| First Drive | Paris, France | Citroen DS3 |

Let's get it out in the open from the start: it's almost impossible to get behind the wheel of Citroen's new DS3 - a premium supermini if ever there was one - and not make comparisons to the MINI. In size, concept and, as you'll discover if you read on, execution, the DS3 is remarkably similar to the hugely successful modern day MINI. But this is not a twin test, so to avoid it becoming that we've decided to restrict comparisons to the 'Worth Noting' section below.

In the Metal

Controversial. Quirky. Odd. Ugly. Beautiful. Cool. Squat. Tall. Muscular. Effeminate. Masculine. Distinctive. Different. Sporty. Ungainly. Big. Small. Fast. French. Take your pick of these words, as every DS3 we saw at the launch was finished in its own combination of colours and it has a massive bearing on the car's appearance. Apparently there are 38 roof and body colour combinations to choose from, along with the option to specify the shade of the mirrors, wheels and even the centre caps of the alloys.

From some angles the DS3 looks quite squat and purposeful, though looked at head-on it actually betrays its C3 roots with a slim track, seemingly emphasised by the upright line of LED daytime running lights. Oddly, the view from the rear gives the impression that it's wider and it's probably the least divisive angle, with a smooth attractive appearance. The car is defined by the 'shark fin' B-pillar and 'floating' roof design, but again, how obvious those design elements are depends on the colour chosen for them.

The interior style is less contentious and it's a step up from the already impressive C3. While much of the switchgear is carried over there are new instruments and an elevated sense of quality and tactility. This was helped no end in our test cars by the fitment of a full leather interior. That, combined with extra soundproofing, instantly makes the DS3 feel a lot more special than its five-door sibling. Obviously it's more difficult to get into the rear seats - and they could never be accused of being commodious - but the DS3 fares no worse than its obvious rivals and actually has quite a decently sized boot.

What you get for your Money

There are essentially six models in the range broken down into three trim levels (DSign, DStyle and DSport), three petrol engines (1.4 VTi 95, 1.6 VTi 120 and 1.6 THP 150) and two turbodiesels (1.6 HDi in either 90- or 110bhp guises). Additionally, the 90bhp version of the diesel engine can be had in a '99g' version, which emits just 99g/km of CO₂ and returns over 74mpg on the combined cycle. The cheapest version is the 1.4 VTi 95 in DSign trim at £11,700, while £13,700 gets you a choice of three DStyle models and both the 1.6 THP 150 and the 1.6 HDi 110 come in DSport guise only, at £15,900. These prices compare favourably to the competition and it's an acceptably well equipped car as standard, but the huge level of customisation available will no doubt lead buyers to spend considerably more.

Driving it

In the first hour of our test drive we battled with the Paris rush hour and even in these circumstances, sometimes on cobbled streets, it was clear that Citroen has done something special with the DS3. The driving controls are all beautifully weighted, with direct steering offering a modicum of feedback and one of the slickest gearchanges we've experienced in a while. The driving position is good and quite adjustable too.

Out on the open road it becomes apparent that this is the first Citroen in a long time that puts body control and road-holding above ride comfort. It's not an out and out hot hatch, but it's certainly really good fun to drive, especially with the punchy turbocharged 1.6-litre engine under the bonnet. Even from low revs this unit is a torquey one, with little if any turbo lag and its urge doesn't seem to let up until you get quite close to the redline - though it's best in the mid-range, where it sounds better too.

Worth Noting

There's no doubt that the Citroen DS3 was expected to deliver style-conscious buyers another alternative to the MINI, Fiat 500 and Alfa Romeo MiTo. That it does, with a quality product on a par pricing wise with its main rivals. It has more interior and boot space than the competition too. The surprise comes in the form of the driving experience. We fully expected to commend Citroen for launching such a distinctive car, but then accept that the majority of buyers won't care that it doesn't drive as well as the class benchmark - the MINI. It turns out that we were wrong in that first impressions suggest that the DS3 is a match for BMW's baby. It may not be quite as adjustable on the absolute limit, but it's still a hoot, while offering buyers virtually everything the MINI does, with extra space.

Summary

Citroen has surprised us with the DS3. We knew it would be quirky and massively customisable; we hoped it would be well built and feel more like a premium car than a sporty three-door C3; but we had few expectations for the driving dynamics, which turn out to be a revelation. In DSport guise at least, the DS3 is a cracking car, which easily takes on its obvious rivals. We're really looking forward to testing the rest of the line-up on our own roads later in the year.