VIDEO: The sexy Citroen DS3

Citroen first unveiled its sexy DS3 to the world in 2010, and it’s done great things for its global fortunes.

 

It’s the French carmaker’s contribution to the supermini pack which is led, my miles, by the Mini Cooper. In fact, the range topping THP 155 DS3 has the same 1.6 turbocharged petrol engine as the Mini Cooper S.

 

I’ve driven the DS3 with that engine - the THP 155 -  and it’s a bomb. An irrestistable package, to my mind. But you’re looking at paying at least R276 000 for that adorable pocket rocket.

 

For those who can’t stretch to that, or even the normally aspirated 1.6, at more than R240 000, but want the rest of the package, there’s this DS3, launched a few months back in SA - the Vti 82.

 

It’s looks just as flash as its bigger engined sisters, but it hasn’t got the same puff - it’s got a 1.2 litre three cylinder petrol engine, putting out 60kW, as opposed to that turbocharged 1.6, which puts out 115.  Big difference.

 

 

By the way, those numbers in the model names - 82, 155 - refer to their outputs expressed in the European horsepower instead of our kW.

 

You can feel certainly feel the difference in power between the range topping and entry level models.

 

Coming up the M41, my usual route to East Coast Radio, I had to pull over to let a Mini Cooper go past, which hurt! The DS3 just didn’t have the legs on that hill. It’s got the racy looks, and lovely throaty exhaust note, but not the performance to match.

 

To be fair, it doesn’t feel too flat when zooting around town, and I daresay for most it would be ample power.

 

And the price tag is a more bearable R206 000. It’s also very light on fuel; a claimed average of 4.5 litres per 100 kays - pad that number for real driving conditions and you’re still looking at a really good fuel consumption.

 

 

 

So how do you tell it apart from the faster, more expensive models? Very subtle differences - it has 16inch steel cover wheels, while the others have 16 or 17 inch alloys, and it has just one exhaust pipe instead of two.

 

The DS3 is aimed at the customise-me generation, with nine body colours and four roof colours to choose from, plus a choice of four dash and finish colours inside.

 

Inside the layout is very unfussy and classy, the designers having clearly gone out of their way to hide switches and controls - for example, behind the steering wheel - rather than clutter up the cockpit.

 

Standard spec includes a six-speaker sound system, cruise control and a multi-function on-board trip computer.

 

DISLIKES:

 

Impractical cubbyhole

No other covered storage areas apart from the cubby

Back windows are fixed 

Bit cramped in the back

 

 

LIKES:

 

Lovely sized boot

Great looks

Quality finishes

Full house safety, including six airbags and ESP - electronic stablilty programme.

 

All in all, a lot of classy flash for just over R200 000.

 

*A three-year or 100 000km warranty and a four-year or 60 000km service plan are included. 

 

THE NUMBERS

 

ENGINE: 1.2 petrol, three cylinder, petrol

 

MAX POWER: 60kW

 

MAX TORQUE:118 Nm

 

TRANSMISSION: Manual

 

0 - 100 km/h: 12.3 seconds

 

FUEL CONSUMPTION: A claimed combined 4.5 litres per 100 kays

 

PRICE: 206 000

 

- Wendy Knowler