Test Car Specifications
Model: 2023 DS 3 Opera E-Tense
Price: From £42,700
Engine: 115kW electric motor
Transmission: single-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Battery: 54kWh
Power: 156hp
Torque: 260Nm
Emissions: 0g/km
Range: 247 miles
0-62mph: 9.0 seconds
Top speed: 93mph
Boot space: 350 litres
Styling
At first glance, little appears to have changed, but DS has made some tweaks to the DS 3's design. First of all, there's a new grille and a new grille surround, while the daytime running lights have been brought into line with other models in the DS range. LED headlights are now a standard feature, and there's a new badge at the rear, with the DS Automobiles lettering picked out in stainless steel across a dark rear panel. Other than that, however, it's more or less business as usual, with the same light cluster shapes and the same shark-fin appendages on the rear doors.
Interior
Like the exterior, the interior is subtly upgraded with a new steering wheel and a new touchscreen, but the overall look is much the same. There's still a bewildering array of plasticky buttons below the screen and some questionable ergonomics, while the posh materials on the seats and dashboard contrast with some under-par cabin plastics. The driving position is less than ideal, too, but the technology on board has improved noticeably, with a small but sharp digital instrument display and a much slicker touchscreen infotainment system. It isn't perfect, and we're still disappointed to see the screen house the air conditioning controls, but it's an improvement on what went before.
Practicality
The DS 3 is not a particularly spacious car, but there's good news for buyers of the E-Tense: the electric powertrain doesn't make an already cramped SUV any less practical. As with the petrol car, you still get a 350-litre boot that should be big enough for most customers' needs and you get back seats that will be usable for kids. Adults will find them cramped, though, and beware of Performance Line and Performance Line+ models with their black roof lining that makes the car feel more claustrophobic than it is.
Performance
UK customers get a choice of three powertrains, with the two petrol options using the same 1.2-litre three-cylinder PureTech engine. That's available with 100hp and a six-speed manual gearbox or with 130hp and an eight-speed automatic, with both variations carried straight over from the DS 3 Crossback. Of more interest is the E-Tense electric version, which has a slightly larger battery with a 54kWh capacity, allowing a range increase of around 25 per cent. The motor is more powerful, too, up 20hp to 156hp and permitting a 0-62mph time of around nine seconds. Okay, the car will still only cover around 250 miles on the official economy test, but that's a significant improvement on its predecessor.
Ride & Handling
Petrol and electric versions of the DS 3 drive very differently. The E-Tense is predictably hushed, with excellent refinement and ample performance, while offering surprising comfort. The E-Tense doesn’t quite glide over bumps – at low speeds the weight of the battery makes its presence felt – but it’s a better motorway cruiser than you might imagine. Body control is good, too, so although the E-Tense is prone to understeer, it doesn’t wallow about in corners, but the brakes feel soft and spongy. Opt for the petrol versions, however, and the car feels lighter and more agile, but that agility comes with a choppiness in the ride that spoils the car’s long-distance cruising credentials. The automatic gearbox feels a bit sloppy, too.
Value
DS 3 prices start at just under £26,000, which sounds fairly competitive, but the E-Tense electric models command a premium of more than £9,000. The top-of-the-range model we tested, meanwhile, costs more than £43,000 once you've picked a smart paint finish, and that's a lot of money for a small car. That said, the range-topping Opera trim does come with a head-up display, a 360-degree camera and full leather upholstery, not to mention various other goodies.
Verdict
The DS 3 has improved across the board, but it remains at its best in E-Tense form, where the refinement and comfort show through. But it remains an expensive option that lacks space and, in places, quality. A VW ID.3 offers more space for similar money. That said, if you go for a less upmarket version, the DS makes a little more sense, and the contrast in material quality is less marked. For those who want something a bit different and can stomach the price, there's plenty to like.