2015 Citroen DS3 Review and First Drive

A new more powerful and efficient engine and a two-model lineup with the highest level of standard specification now make the updated Citroen DS 3 a standout buy in the premium compact hatchback segment. Very impressive indeed for a vehicle which has already won numerous international awards.

The D3 updates are part of Citroen Australia’s plans to streamline its Australian model range. More kit as standard, better value and less overlap will make the French brand more appealing to local buyers.

Not that Citroen is without history in Australia. Always renowned for its design and engineering, it is in fact 90 years this year since the first Citroen C5 circumnavigated Australia and currently there are more than 40,000 Citroens on Australian roads. 

Internationally Citroen’s motorsport program has diversified to include the World Rally Championship and World Touring Car Championship. In fact the latter has been dominated by Citroen – ahead of BMW, Chevrolet and Honda.

Citroen DS3 Overview

Introducing the new two-model range of the DS 3, Citroen Australia’s sales boss Shaun Mackle explained: “Price point models and base grade variants don’t work for Citroen or the DS 3.” He added the average price of DS 3s sold in Australia has been around $33,000 and, for example, the company has not sold a single one without satellite navigation for 18 months.

So the premise for the product planning behind the updated model was to offer everything as standard. In ‘Citroen-Speak’ this means the 2015 model lineup is just one grade and that’s actually even better than the previous range-topping ‘D Sport’ variant.

As well as the new engine, there is extra technology in the form of Citroen’s first ‘Active City Brake’ system, new LED/Xenon headlights and a reversing camera. All things bundled together and Citroen reckons the updated DS 3 represents better buying than its predecessor to the tune of $7,500.

Fortunately price changes are nowhere near that and the new model lineup is:

DS3 DSport hatchback	$33,990
DS3 D Sport cabrio	$36,590

 

Citroen DS3 Engine

Probably the biggest news for the updated Citroen DS 3 is the engine. Better performance with reduced fuel consumption and emissions is a combination any brand would aspire to.

Citroen has delivered with the DS 3 scoring its e-THP 160 turbocharged 1.6-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine. Yes, this is the engine co-developed with BMW which also powers the C4 Picasso SUV.

In the DS 3, maximum power is up by 6.0kW over the outgoing model with 121kW at 6000rpm and peak torque of 240Nm is delivered between 1400rpm – 4000rpm.

Fuel-saving auto start-stop is standard socombined-cycle fuel consumption is ranked at 5.6l/100kms and exhaust C02 scores 129g/km. That means the Citroen DS 3 is 10 per-cent more efficient than the superseded model and complies with the Euro 6 regulations.

Compared to the previous model’s engine, apart from the auto start-stop system, the e-THP 160 features a different turbocharger for improved bottom-end performance, reduced internal friction, on-demand water pump and a variable demand oil pump.

Drive is to the front wheels via the current six-speed manual transmission. Citroen Australia will not offer the DS 3 with an automatic transmission until a new version (replacing the previous model’s old four-speeder) is available.

 

Citroen DS3 The Interior

Ask us which automotive companies these days are doing the best interior design work and we’ll tell you Citroen and sister company Peugeot would be ranked in the top half-dozen. The Citroen DS3 proves the point with its handsomely-styled dashboard with piano black and carbon-fibre look highlights, ultra-modern curved instrument binnacle (again with pin-sharp graphics and needles) and the seven-inch colour screen for the ‘eMyWay’ satellite navigation and RDS audio system with the usual connectivity.

The standard black cloth seat trim is now ‘Tissu Akinen Mistral’. Opt for leather seats and you have two colour choices - black or a black and off-white combination.

The front seats and sporty and offer good support (rake/reach adjustment for the tiny 363mm leather-wrapped steering wheel and alloy pedals have the driver nicely set-up). Included in the update specifications is a folding front centre arm-rest with inbuilt storage box.

There’s plenty of leg-room for those in the rear and the rear seat split-folds 60:40 for cargo versatility. Luggage space is claimed to be segment-best at 285-litres with the rear seat in-pace or 980-litres when folded flat.

Citroen DS3 Exterior & Styling

There have been no dramatic changes to the unique look of the Citroen DS 3 (highlighted of course by the ‘shark fin’ B-pillars). But improved aesthetics arrive in the form of new-design 17-inch ‘Aphrodite’ black alloy wheels in a turbofan pattern plus LED/Xenon headlights with three independent diamond style LED modules.

