Used DS 3 cars for sale

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.