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DS Ds 3 variants
Total price
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Finance representative example (PCP)

Total cash price £10,899. Borrowing £9,809 with a £1,090 deposit at a representative APR of 11.9%.

48 monthly payments
£181.73
Fixed interest rate
11.9%
Total amount payable
£14,271.12
Cost of credit
£3,372.12
Optional final payment
£4,458.00
Purchase fee
£10.00
Annual mileage limit
6000 miles

DS 3 buying guide

What DS 3 trim levels are there?

Elegance offers keyless start, rear parking sensors and flush-fitting door handles that pop out when you push the keyfob. Performance Line adds a sportier feel, including part-Alcantara seats, rear privacy glass and LED taillights, while Prestige plays host to auto air-con and wipers, front parking sensors and uprated infotainment. Ultra Prestige sits at the top of the range, with heated massaging front seats, 18-inch alloys, Matrix LED headlights and a reversing camera – you might also be lucky to find the largely similar La Premiere special edition, which adds a few more treats, including a handy wireless phone charger.

Recently the line-up has been rejigged to four trim levels: Montmartre, Bastille, Performance Line and Performance Line+. Entry-level Montmartre offers keyless start, a seven-inch touchscreen, cloth trim and 17-inch alloys, and is available with a petrol engine only. Bastille adds leather trim, heated door mirrors, keyless start and rear parking sensors, and is available with petrol, diesel and electric powertrains. Performance Line adds sportier body styling with exclusive alloys and interior touches including some Alcantara suede trim. Performance Line+ adds extra pizazz with 18-inch alloys and Matrix LED headlights.

DS 3 interior and technology

Do you like diamonds? Then, darling, you’ll love the interior of the DS 3. All the centre console controls are arranged in diamond formations, and there are even diamond shapes stamped into the seat upholstery. It’s like nothing else on the market. You could even call it exciting. 

You will find a minimum of a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system as standard with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Higher-spec models feature a 10-inch HD upgrade. Performance Line+ models get added 3D navigation. All models also get a snazzy set of digital dials.

DS 3 engine range explained

DS 3 1.2 PureTech petrol

The 1.2-litre petrol engine in the DS 3 has been used extensively in numerous Citroen, Peugeot and Vauxhall models, and it’s a top choice whether you’re pottering around town or going further afield. You can find versions with 100hp, 130hp and 155hp, and we’d recommend the middle option for the best blend of performance and economy. All three versions manage over 40mpg. The top two power options are exclusively mated to DS’ EAT8 automatic gearbox.

DS 3 1.5 BlueHDi diesel

For long-distance drivers, it might be worth hunting out the 110hp diesel engine. It offers up to 62mpg and gets from 0-62mph in under 10 seconds, which puts it between the 100hp and 130hp petrol engines.

DS 3 E-Tense 100kW electric

Just like the petrol and diesel engines, the DS 3 E-Tense’s electric powertrain is tried and tested from cars like the Vauxhall Corsa Electric, Peugeot e-2008 and Citroen e-C4. That means it shouldn’t be daunting to switch from pump to plug, and the 200-mile range is definitely enough to get rid of range anxiety for many drivers. With fast-charging, you can top up on long journeys in half an hour, too.

DS 3 FAQs

Previously a Ford Fiesta-rivalling three-door hatchback, the DS 3 is now a five-door car with a slightly raised ride height, so the marketing people can call it an SUV. There are some styling cues from the old DS 3, like the ‘shark fin’ between the front and rear windows. The car looks very distinctive, so it’s perfect if you want to stand out or often lose your car in a car park. It was called the DS 3 Crossback until it was facelifted in 2022, when the Crossback name was dropped. The electric one is called the DS 3 E-Tense.

The DS 3 doesn’t take up much space on the road, especially for an SUV. It’s 4.1 metres long, so about as long as a Volkswagen T-Cross and Ford Ecosport. Avoid the Montmartre spec if you need parking sensors, while Rivoli is the one to go for if you want a reversing camera to offset the small rear window.

With such a compact footprint, it’s not surprising that the DS 3 isn’t the most spacious car on sale. Taller adults may feel squeezed in the back seats so, if you’re regularly going to be transporting passengers, be sure to test out the space in the rear. The 350-litre boot is on a par with the Kona and the Fiat 500X, and there’s no loss of space if you choose the E-Tense EV.

Unusually, you can buy a second-hand DS 3 with petrol, diesel and electric options – although the diesel is rare and has since been discontinued. The petrols are dubbed PureTech and there are three different power outputs of the same engine. The 1.5 BlueHDi is the sole diesel and is exclusively with a manual gearbox, while you can also get a pure electric version known as the E-Tense. All DS 3 Crossbacks are front-wheel drive.

Our pick would be the mid-range 130hp petrol engine, which feels more comfortable than the entry-level version on the motorway. If you have access to a home EV charger, the E-Tense electric version is pleasantly punchy and can help cut your running costs.

The DS 3 Crossback brings interesting styling and a fancy interior to the small SUV class, and it comes with a set of tried-and-tested petrol, diesel and fully electric powertrains – the latter with a 200-mile range and fast-charging capability. We'd opt for the higher trim levels for the full DS premium experience.

Backed by the Stellantis empire of brands, the DS 3 Crossback uses a lot of thoroughly developed engines and parts that are also found in various Vauxhall, Citroen and Peugeot cars – so it should be a reliable car and the majority of cars will be trouble-free. Issues may still occur, however – if you're concerned about the long-term reliability of a DS 3, consider taking out our extended warranty when you buy.

Yes, the DS 3 should be cheap to run. Its petrol and diesel engines are fairly economical – returning over 45mpg and 60mpg respectively – while the DS 3 E-Tense electric car will be cheap to recharge if you can plug in at home and have a specific electric car tariff. Insurance isn't expensive for the class, either, even with the E-Tense having higher insurance costs than the petrol and diesel cars. The majority of DS 3s cost the standard rate in VED (road tax), although very top-spec E-Tense cars cost over £40,000 when new and so will face a higher rate of tax initially.