What is it?

The DS3 is the coolest, cutest, boldest small car that’s been launched in a while. Instead of the retro bodywork sported by the Fiat 500 and Mini, the Citroen tries hard to be new and progressive and largely succeeds. That said, it is based on the C3 supermini, the humble origins at least ensuring it offers a choice of five different engines and acceptable pricing, starting at £11,700 and rising to £15,900 for this flagship DSport. Although we’ve driven it abroad and group tested it against the Renaultsport Clio 200, Mini Cooper S and Abarth 500, this is the first time we’ve driven one in the UK.

Technical highlights?

Although familiar it’s got to be the engine. Why familiar? Well, it’s the 1.6-litre turbocharged unit that the PSA group developed in conjunction with BMW, so also underpins the Cooper S – albeit in a different state of tune. It’s also recently been fitted to the Peugeot RCZ. In common with the Peugeot coupe it suffers from overly long gearing which robs the DS3 of genuine zestiness and sprinting ability. Shame it has to sound so dull, too.

What’s it like to drive?

Different, but in a good way. The DS3 eschews the trend, characterised by the Cooper S and Clio 200 of hard suspension and sharp reactions in favour of a more supple, languid set-up. As a result it’s not as agile, quick-witted and sporting as its two rivals, yet it still manages to be genuinely enjoyable.

Drawbacks first: The touch points between you and the car are not great; the gearshift has a long throw, the brakes are spongy and the steering is largely free from feedback. However, once you get used to these (and you do because they somehow suit the car, seeming idiosyncratic rather than irritating), you realise that underneath there’s a genuinely talented chassis mounted on the long travel suspension.

It helps that you enjoy a good driving position, sited relatively far back in the chassis, close to the car’s pivot point and that the DS3 has decent balance front to rear, managing understeer well and offering a little mid-corner adjustability. It’s fine as far as it goes and deals with road surfaces better than its rivals, but for balls-out driving it’s satisfying rather than intoxicating. Where it scores is that when you ease back, the DS3 offering great rhythm and flow on a broad mix of roads and conditions. As an everyday car, it makes a lot of sense.

How does it compare?

Pretty favourably to be honest, largely because it doesn’t try to ape any rival, but instead treads its own path. The MINI is undoubtedly its most direct rival and if you’re expecting to be driving around town then the DS3 has it licked. For thrills, though, the Clio 200 still takes top honours.

Anything else I need to know?

Is it effeminate? With this numberplate and the tattooed roof yes, but such is the range of personalisation that you can make the DS3 look a bit more serious should you choose. Have to say we’re not that blown away by the claimed economy of 42.2mpg, when a more powerful Cooper S promises 48.7mpg.