Product review: Citroen DS3 DSport

27th November 2010

By Anthony Peacock

There’s a commonly held view that if your name is Tony, you buy a Fiat. If your name is Cecil, you’re obviously after a Rolls Royce. But if your name happens to be Sebastien, there’s really only one car for you: the Citroen DS3 DSport.

First things first: the DSport isn’t necessarily a diesel, as it comes in both 1.6 THP petrol guise, giving out 150 horsepower, and 1.6 HDi flavour, which produces 110 horsepower.

We’ll concentrate on the petrol car, firstly because it’s faster (we’re not politically correct here) and secondly because it’s got a 1.6-litre turbo – just like Sebastiens Loeb and Ogier will use next year.

A bit like Dani Sordo, the DSport is quick enough, but not exactly the last word in performance. It does however have all the right go-faster addenda: flat-bottomed steering wheel, bolstered seats and magnesium-effect white wheels.

While you won’t be needing to invest in a neck brace to counter the g-forces, it zips along happily enough: all the way to 133mph if you so choose (we did, naturally).

Just like the new DS3 1.6 turbo WRC challenger, you have to work at it to make it properly fly though. Its biggest asset is undoubtedly the handling, with the little Citroen gripping the road intuitively despite the inevitable torque steer that comes with dumping a relatively large amount of power through the front wheels.

Thanks to the self-declared ‘anti-retro’ styling, there’s plenty of room in the cabin – especially in the front – although the slightly fussy shark’s fin at the foot of the B-pillar does hamper rearward visibility slightly when parking. The overall styling is pleasingly aggressive: certainly enough to tempt the more mature boy racers out of their Saxos.

The light-pressure turbo – exactly the same unit that MINI uses for its Cooper –
provides a very linear power delivery, but it’s probably a bit more grown-up and civilised in feel than it needs to be. By contrast, that precise handling comes at a price: some people will find the suspension a bit too stiff for their liking, but these also tend to be the same sort of people who are contemplating an imminent move to Bournemouth and aren’t in possession of a full set of teeth.

The biggest surprise probably comes from the interior (and exterior) decoration. The roof and carpets are adorned with decorative gothic swirls, clearly designed to appeal to yoof. Just like MINI and Fiat (with the 500) Citroen has tried hard to create a bespoke and personalised product, giving the DS3 the upmarket feel implied by its aristocratic nametag.

The materials and dashboard are certainly a step up in quality compared to the switchgear of some past Citroens, which appeared to be made from yoghurt pots. For proof, think back to the last time you saw a BX on the road. Exactly.

So the DS3 DSport is a fair effort from Citroen, with a pleasant engine, good handling, and a distinctive identity. Curiously though, there’s nothing there that gives you the feeling that you have to rush to the nearest showroom brandishing a cheque book. Unless of course one of the Sebastiens wins the WRC with it, in which case, where do I sign?