The Citroen DS3 is designed for affluent young men and women who are very image conscious and who like to be the trend setters in their society. It is also designed to compete head on with the MINI. In DSport specification it compares very favourably with the MINI Cooper S. Indeed both cars use practically the same engine, which was developed jointly by the PSA Group and BMW. There are however, some differences.
The MINI is a retro design, based on the design and styling of the original Morris Mini - Minor/Austin Se7en of fifty one years ago. While the Citroen merely uses a model name that was a trend setter in its time, fifty four years ago. Today’s DS is a totally modern design, that pioneers some new concepts all of its own, like those shark fin design B-pillars.
Power is provided by a 1598 cc, four cylinder, turbocharged, direct injection, petrol engine, driving the front wheels through a six speed manual gearbox. In the Citroen it produces 115 kW @ 6,000 rpm, with 240 Nm @ 1,400 rpm. While the MINI Cooper S has the same torque delivery, it somehow manages 128 kW @ 5,500 rpm. The Citroen has a maximum boost pressure of 1.8 bar, while the Cooper S was said to operate between 1.7 and 1.9 bar with a maximum of 2.4 bar on overboost. The other big difference is the exhaust emissions, 155 gm/km with the Citroen and 164 gm/km with the Cooper S. I assume that perhaps the variations are down to differences in the valve timing, as everything else is very similar, if not identical. From an operating point of view that exhaust emissions difference is a big advantage in the Citroen’s favour, as it places the DS3 in Irish road tax band C, with an annual charge at present rates, of 302 Euro, whereas the MINI Cooper S falls into Band D, which charges 448 Euro, at present rates.

The DSport has a potential top speed of 214 kph (133 mph) with 0-100 kph acceleration in 7.3 seconds. The Cooper S manages 225 kph (139 mph) and 7.1 seconds. Turning to fuel consumption the Citroen does 30 mpg (9.4 lt/100 km) on the urban cycle, 55 mpg (5.1 lt/100 km) on the extra urban, giving an average of 42 mpg (6.7 lt /100 km) on the combined cycle. The relative figures for the Cooper S are; urban 31 mpg (8.9 lt/100 km), extra urban 49 mpg (5.7 lt/100 km) and 40 mpg (6.9 lt/100 km) combined. So as I suggested earlier, the Citroen DS3 in DSport specification compares very favourably with the MINI Cooper S.
Note : Comparative data for the MINI Cooper S is based on information published with my road test of the MINI Cooper S in January 2007.
Citroen offer potential DS3 owners a wide range of optional equipment, so owners can personalise their cars to their own preferences and requirements. For example, there is the option of a wide screen satellite navigation system, eight speaker Hi-Fi system, USB and Bluetooth facilities, thirty eight exterior body and roof colour combinations, a variety of wheel styles and colours, plus a huge range of interior colours, materials and finishes. Then there is the choice of three specifications, DSign, DStyle and DSport, the latter available on special order. Buyers also have the choice of petrol or diesel engines.
My DSport test car was sumptuously equipped inside, with superb, black leather, sports seats, a black piano finish on the facia, with various chrome and brushed aluminium highlights. The leather covered steering wheel had a flattened lower circumference with brushed aluminium trim on the lower half. It imparted a comfortable and sporty feel, with just over three turns from lock to lock. Naturally it offered height and reach adjustment. The gearlever fell conveniently to hand, offering smooth, positive and silky smooth changes.

The main instruments are in a hooded binnacle behind the steering wheel. Over on the left there is a tachometer, marked to 7,000 rpm. The speedometer is in the centre and features two distinctive needles. The larger main needle indicated the speed, while the smaller lower needle indicates the engine temperature along the lower section of the instrument’s circumference. On the right there is a circular digital information screen with orange lighting. It houses the fuel gauge, gear selection indicator, trip and total distance recorders, plus other useful information like the cruise control. The satellite navigation screen is at the top of the centre console, with the CD player, air conditioning and audio system controls below. It is all very clear, easy to see and use. It makes driving so relaxing and satisfying. Driving pleasure is heightened by those superb front seats.
In the sporting tradition the ride is very firm, transmitting all the surface irregularities into the car, which are then filtered out, to a large extent, by those excellent front seats. The roadholding is good, thanks to the precise steering and the large surface of the tyres gripping the road. If you like driving in a sporting manner, the DS3 is a good companion.
Performance wise, the car responds eagerly to pressure on the accelerator. It will sprint away from the lights like a scalded cat, with a bit of wheel slip, even on dry tarmac, until the ESP, cuts in and eliminates the slip. The gearing is well suited to a wide variety of road and traffic conditions.
One area that concerns me is the provision of a Spacesaver spare wheel. It is on a 3.5 inch wide rim, while the road tyres are on 7 inch wide rims. Can such a narrow tyre adequately provide the grip necessary, especially on a driving wheel ? In my view, if you got a puncture in a front tyre, you would have to jack the car up, remove a rear wheel and replace it with that Spacesaver spare wheel. Then you would have to jack up the front of the car and replace the punctured tyre with the rear wheel. I cannot accept, that in a car with the performance potential of the DS3 DSport, a tyre with such a narrow tread pattern, can be used in safety, with other tyres having a much wider surface grip and certainly not on the driving wheels. Even on a rear wheels, I feel that it would badly compromise the potential safety and stability of the car.

Above : Standard road wheel on the left, Spacesaver spare on the right. Compare comparative grip !

Citroen suggest that the DS3 is a full five seater. It may be a five seater with two adults in the front and three children in the back, but even then there are difficulties. The two outer rear seating positions have ISOFix fittings for child safety seats, so the two younger children would have to sit there. This means that the eldest child would have to sit in the centre, but kneeroom and footroom in that position are severely compromised, if not non-existent. Adults of average height in the back, will find the shoulder room just about adequate, footroom scarce, depending on the position of the two front seats and the roof in very close proximity to their heads. Taller adults of 6ft (1.8 metres) plus, will find it totally uninhabitable.
Even though the two front seats do tilt and slide forwards, the low roof does make getting in difficult and getting out even more difficult. Once in, the seats are reasonably comfortable, but not nearly as luxurious as the front pair.

The car does have a reasonably large boot, for a car in this segment of the market. With all seats in use it offers 0.285 cubic metres of enclosed space. Remove the rear shelf and fold the backrests of the 60/40 split rear seat and you get 0.980 cubic metres of space. While this may not be the absolute best in class, it is certainly right up amongst the leaders and considerably better than the MINI.

Above left : Normal luggage space ------------------ Above right : Maximum luggage space

Above left : 60/40 split rear seat
Above right : Spare wheels and tools under luggage floor mat

Technical data