But more importantly, Citroen DS 3 buyers now have greater personalization options with customizable components including the roof, body, exterior mirror housings and wheel centres. In fact there are now 29 individual colour combinations for the Citroen DS 3 hatchback and 21 for the cabriolet. Citroen reckons, when combined with the new roof decals and matching floor mats, there are more than 200 individual DS 3 options.

There are seven themes for the roof decals which are all available in a wide range of colours. They are ‘Plane’ (as in airplane), ‘Squares’, ‘Co-Design’, ‘Perle’ (polka dot), ‘Graphic Art’, ‘Zebra ‘ and ‘Tribal’.

Citroen DS3 On The Road

Ah the joys of getting away from speed camera choked Victoria…Barely minutes after leaving Brisbane Airport we were pitching the Citroen DS 3 into a series of bends as we headed up the hills towards Mt Glorious. And in that time we’d already gleaned the updated DS 3 has taken a massive leap forward from its accomplished predecessor.

There have not been significant changes for the MacPherson strut front/ flexible transverse torsion beam rear suspension. But, as part of the efforts to reduce the DS 3’s overall weight (hatchback) to 1140gs, some 7.0-kgs has been pared from the rear suspension alone.

And don’t underestimate the excellent grip of the 205/45 R17 Michelin Pilot Sport tyres mounted on those new-look 17-inch alloy wheels. Yep this Citroen is very high standard in the twisty stuff.

Citroen concedes the DS 3 is a ‘Warm’ hatch and there is certainly some extra compliance in the spring and damper calibration compared to the direct German rivals. Maybe it’s a French thing because we detected similar tendencies in the Peugeots we driven lately.

That’s not to say they’re soft – in fact the Citroen DS 3 felt downright sporty on those SE Queensland roads. But definitely less-jarring than the Germans (which admittedly have aspirations to being ‘hot’ hatches).

For sure the extra 6.0-kW from the e-THP 160 engine was noticeable but more so was the wider power band which allowed the DS 3 a greater degree of flexibility in all gears.

On the freeway, the Citroen DS 3 was nicely refined – little wind or tyre noise to speak of – and a quick blast around a go-kart track highlighted the maneuverability afforded by the compact 10.4-metre turning circle.   

 

Citroen DS3 Challenges

Citroen says the antiquated four-speed automatic transmission of the previous generation DS 3 still accounted of 21 per-cent of sales. So a large slice of buyers of the updated model will be cooling their heels awaiting the still-under-development auto.

 

Citroen DS3 Verdict

Once again we must doff our caps (or rather tip our berets!) to Citroen. We’ve long adored the styling of the DS 3 and felt the excellent chassis could do with a bit more urge under the bonnet.

Boom! Citroen has delivered with this mid-life facelift providing not only a better engine but also sharpened looks and a lot more specification to substantially improve the value equation. Of course less weight means that slick chassis is now even better and, when combined with that punchy 121kW engine, the total package is certainly enticing.

Sure the Citroen DS 3 still isn’t the lowest-priced entrant in this small European sub-segment but it boasts heaps of kit and don’t forget Citroen’s six year/unlimited kilometers factory warranty is double that offered by some rivals.

Basically this segment boils down to a straight fight between Citroen DS 3, Audi A1 and Mini Cooper S. Make sure the Citroen is on your list.

 

Citroen DS3 The Competition

Let’s be crystal here: key in this mid-life update for the Citroen DS 3 is the inclusion as standard features many items which others list as options. That’s where Citroen has been clever (in theory a simplified ordering process reduces FOB prices from the factory and hence increases distributor and dealer margins) but it also means more than ever those prospective buyers must check the fine print in those specification lists.

The chic Audi A1 is a favourite of www.carshowroom.com.au but to get equipment and performance levels approaching the Citroen DS 3 you’re looking at the A1 1.4 TFSI Attraction which will set you back $32,250. Mind you the Audi A1 is worth every cent – the hallmark quality and gorgeous interior and the sporty driving dynamics are impossible to ignore.

Likewise for the Mini Cooper S ($36,950 for the three-door model which for us is the pick of the Cooper S models). For sure the turbo 2.0-litre packs a punch and sharp as the Mini Cooper S to steer, we think this updated Citroen DS 3 could spring a surprise or two in the twisty stuff.