USED Citroën DS3 Hatchback (10 - )

My car

When looking for a new small hatchback my no. 1 priority was fuel economy and therefore I only considered cars in band A road tax. This was far and away the best to drive with enough power to keep things interesting. I bought this car nearly new in mid September 2012. After a couple of months and just 2000 miles my initial impressions are of good quality build and fun to drive but disappointing fuel economy when compared against official figures. I have averaged 55 mpg from a mixture of town and open road driving. My previous car (Renault Clio dCi 80 bhp) over ten years of ownership was averaging 65 mpg! I was expecting more from this one, especially as it has start/stop engine feature. Perhaps things will improve with age and running in?

The standard specification of this car is impressive with leather, bluetooth, parking sensors, etc. The list is extensive. Will update further after first service.

My car

I drove this car for two weeks as a courtesy car whilst our Alfa Mito was having crash damage repairs ( hit by lorry while parked). I really wanted to like this car as it's quirky and looks fun. Unfortunately, too many things let it down, and I've never felt so relieved as when I finally got back behind the wheel of the Alfa. The styling of the DS3 is radical, but it's just trying a bit too hard in my view. However, the worst aspect of the car is the drive. The gear-lever travel is getting on for 18", with a noticeable clunk as you go past neutral. It's way too agricultural and rules out positive gear changes. The low speed ride is very comfortable, but at motorway speeds it's jiggly and unsettled, and the cornering is awful. It understeers with a vengeance like fwd cars of 20 years ago, and it feels like the suspension is made of blancmange or the wheels are linked by rubber struts- deeply disturbing. Smooth progress in town is difficult- the accelerator is feather-light and the clutch is light and long-travel so balancing starts is difficult and doesn't get much easier with practice. Also, although the throttle response is quick, it's not backed up by any oomph on this model, so a jerky start is inevitably followed by insipid acceleration. If you're going to buy one I'd say go for the higher-powered THP models with sports suspension, although the gearbox issue is still likely to preclude sporty driving.

My car

I had this car for a week as a rental car. I was impressed by the power, especially the low range torque around town. It doesn't feel you are driving a 1.6! The one I had was bright yellow with black alloys and roof....what a head turner!

Being a sporty set up, the suspension doesn't handle potholes too well, so don't expect a cushioned ride. The sport seats were comfortable and fuel economy wasn't too bad - around 35mpg. There is plenty of room in the front, but adults may find the back seats a bit of a squeeze.

This is a real contender for those choosing a Mini.