Citroen DS3 mini review/rant.

Berger

Berger

Berger

Soldato
Joined
22 May 2003
Posts
10,856
Location
Wigan
Hired one out from the airport as an alternative to a Focus or similar as it would be a rival to our Hyundai and similar to the Fiat 500 we had in the UK.

It looks pretty good, but they seem very common on the road.

Engine goes well, the one I have is the 1.6, revs sweetly, gearbox isn't too bad, but could do with a 6th gear, revs are around 3500 at motorway speeds which makes it quite loud inside the cabin.

Handling is very good, loads of grip and excellent feedback through the wheel.

Boot space is good for a small car, took both cases and a small carry on case, the parcel shelf didn't sit perfectly afterwards, but they went in without the seats going down.

I can't believe how poor the interior is, the seat is impossible to get comfortable, with limited adjustment in almost every direction. It is all made from fairly low grade plastics and pretty scratchy and shiny. The armrest obstructs the handbrake. The steering wheel doesn't adjust for reach, meaning I have to drive hunched forwards as I need to put the seat back quite far as the pedals are close to the wheel. The glovebox is almost non existant and no storage space under the armrest, limited in the doors. There are no cupholders.

The radio seems like it was just lifted from a 90's Citroen and is way too low down, where is the ipod input? There is an Aux in, but this is in between the front seats, with the awkward armrest and then the handbrake in the way. No steering wheel mounted phone controls, I don't even know if it does bluetooth to your mobile. This seems totally stupid when the car has cruise/digital aircon/folding electric mirrors, might just be a hire car special?

What is wrong with knobs to turn for the aircon/heater. You have to press a button to adjust which vents are operating. Of course you always press the button once more than you intended to, which then means you have to press it 5 more times to cycle back through to get onto the setting you originally wanted. Yet for the speed of the fans, this has a button for up and a button for down!
 
Really?
I was in a ds3racing and thought it was LOVELY for a little hot hatch.

Having said that. different kettle of fish i suppose.
 
Dr Who said:
It really isn't a dire car, but it does have it's faults.
Click to expand...

There is a lot about it that I like, just that the uncomfortable seating arrangement lets it down and makes a good car merely average. Some people may find the seat fine if they are shorter than myself.
 
Berger said:
There is a lot about it that I like, just that the uncomfortable seating arrangement lets it down and makes a good car merely average. Some people may find the seat fine if they are shorter than myself.
Click to expand...

idd with anything in your review, I just disagree it is a dire car (which I think you do as well).

It has a good engine and a sweet chassis, the interior is no better than most in the class and the seats are poor for tall people like me 6'5" (and you presumably).
 
Do you know which one it was? I test drove the thp 155 with leather seats and it was a very nice place to be.
 
I've got the DStyle 110 Derv in White and black contrasting roof on order (Sacrafice Scheme through work) as my Volvo is surplus to requirements since moving home.

Had the eMyWay with the Nav, Bluetooth etc. Leather interior as well. With the DS3 as well I think you need to spec the input 'box' if you want Ipod connectivity.

Went and test drove it last month, seems a good car, didn't seem at all 'cheap'. The leather was good quality, seats were comfy (I'm 6"3 and quite stocky) and the actual interior I thought was quite quirky and modern.

As for the looks I think they're a bit marmite.. you either like it or you don't. For me I like them.
 
Last edited:
West said:
I've got the DStyle 110 Derv in White and black contrasting roof on order (Sacrafice Scheme through work) as my Volvo is surplus to requirements since moving home.

Had the eMyWay with the Nav, Bluetooth etc. Leather interior as well. With the DS3 as well I think you need to spec the input 'box' if you want Ipod connectivity.

Went and test drove it last month, seems a good car, didn't seem at all 'cheap'. The leather was good quality, seats were comfy (I'm 6"3 and quite stocky) and the actual interior I thought was quite quirky and modern.

As for the looks I think they're a bit marmite.. you either like it or you don't. For me I like them.
Click to expand...

I drove one just over a week ago and found the sound. Generally enjoyed the drive (though too slow for me), but it seemed very well screwed together. Comfy too.

I agree about the interior, it's quirky but I liked it. I enjoy the exterior styling too. Looks smart in my eyes.
 
Having covered some more distance in it I have managed to get the seat to be more acceptable, but its by no means good.

I am assuming that it is the VTi 120, as it has a 5 speed box and performance seems appropriate to that engine power.

Not sure what trim level it is, but apart from the lack of bluetooth/ipod/leather it seems to have everything else. Cruise, electric folding mirrors, led running lights, digital aircon, auto dimming mirror, parking sensors.

