DS 3 Review

How much does it cost?

Prices for the new DS3 currently start at £32,910 for a car in entry-level Pallas trim, while electric ‘E-Tense’ versions start from £36,995 instead. At the other end of the spectrum, top-spec Etoile cars command £34,850, or £38,935 for the electric model.

On the used market, there are some serious savings to be made. We found a 2025 electric DS3 in range-topping Etoile trim for £24,165 with just 10 miles on the clock, while petrol versions top out at just over £20,000 for a car with 3,000 miles on the clock. As a result, we’d highly recommend opting for a second-hand DS3, of which there are plenty available on AA cars today.

Engine and performance

Overview

Currently, the DS3 is available with just two setups. The standard hybrid uses a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine at its heart, linked to a small electric motor and battery. It’s a ‘self-charging’ hybrid, so it cannot drive for any meaningful time on electric-only power. Instead, the motor is used at very slow speeds, such as when parking or navigating a car park. As standard, it comes equipped with an automatic gearbox.

Then there’s the electric - or E-Tense - model. This uses a 115kW electric motor and a 54kWh battery. DS claims a respectable range of up to 245 miles from a charge. All but entry-level cars come with an efficiency-boosting heat pump as standard, too, while a maximum charge speed of 100kW means you should be able to complete a 10 to 80 per cent charge in half an hour.

Out on the road

Things depend on which powertrain you opt for with the DS3, with electric models getting a slightly firmer ride compared with the petrol version. However, there are many shared aspects to the driving experience in both cars; you get an ever-so-slightly raised ride height compared with a standard hatchback, so your view is elevated by a small amount. The driving position is also slightly odd and taller drivers may find themselves having to contort slightly in order to get comfortable.

Visibility is quite limited, too, with the view rearward being compromised by the DS3’s small rear screen.

Ride and handling

Thanks to its light handling, the DS3 is a car which feels very much at home around town. The petrol-powered version, with its softer suspension, does a better job of dealing with lumps and bumps in the road, while the firmer electric car - which is also slightly heavier - can feel upset by those imperfections in the tarmac. It’s this firmer ride which can often make the electric model feel unsettled, too, though it eases up when you go a little more quickly.

The electric DS3 makes up for this with its sprightly acceleration, with a noticeable ‘zip’ away from the line. However, the petrol car still does well in this area; there’s just quite a bit more lag to notice. That said, the three-cylinder unit does a good enough job of getting the DS3 up to speed in good time.

Interior and features

Interiors

If you’re looking for an interior that looks and feels quite different to the norm, then you’ve come to the right place. DS has always been known for its slightly off-the-wall car interior designs and that comes to the fore in the DS3. There’s a distinctively triangular theme used throughout, with curiously-shaped buttons used on the dashboard. However, though it all does look quite interesting, it’s ergonomically tricky and finding the right control at the right time can be tricky.

The overall material quality is good, mind you, and mostly all areas are pleasantly finished. All cars get a 10.3-inch infotainment system, too, which is packed with features. It’s just a shame that the heating and ventilation controls are located within this setup, rather than with dedicated buttons, as adjusting the temperature is harder than it needs to be.

Boot space and practicality

Space-wise, the DS3 doesn’t fare all that well. Though there’s a decent amount of room for those sitting up front, those in the back aren’t graced with much legroom or headroom, with the sweeping roofline cutting into overall room. Plus, with the tapered window design, it can start to feel a little claustrophobic for anyone back there.

At 350 litres, the boot in the DS3 is smaller than the one you’ll find in many of this car’s key rivals. The Volkswagen T-Roc, for instance, brings 445. That said, you can fold the DS3’s rear seats flat and you’ll get a far larger load area though, again, it’s one that is underneath rival offerings in terms of outright space.

Features

Much of the DS3’s tech offering is focused around that large central screen, which gets all major media functions and smartphone mirroring technology as well. There’s a standard wireless smartphone charger, too, so it’s simple to keep your device topped up on the move. Even more handy is the 360-degree parking camera that comes equipped to all models, which helps to make parking even easier.

Each new DS3 comes with a ‘Connected Pack’, too. Free for three years, it gives the car a range of connected features and even brings access to ChatGPT artificial intelligence services. Simply use the car’s voice control to speak to the artificial intelligence service and you’ll be able to get answers to a variety of questions when you’re on the move.

Trim and colour options

There are three main trim levels available on the DS3 - Pallas, Performance Line and Etoile. Pallas cars get 17-inch alloy wheels as standard, as well as a 360-degree parking camera and the aforementioned 10.3-inch infotainment system. Over-the-air updates come as standard to keep the system current, while electric versions get an efficiency-boosting heat pump as standard, too, which is something that will come in very handy during winter.

Step up to Performance Line trim level and, on the outside, things are more noticeable. There are numerous ‘Performance Line’ badges, as well as eye-catching gold covers for the wing mirrors.

Etoile adds in diamond-cut alloy wheels and a Alcantara leather interior. This can be upgraded to a stylish brown Nappa leather on new cars, though it’s a feature which could be worth looking out for on used models as it gives the car a very classy feel.

The range of colours available on the DS3 is quite limited, with only ‘Lazurite Blue’ acting as the sole brighter shade. The remaining palette is made up of whites and greys, leavint the DS3 looking a little subdued.

Safety and reliability

Underneath, the DS3 uses the same basic architecture as many other cars made by the manufacturing giant Stellantis. Cars like the Peugeot 2008, Citroen C3 Aircross and Fiat 600 use the same engines and electric powertrains, so there should be some reliability in numbers. The electric version has fewer moving parts, of course, so this version could be the more reliable of the two. That said, the hybrid setup is tried-and-tested, so we can’t see it throwing up too many issues. On used models, we’d recommend making sure that any car has got a full service history to make sure you’re getting the best car possible.

There are plenty of safety-orientated features on board, too. As well as the usual suite of airbags, the DS3 benefits from some connected technologies, too. There’s a dedicated SOS button inside which, when pressed in the event of an emergency, can send the relevant emergency services the car’s exact location. If the airbags are deployed, the car will activate this system automatically.

MPG, emissions and tax

With only hybrid and electric versions available, the DS3 should prove to be a very cost-effective car to run. With the standard hybrid, DS claims that you’ll get up to 56.5mpg combined, while CO2 emissions of 112g/km are very low for the segment. This should put it in the standard £195 annual road tax bracket and, because all versions of the DS3 come in under £40,000, you won’t have to worry about the Expensive Car Supplement, either.

The electric version, meanwhile, should be cheap to run - though this will depend on how you’re able to charge it. Make use of low rates of home electricity, for instance, and the DS3 will cost a fraction of like-for-like petrol cars, though rely on public charging and these costs could quickly rise. At least with the DS3’s decent charging speed you won’t have to wait at the charging station for too long.