2016 Performance DS3 Cabrio first drive review

DS 3 about having a new performance variant, but can it challenge the best small hot hatch? Ivan Aistrop trip to France to find out

Not necessarily the most dynamic polished miniature hot hatch, and by no means the cheapest, either. You can buy a car that is more finessed quite a lot less money. However, it was fun in its own way, and by far and away the best DS has to offer.

Need to know:

• high-performance version of the stylish supermini
• Available in hatchback body and a drop-top
• On sale now, with prices starting at £ 22,795 for the Cabrio

The fastest version of the DS 3, stylish three-door supermini that, once upon a time, wearing a badge Citroen. DS 3 is the last of the DS products for facelifted for the brand made a bid for freedom, and the model is the culmination of a range Performance DS3. Moreover, it is available in both Coupe (read 'hatchback') and Cabrio (read 'hatchback with a sunroof large') form.

To meet the hot-hatch pretensions of the car, he had a 1.6-liter petrol engine which gives 205bhp turbocharged very useful. There is more to performance than just pokier machines, though. It delivers the power through a revised six-speed transmission weight with a lower ratio, and a torque-sensing differential to help get the power down and sharpen handling. It also has a very fettled suspension compared to the rest of the range of DS-3, along with beefier brakes.

DS 3 DS 3 Cabrio Performance Performance Cabrio

Fun, in its own form of raucous manner. A burst of strong acceleration thanks to machine easy to provoke a fairly low and mid-range pull, and revving out for limiter lets you enjoy endearingly throaty exhaust note. diff is doing its job, too, helping the tire actually bite into the road surface in the corners and make the DS 3 feels very grippy indeed.

Body movement is tightly controlled car feel nimble contribute, as well, and is so powerful brakes and tiny dimensions. So, in isolation, DS-3 is a small car that is quite fun to drive. But then you remember the wonderful balance you get from some of the hot hatch rivals, and they provide a steering involvement; In comparison, DS 3 was a little slow, both to react and to change, and it was a bit far and artificially weighted. In the case of dynamic finesse, and as fun as it was, the DS just does not measure up to the best hot hatch rivals.

The firmness of the suspension may be a problem for some people, too. Indeed, it is responsible for the body tightly controls we talked about earlier, and in the hot hatch, little real jigglyness is unforgivable. However, you may feel a little less forgiving after overcoming some speed bumps in rapid succession, since this is the kind of firmness that pushes the boundaries of acceptance. And it was on relatively smooth roads of the South of France where we drove the car. In the B-roads damaged from good old Blighty, good things can get even more punishing.

Elsewhere, the car has the same strengths and weaknesses with the rest of the range DS 3. On the plus side, the quality of the cabin is quite impressive for a small car, there are a half decent room in the back seat, and there's no denying the appeal that give you the flamboyant styling , Not so positive, the infotainment system can be fiddly, boot Cabrio is small and awkward to access, while you may also feel that this Cabrio fabric roof does not provide true open-air experience, either.

DS 3 DS 3 Cabrio Performance Performance Cabrio

Should I get one?

If you sell on looks and you want your car become a paragon of excellence laugh rather than dynamic, then there is no reason why you should not. It will not be cheap, though, with prices starting at £ 20 495 for the hatch, and Cabrio costs £ 2,300 more. Compare this with the £ 17 645 Ford Fiesta ST at your expense, and bang-for-your-buck ratio is starting to look a little less impressive.

That said, the DS would be a cheap car to run, with fuel consumption and CO2 emissions impressively low considering its power. It also comes tooled with a very generous list of standard equipment, including xenon headlamps, Alcantara sport seats, automatic lights and wipers, climate control, reversing sensors and a DAB radio.

Key facts:

• Model: DS 3 Cabrio Performance
• Price: £ 22,795
• Engine: 1.6-liter petrol turbo, six-speed manual
• Power / torque: 205bhp / 221lb ft
• 0-62mph: 6.5secs
• Top speed: 143mph
• Economy: 52.3mpg
• CO2 / BIK tax liability: 125g / km / 20%
• Boot space: 245 liters
• Also consider:
• Abarth 500C
• Stylish and fast, but not very polished

Mini John Cooper Works Convertible

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Ford Fiesta ST

Still's current hot hatch

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