen T-Cross are a better bet, because they offer a sliding rear bench and the option to increase rear legroom. There’s enough space for children and smaller teenagers, though.
It’s quite dark and dingy in the rear, thanks in part to tinted rear glass and a small glasshouse that’s interrupted by a protruding design feature on the high window line, so children may struggle to see out. Isofix points are supplied on the outer two rear seats.
Boot space
There’s an adequate amount of space in the back, with 350 litres on offer in both the petrol and electric DS 3, plus 1,050 litres of cargo space with the 60/40 split rear seats folded down. But by contrast, the MINI Countryman boasts a 450-litre boot that can expand to 1,450 litres.
Small issues include a high boot lip with a drop down to what is a rather deep boot floor, along with a rear bench that doesn’t quite fold flat – there’s a step between the boot and the folded seats that might hamper loading.
“The DS 3’s exterior design, where the window line kinks up towards the B-pillars, makes it feel a little more claustrophobic in the back than the Volvo EX30, even before overall space is taken into account.” - Alex Ingram, former chief reviewer.
Reliability & safety
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The standard, European-spec DS 3 was awarded a four-star safety rating from Euro NCAP – not a great result for this class. However, the addition of DS’s Safety Pack (standard in the UK) bumps that up to a full five stars, with an impressive 96 per cent adult occupant score. All DS 3s sold here come with an emergency brake system, lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning, speed limit recognition and intelligent speed adaptation.
Neither the DS 3 nor the DS brand have appeared in the Driver Power customer satisfaction survey for quite a while, but sister brand Citroen was voted into a middling 16th place in the most recent best manufacturer results. Peugeot fared slightly better in seventh place.
| Euro NCAP safety ratings | |
| Euro NCAP safety rating | Five stars (2019/with safety pack) |
| Adult occupant protection | 96% |
| Child occupant protection | 86% |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 64% |
| Safety assist | 76% |
Buying and owning
- Best buy: DS 3 1.2 Hybrid 145 Pallas
In order to get the best value for money, we’d opt for the hybrid-powered DS 3 in base Pallas trim. There’s still a good amount of standard kit on offer here, along with plenty of the brand’s unique luxury touches. The hybrid powertrain is also easy on fuel consumption and, therefore, shouldn’t cost a fortune to run.
DS 3 alternatives
As we’ve mentioned, the Peugeot 2008 and Peugeot E-2008 are very closely related to the DS 3, and both of these small SUVs bring their own flavour of French luxury to the market. The Alfa Romeo Junior is another Stellantis stablemate which offers both hybrid and electric power, as does the Citroen C3 Aircross. Elsewhere, there’s the Ford Puma, Renault Captur, Hyundai Kona and Lexus LBX to take into account, along with purely-electric models like the Volvo EX30, Kia EV3 and Renault 4.
Key updates of the DS 3 review
30 March 2026: Updated to include new driving impressions, along with the latest line-up and pricing data.
Frequently Asked Questions
All DS 3 models have a three-year/60,000-mile warranty. The all-electric DS 3 E-Tense also comes with an eight-year/100,000-mile battery warranty, which covers you if the charging capacity of the batteries falls below 70 per cent of their original capacity. The DS Assistance roadside assistance package is free for three years.
Deals on the DS 3 and alternatives
