Used DS 3 Cabrio 2015-2022 review

What's the used DS AUTOMOBILES DS 3 like?

The DS 3 is the smallest car in Citroën’s premium DS range. It's a neat three-door hatchback, but for those after a bit of wind-in-the-hair fun, there's also this Cabrio derivative, which has a retractable fabric roof. It was on sale as a new car from 2015 to 2022.

The DS 3 Cabrio isn't a full-blown convertible, due to the fact that its roof pillars remain in place when the hood is retracted. This approach has two advantages: it helps to keep the body rigid without resorting to expensive re-engineering, and it allows the driver to operate the roof at speeds of up to 75mph.

Overview

The DS 3 Cabrio is stylish, spacious and surprisingly practical, but a poor ride stops it from being a class leader

Pros

• Peppy handling
• Funky looks
• Well equipped

Cons

• Poor ride
• Quite expensive still
• Not as nice to drive as a Mini Convertible

As well as the roof, a number of small styling tweaks help to differentiate the DS 3 Cabrio from its hard-top sibling. DS also offers a huge selection of trims and colour options so that buyers can create their own personalised look. Contrasting panels, door mirrors, wheels and interior panels, along with a range of decals, can be colour-coordinated to help your DS 3 stand out.

Its biggest rival on the used market is the Mini Convertible, which is similarly priced despite being a full convertible and having a more upmarket interior. Other rivals include the Fiat 500C, which doesn’t offer the same performance as the DS 3 Cabrio but is drastically cheaper, and the bigger VW Beetle Cabriolet, which also offers similarly cheerful soft-top motoring within a similar used car price range to the DS.

A range of free-revving petrol engines and strong diesels is available, all of which provide the DS 3 with a good turn of pace. Even the smallest units – three-cylinder petrols with either 80 or 109bhp – make the car usefully nippy around town, although the lesser engine runs out of oomph at higher speeds.

A four-cylinder, 118bhp 1.6 petrol provides impressive acceleration and decent all-round flexibility, while the turbocharged 161bhp THP model is warm-hatch quick. The two 1.6 HDi diesel engines – in either 91 or 118bhp form – also feel strong and suit the DS 3’s dynamic character well.

However, if you’re after a more engaging experience, the Performance is the most focused variant of DS 3. The Performance Cabrio receives a 205bhp turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder THP engine, a six-speed manual gearbox and a revised chassis.

In any of its guises, the DS 3 Cabrio has never been as dynamically polished as the competition, though. The steering is decidedly vague, the ride is crashy over poor road surfaces and a surprising amount of body flex detracts from everyday comfort.

That said, when you'd rather just cruise around sedately and soak up some sun, the DS 3 Cabrio is a good companion. It protects you (and your passengers) well from wind buffeting – thanks largely to a wind deflector on top of the windscreen – and is small and easy to manoeuvre in the city.

DS is Citroën’s premium brand, and the DS 3 Cabrio does enough to justify that status. An imaginatively styled dashboard with chrome-rimmed dials and colour-coded panels gives the DS 3's cabin real panache, and the interior quality is a cut above the Citroën C3 on which it’s based, with plusher materials and more appealing finishes. However, some of the switchgear and more functional parts are shared with Citroën’s mainstream models, preventing the DS 3 from having the same bespoke feel that you get in a Mini.

An awkward driving position also impacts on your experience behind the wheel. You sit a long way back from the windscreen and the pedals are noticeably offset. Granted, the steering wheel adjusts for reach and height on all models, but you might struggle to feel truly comfortable.

Ergonomically, the dashboard layout is pretty user-friendly, but the central digital readout can be hard to decipher at a glance and the stereo is unhelpfully low on the centre console. All models come with steering column-mounted audio controls that are helpful, because the stereo has small, fiddly buttons that can be difficult to locate on the move.

The DS 3 Cabrio has a rakish roofline, but there’s plenty of head room in the front and only the very tall are likely to feel hemmed in. A height-adjustable driver’s seat is standard for all models; cheaper versions miss out on a height-adjustable passenger’s seat.

Storage space for clutter is adequate but nothing more. The door bins are a useful size and have a special section to hold a bottle of water, but the glovebox is tiny and the cubbies built into the centre console are small. The centre armrest on pricier versions adds a small, lidded cubby, while a cupholder insert for the centre console is an accessory.

As with most two-door convertibles, access to the rear seats of the DS 3 requires a bit of dexterity, and space isn’t that generous when you’re there. With the roof closed, head room is tight for six-footers, particularly towards the outer edges of the car, and leg room is restrictive. However, the DS 3 features three seats in the rear (whereas the 500C and Mini have only two).

Unsurprisingly, you don't get as much boot space as you do in the DS 3 hatch, but there's more than in the 500C and Mini. The whole tailgate rises vertically without a pivot point, giving good access in tight parking spaces. Irritatingly, though, once open, it blocks your view into the boot, so you have to stoop down to see where you're putting things.

If you're interested in buying a used DS 3 Cabrio, or any of the other cars mentioned here, check out the What Car? Classifieds here

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Ownership cost

What used DS AUTOMOBILES DS 3 will I get for my budget?

The DS 3 wasn’t cheap to buy new, but like for like, it now undercuts key rivals such as the Audi A3 Convertible and Mini Convertible. However, it still holds its value quite well, if not quite as well as a Mini or Audi.

Prices for a used DS 3 Cabrio start at around £6000 for a 2015 or 2016 car in good condition. Spend between £7000 and £10,000 on good examples from 2017, 2018 or 2019, and between £10,000 and £18,000 for one of the later cars.

Our recommendations

Which used DS AUTOMOBILES DS 3 should I buy?

Most DS 3 models have a decent standard of kit, with entry-level Chic models coming with air conditioning, remote central locking, cruise control and Bluetooth. Upgrade to Elegance and you also get LED front foglights and sports seats.

Top-spec Prestige models are lavishly appointed, featuring front and rear parking sensors, automatic wipers and satellite navigation. Twin exhaust tailpipes, 17in alloy wheels and a Nappa leather-trimmed steering wheel complete the comprehensive, albeit pricey, package.

Stability control and six airbags come as standard on all models, and the DS 3 was awarded the maximum five stars for safety when tested by Euro NCAP, although this has long since expired. Top-spec Prestige models also get a city braking system that applies the brakes at low speeds if it thinks you’re about to hit the vehicle in front.

Security expert Thatcham awarded the DS 3 Cabrio four out of five for its resistance to being stolen and three out of five for its resistance to being broken into. All models come equipped with deadlocks and alarms.

Our favourite DS 3 Cabrio 1.2 Puretech 110 Chic

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Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used DS AUTOMOBILES DS 3?

The Mini Convertible is fun to drive, has usable rear space and a decent boot. There are hundreds of customisation options to choose from through the various packs, so used prices vary a lot.

The Fiat 500C is extremely popular, despite being smaller than the Mini and the DS 3. It’s good to drive, although not as sharp as the Mini and DS 3, but its chic retro looks and agility in traffic have made this car an icon among urban movers and shakers. Used prices are competitive, too.

Find a used DS 3 in the What Car? Classifieds here

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