Skip advert
Advertisement

DS 3 review - Does French hatch match a Mini for fun? - Design

A car first, now a brand, the DS3 is Citroen’s spin-off that’s aiming at the premium players

Evo rating
RRP
from £13,995
  • Entertaining drive, fine styling, interesting interior and plenty personalisation makes for a fun Mini rival
  • The Mini does everything a little bit better

It might not be the newest premium hatch on the block, but the DS 3 still looks fresh, helped by a mild facelift in 2014 and further revisions when the model became a standalone DS product.

The reverse shark's fin on the B-pillar in body colour piercing the blacked out pillars is a neat visual trick, while DS uses LED lights to tremendous effect to create a distinctive face at the front and very cool 3D-effect tail lights. The scope for personalisation is vast, while the DS wheel choices are all distinctive. There’s even the option to colour-code the ignition key.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Squat proportions, extremely neat detailing inside and out and some clever surfacing and colour use continue to make the DS3 look fresh despite its age. The Performance models are neat, too - their colour schemes and trim appendages are among the more tasteful options in the hot hatchback class.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Morgan's Midsummer Coupé is its first fixed-roof hardtop since the Aero
Morgan Midsummer Coupé front
News

Morgan's Midsummer Coupé is its first fixed-roof hardtop since the Aero

Morgan’s returning to the fixed-roof coupe game, albeit on a limited-run basis for now
24 Jun 2026
McLaren W1 review – the Ferrari F80's wild, 1258bhp nemesis
McLaren W1
In-depth reviews

McLaren W1 review – the Ferrari F80's wild, 1258bhp nemesis

The P1’s successor has arrived, with 1258bhp and surprising manners
29 Jun 2026
Polestar cars banned from sale in the US. Will Lotus be next?
Polestar 5 side
News

Polestar cars banned from sale in the US. Will Lotus be next?

The United States of America has shut the door on Polestar, the Department of Commerce removing the company’s authorisation to sell cars from the 2027…
26 Jun 2026