The boutique-hatchback segment of the market is a tough one. It’s dominated by the much-loved Mini Cooper and features strong brands such as Audi (with the A1), as well as cute Noddy-like vehicles such as the Fiat 500. It is, however, also a rather expensive segment to shop in.
Manufacturers must have noticed this and, as a result, either dropped the prices (as is the case with the 500 last year) or introduced more affordable entry-level models. This tactic saw the introduction of the Mini One (R198 000). But, if you’re tired of the long-in-the-tooth Mini (an all- new model debuts at Frankfurt this month) and are in need of something a little more well, anti-retro, there is always the option of the Citroën DS3 1,2 VTi 82.
The CAR team has always liked the look of the Citroën’s DS3 and the French company’s approach to car design. The vertically stacked, three-dimensional LED lamps at the front, large chrome-outlined grille and sweptback headlamps give this vehicle a unique look. As ever, the DS3 is fully customisable, so buyers can make their car look as individual as possible.
Under the bonnet is a small, naturally aspirated, three-cylinder unit that develops 60 kW at 5 750 r/min and 118 N.m of torque at 2 750 r/min. Don’t let its size fool you; the torque kicks in early, so it is good enough to get the DS3 off the line quickly and smoothly. We were also impressed with the sporty engine note.
The in-gear acceleration is strong and, assuming that you find yourself in the correct gear so that you can make the most of the engine’s free-revving nature, there shouldn’t be an issue conducting swift overtaking maneuvers. We achieved a 60 to 80 km/h acceleration time of 4,96 seconds in third gear.
The downside of this vehicle is the five-speed manual gearbox and its clutch. While the short-throw action was appreciated, the actual gear changes felt notchy and there was some resistance when moving between the gears. The clutch was very light, lacked feel and also took quite high up.
Performance is acceptable, but with small engines like this one it’s the fuel consumption that matters most. Citroën claims a consumption figure of 4,5 litres/100 km, but our fuel route returned 6,2 litres/100 km. During its tenure with us, the CAR team agreed that the DS3’s ride is supple and, while the steering feels light, it has enough weight to inspire confidence when tackling twisty roads.
Test Summary
With other DS3s priced between R235 900 and R285 000, this model does seem like a steal at R199 900. It has unique looks that have aged very well and is packed with features. It may cost marginally more than the Mini One, but that vehicle will soon be replaced. In our opinion, the DS3 is definitely worth a look.