Our cars: Citroen DS3 - November

Citroën DS3 1.6 THP 150 DSport
List price £15,900
Target Price £15,900
Extras MyWay City Signature pack £1100; Sport red paint with white roof £410
Test fuel economy 35.6mpg
Official fuel economy 42.2mpg
CO2/tax liability 155g/km/20%
Insurance group 22
Servicing and repairs None


I’ve yet to fall in love with France. Yes, Paris is a beautiful city, but I hate having to travel around it. I’m also sure that the wine from Bordeaux is very nice indeed, but I’m more of a beer man.

What I won’t argue with, though, is that the French build better hot hatchbacks than anyone. In fact, the best car I’ve owned to date was a Peugeot 205 GTI. So when I fancied something small and nippy to replace my Fiat 500, I knew just where to look.

I thought about a Renaultsport Clio, but I don’t get out of town enough to make full use of its abilities, and I wasn’t keen on the everyday drawbacks of its bumpy ride and a flimsy interior.

So I turned to Citroën’s new DS3. It’s neither the fastest nor the sharpest-handling hot hatch, but it holds its own in both respects, and its fairly soft set-up and quality cabin make it an easy car to live with. I also reckon Citroën’s designers have done a cracking job with the styling. Sold.

I went for the turbocharged 154bhp 1.6 THP petrol – it’s found in numerous other Citroëns and Peugeots and is the best engine in the DS3 range – which meant a starting price of £15,900. Not cheap, but the list of standard equipment was a long one. Still, I forked out another £1100 for the MyWay City Signature pack, which adds sat-nav, climate control, auto headlights and Bluetooth.

Choosing the colour wasn’t easy. I find it tricky enough when faced with a palette of seven or eight shades, but with 38 possible combinations – including different colours for the body, roof and even the wheels – I found it near-enough impossible to decide. I eventually settled on Sport Red, with a white roof and black wheels.

I collected the car from Citroën’s flagship dealer in Slough (01753 219222), and knew straight away I’d made the right colour choices.

It’s early days, but things are going swimmingly. The Citroën’s light steering, sweet gearchange and punchy engine are ideal for my 12-mile urban commute.
The only quibble is that I’d hoped for better economy, but because my mileage is relatively low, the financial implications aren’t disastrous. Things may improve as the miles pile on.