I went the more scenic route up to Newcastle, taking the A686 from Penrith to Haydon Bridge which gave me a chance to open it out a bit more. I came back down the A1-M and the M6 as its a lot quicker.

The handling is good, perhaps a little overly firm, on broken tarmac and poor roads it bounces around too much. Doesn't have the suppleness of a 90s French hot hatch, the steering is good with decent feedback through the wheel. Larger profile tyres than were used back then, opposed to low profiles and firm sidewalls (RE05A) also giving quite a lot of road noise.

Gearing, I would say that 2nd and 3rd are too long and 5th is too short. I felt like I would have to take a gear lower than I should do, otherwise the revs would drop too much leaving me with nothing. This was noticeable on some switchbacks where 2nd gear was fairly gutless, yet 1st would have been revving the nuts off it. Also on some sweeping corners where I would prefer 3rd at 45-55mph, this wouldn't give enough power to accelerate out of them. However on the motorway with the cruise set to about 75, the car would be doing 3500rpm in 5th.
 
Last edited:
I think they look good from the front and side profile but the back looks like it was an afterthought.

Some of them look too over styled with crazy decals etc but they are a nice change from seeing Minis everywhere.
 
The issue was you were not in the DS3 sport, I hired diesel one of these from AVIS last year for a holiday in Scotland. It was great, comfy ride, loads of torque and good handling on twisty mountain roads. The sport version and up has six gears and it is generally excepted to give nicer shifts than the 5 speed gearbox.
 
Last edited:
iamtheoneneo said:
excellent fuel consumption though, certaintly noticed it after I spent a week around Spain in one and only had to pay 30euros.
Click to expand...

The issue was you were not in the DS3 sport, I hired diesel one of these from AVIS last year for a holiday in Scotland. It was great, comfy ride, loads of torque and good handling on twisty mountain roads. The sport version and up has six gears and it is generally excepted to give nicer shifts than the 5 speed gearbox.
Click to expand...

I thought it was average on fuel. I acheived 39mpg from the tank I measured brim to brim which was majority motorway, the short 5th gear hurting the economy a little.

I did have a drive without my girlfriend on some old roads I know, at 9/10th's the lower power wasn't a problem with the gear ratios, you just need to thrash the arse off it, which will then ruin the fuel consumption, it's not a car you can drive at 6 or 7/10ths while still making good progress.

The handling got even better with speed on smooth roads, and the rear will wag slightly without the ESP cutting in in the damp, in the dry you would have to go fairly nuts to get that far I think. Would imagine it would understeer first.

Comfy ride, debatable depending on what you're used to, I would disagree, OK on smooth roads but its pretty difficult not to be there. Bumpy roads, too crashy and stiff for no gain.

I managed to pull the 12v supply out of the dashboard trying to remove the Tomtom power cable and the carpet started to come down in the passenger footwell. Totally shocking interior in both quality and design.

The cruise control I liked how it displayed the cruise speed in the dash, and you could increase/decrease in 1mph increments using steering wheel mounted controls, but when you cancelled the cruise it was a very abrupt cancel, im sure that it could be made so that it rolls off the throttle slightly, rather than snapping it shut, which would smooth out the transition.

Looking on the website it seems it was the DS3 Style with the "city signature" pack, at just over 15'500 OTR. Would I buy one with my money, no chance! If it was 5 grand cheaper, perhaps.


Got back into my Hyundai at the airport and it felt like a huge step up in quality, the interior is just miles better in every way, and you don't need to shout to each other to be heard at motorway speeds. The difference would be even more pronounced if you were used to a more premium car. I'm sure not all Citroens will be like this though, they do make higher end cars, I would go as far as saying that my old Xsara VTS was screwed together better, which the DS3 is kind of a replacement for.
 
Berger said:
What is wrong with knobs to turn for the aircon/heater. You have to press a button to adjust which vents are operating. Of course you always press the button once more than you intended to, which then means you have to press it 5 more times to cycle back through to get onto the setting you originally wanted. Yet for the speed of the fans, this has a button for up and a button for down!
Click to expand...

And splat! Straight into the back of a lorry because you have to look at this stuff to operate it :(

I had the same issues with the Mondeo, up and down one degree at a time.
Now downgraded to a Focus with knobs and it is so much nicer to use.
 
West said:
The leather was good quality, seats were comfy (I'm 6"3 and quite stocky) and the actual interior I thought was quite quirky and modern.
Click to expand...

West said:
seats were comfy (I'm 6"3 and quite stocky) .
Click to expand...

West said:
(I'm 6"3 and quite stocky) .
Click to expand...

West said:
stocky
Click to expand...

happy-i-see-what-you-did-there-(clean).png
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom