Citroen DS3 1.6 THP (M) Review
18 May 2011|18,802 views
When we tested the DS3 last August, we were impressed with the sex appeal that it oozed from every subtle curve. Driving around town, the little hatch attracts admiring glances for at the time it was a rare sight on the road.
Granted that the DS3 might actually be visually more appealing than the venerable Mini Cooper but what it lacked (which Mini makes up with in the Cooper S) was chuckability.
Sure the DS3 showed potential with its fun nimble handling in the bends but it lacked the engine capacity to make it a fun hatch. It was afterall based on its less illustrious sibling the C3 and part of that inheritance was the weedy 1.6-litre VTi lump.
Well, considering the French have a knack for coming up with fun little hatches that are right up there with the Mini, the DS3 didn't stay weedy for long. What we have in our hands now ladies and gents is the brand new DS3 1.6 THP fitted with the exact same lump as you get in a Mini Cooper S.
Granted that the DS3 might actually be visually more appealing than the venerable Mini Cooper but what it lacked (which Mini makes up with in the Cooper S) was chuckability.
Sure the DS3 showed potential with its fun nimble handling in the bends but it lacked the engine capacity to make it a fun hatch. It was afterall based on its less illustrious sibling the C3 and part of that inheritance was the weedy 1.6-litre VTi lump.
Well, considering the French have a knack for coming up with fun little hatches that are right up there with the Mini, the DS3 didn't stay weedy for long. What we have in our hands now ladies and gents is the brand new DS3 1.6 THP fitted with the exact same lump as you get in a Mini Cooper S.
 |
Yes, if you've been hiding under an odd rock somewhere, the lump we're talking about here is the 1.6-litre Prince powerplant that BMW co-developed with the French. By French, I mean the PSA or the Peugeot Citroen Alliance.
 |
Since its unveiling, the engine has seen extensive use in several models from Mini as well as Peugeot and Citroen. The lump's popularity is in no small part thanks to its efficiency and power derived from its humble capacity.
Exterior
While the DS3 THP has seen a great change underneath, the exterior remains the same as its less endowed sibling. The front fascia retains the mildly aggressive silhouette of a shark with the large centre air intake forming its 'mouth'.
The DS3 also gets the blindingly bright daytime running lights that are the 'in' thing with manufacturers these days. They flank the aft portion of the front fog lights. This makes for a rather 'crowded' fog light area which seem at odds with the cleaner upper half portion of the front fascia.
Like the Mini, the DS3 comes with a floating roof design combined with the blacked out pillars and you have a post-modern city car. Another Mini-like feature are the door mounted side mirrors that, also like the Mini can be customised to a colour of your choice.
Citroen's aim of creating a car that appeals to your need for individual expression lets you customise the DS3's exterior to your liking. Besides the usual body colour options, you can specify the roof colour (with or without graphics), the side mirror housings and three different sets of wheel design. If that's not enough options for individuality, you can even specify the colour for the centre rim cap. That takes customisation to a whole new level!
Exterior
While the DS3 THP has seen a great change underneath, the exterior remains the same as its less endowed sibling. The front fascia retains the mildly aggressive silhouette of a shark with the large centre air intake forming its 'mouth'.
The DS3 also gets the blindingly bright daytime running lights that are the 'in' thing with manufacturers these days. They flank the aft portion of the front fog lights. This makes for a rather 'crowded' fog light area which seem at odds with the cleaner upper half portion of the front fascia.
Like the Mini, the DS3 comes with a floating roof design combined with the blacked out pillars and you have a post-modern city car. Another Mini-like feature are the door mounted side mirrors that, also like the Mini can be customised to a colour of your choice.
Citroen's aim of creating a car that appeals to your need for individual expression lets you customise the DS3's exterior to your liking. Besides the usual body colour options, you can specify the roof colour (with or without graphics), the side mirror housings and three different sets of wheel design. If that's not enough options for individuality, you can even specify the colour for the centre rim cap. That takes customisation to a whole new level!
Interior
The custom touch isn't exclusive to the exterior only. Owners can specify the dashboard colours in a plethora of colours though a conservative like me would be happy with polished piano black. Just like our test car. The customisation goes as far as to let you choose the in car air freshener to one that you enjoy. Chocolate anyone?
In the DS3, the seats are an orgy of leather, Alcantara and fabric which combine to give the interior a tasteful addition. The seats are comfortable and appear to do a fair job of holding you in place when you're going for the bends.
The DS3 gets a rather interesting looking instrument cluster that have needles to mimic those on a sports chrono. Units are all clearly indicated in clean and sharp fronts. The analog layout is supplanted with a amber lit digital display that shows your fuel and trip computer.
Though the brochure boasts the DS3 as a five seater, I wouldn't recommend stuffing three in the back for longer journeys as the horizontal space does get quite cramped. Two would be perfectly fine for longer journeys.
The DS3 trumps the Mini in terms of rear legroom as I was able to stretch out comfortably. Not so in the Mini.
Boot capacity stands at 285 litres which doesn't sound like much but when compared with the Mini's 160 litres, is plenty. Even more space can be availed once you call the 60/40 folding rear bench into action.
The custom touch isn't exclusive to the exterior only. Owners can specify the dashboard colours in a plethora of colours though a conservative like me would be happy with polished piano black. Just like our test car. The customisation goes as far as to let you choose the in car air freshener to one that you enjoy. Chocolate anyone?
In the DS3, the seats are an orgy of leather, Alcantara and fabric which combine to give the interior a tasteful addition. The seats are comfortable and appear to do a fair job of holding you in place when you're going for the bends.
The DS3 gets a rather interesting looking instrument cluster that have needles to mimic those on a sports chrono. Units are all clearly indicated in clean and sharp fronts. The analog layout is supplanted with a amber lit digital display that shows your fuel and trip computer.
Though the brochure boasts the DS3 as a five seater, I wouldn't recommend stuffing three in the back for longer journeys as the horizontal space does get quite cramped. Two would be perfectly fine for longer journeys.
The DS3 trumps the Mini in terms of rear legroom as I was able to stretch out comfortably. Not so in the Mini.
Boot capacity stands at 285 litres which doesn't sound like much but when compared with the Mini's 160 litres, is plenty. Even more space can be availed once you call the 60/40 folding rear bench into action.
 |
The Drive
Powered by the same turbocharged 1.6-litre found in a Cooper S, the engine comes with 156 ponies on tap. The lively 240Nm of torque starts making itself known much lower down the revs at 1400rpm all the way through to 4000rpm.
From the onset, the acceleration in the DS3 feels a lot faster than the 7.3 seconds on paper. Chucked in first gear, the revs build quickly though a slight lag is detected. The engine briskly gets over itself and starts delivering the low end torque that the Prince is known for.
Shifting through the six-speed manual cog box is slick with each gear change moving almost magnetically into gear though a shorter shift would be a nice improvement. Strangely despite the heady performance, the lack of a tuned exhaust gives the DS3 a rather coarse and agricultural soundtrack.
The steering in the DS3 is sharp though it could do with better weighting as it continues to feel vague to the driver. The chassis is tuned well enough that lift-off oversteer will come into play naturally.
Powered by the same turbocharged 1.6-litre found in a Cooper S, the engine comes with 156 ponies on tap. The lively 240Nm of torque starts making itself known much lower down the revs at 1400rpm all the way through to 4000rpm.
From the onset, the acceleration in the DS3 feels a lot faster than the 7.3 seconds on paper. Chucked in first gear, the revs build quickly though a slight lag is detected. The engine briskly gets over itself and starts delivering the low end torque that the Prince is known for.
Shifting through the six-speed manual cog box is slick with each gear change moving almost magnetically into gear though a shorter shift would be a nice improvement. Strangely despite the heady performance, the lack of a tuned exhaust gives the DS3 a rather coarse and agricultural soundtrack.
The steering in the DS3 is sharp though it could do with better weighting as it continues to feel vague to the driver. The chassis is tuned well enough that lift-off oversteer will come into play naturally.
Brakes in the DS3 are pretty good for what started out as a posemobile though the pedal feel is a tad softer than I would like.
Body roll in the DS3 is slightly more pronounced than you would get in a Mini but it remains controllable. The ride quality isn't quite as firm as one would expect from a sporty hatch but it makes the DS3 rather comfortable at cruising speeds.
Conclusion
The DS3 1.6 THP is a great improvement over the lesser model we tested last year. While petrolheads like yours truly relish the unforgiving and ultimately rewarding six-speed manual, it will invariably turn away those looking for a sporty comfort biased hatch.
If the rumours are true, the more powerful 200bhp fully tuned DS3 Racing that's endorsed by seven time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb might not make it to our shores. Unfair and utterly heartbreaking as it might sound, this might be the most powerful Citroen hatch we'll ever get on our roads.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
Body roll in the DS3 is slightly more pronounced than you would get in a Mini but it remains controllable. The ride quality isn't quite as firm as one would expect from a sporty hatch but it makes the DS3 rather comfortable at cruising speeds.
Conclusion
The DS3 1.6 THP is a great improvement over the lesser model we tested last year. While petrolheads like yours truly relish the unforgiving and ultimately rewarding six-speed manual, it will invariably turn away those looking for a sporty comfort biased hatch.
If the rumours are true, the more powerful 200bhp fully tuned DS3 Racing that's endorsed by seven time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb might not make it to our shores. Unfair and utterly heartbreaking as it might sound, this might be the most powerful Citroen hatch we'll ever get on our roads.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
When we tested the DS3 last August, we were impressed with the sex appeal that it oozed from every subtle curve. Driving around town, the little hatch attracts admiring glances for at the time it was a rare sight on the road.
Granted that the DS3 might actually be visually more appealing than the venerable Mini Cooper but what it lacked (which Mini makes up with in the Cooper S) was chuckability.
Sure the DS3 showed potential with its fun nimble handling in the bends but it lacked the engine capacity to make it a fun hatch. It was afterall based on its less illustrious sibling the C3 and part of that inheritance was the weedy 1.6-litre VTi lump.
Well, considering the French have a knack for coming up with fun little hatches that are right up there with the Mini, the DS3 didn't stay weedy for long. What we have in our hands now ladies and gents is the brand new DS3 1.6 THP fitted with the exact same lump as you get in a Mini Cooper S.
Granted that the DS3 might actually be visually more appealing than the venerable Mini Cooper but what it lacked (which Mini makes up with in the Cooper S) was chuckability.
Sure the DS3 showed potential with its fun nimble handling in the bends but it lacked the engine capacity to make it a fun hatch. It was afterall based on its less illustrious sibling the C3 and part of that inheritance was the weedy 1.6-litre VTi lump.
Well, considering the French have a knack for coming up with fun little hatches that are right up there with the Mini, the DS3 didn't stay weedy for long. What we have in our hands now ladies and gents is the brand new DS3 1.6 THP fitted with the exact same lump as you get in a Mini Cooper S.
|
Yes, if you've been hiding under an odd rock somewhere, the lump we're talking about here is the 1.6-litre Prince powerplant that BMW co-developed with the French. By French, I mean the PSA or the Peugeot Citroen Alliance.
|
Since its unveiling, the engine has seen extensive use in several models from Mini as well as Peugeot and Citroen. The lump's popularity is in no small part thanks to its efficiency and power derived from its humble capacity.
Exterior
While the DS3 THP has seen a great change underneath, the exterior remains the same as its less endowed sibling. The front fascia retains the mildly aggressive silhouette of a shark with the large centre air intake forming its 'mouth'.
The DS3 also gets the blindingly bright daytime running lights that are the 'in' thing with manufacturers these days. They flank the aft portion of the front fog lights. This makes for a rather 'crowded' fog light area which seem at odds with the cleaner upper half portion of the front fascia.
Like the Mini, the DS3 comes with a floating roof design combined with the blacked out pillars and you have a post-modern city car. Another Mini-like feature are the door mounted side mirrors that, also like the Mini can be customised to a colour of your choice.
Citroen's aim of creating a car that appeals to your need for individual expression lets you customise the DS3's exterior to your liking. Besides the usual body colour options, you can specify the roof colour (with or without graphics), the side mirror housings and three different sets of wheel design. If that's not enough options for individuality, you can even specify the colour for the centre rim cap. That takes customisation to a whole new level!
Exterior
While the DS3 THP has seen a great change underneath, the exterior remains the same as its less endowed sibling. The front fascia retains the mildly aggressive silhouette of a shark with the large centre air intake forming its 'mouth'.
The DS3 also gets the blindingly bright daytime running lights that are the 'in' thing with manufacturers these days. They flank the aft portion of the front fog lights. This makes for a rather 'crowded' fog light area which seem at odds with the cleaner upper half portion of the front fascia.
Like the Mini, the DS3 comes with a floating roof design combined with the blacked out pillars and you have a post-modern city car. Another Mini-like feature are the door mounted side mirrors that, also like the Mini can be customised to a colour of your choice.
Citroen's aim of creating a car that appeals to your need for individual expression lets you customise the DS3's exterior to your liking. Besides the usual body colour options, you can specify the roof colour (with or without graphics), the side mirror housings and three different sets of wheel design. If that's not enough options for individuality, you can even specify the colour for the centre rim cap. That takes customisation to a whole new level!
Interior
The custom touch isn't exclusive to the exterior only. Owners can specify the dashboard colours in a plethora of colours though a conservative like me would be happy with polished piano black. Just like our test car. The customisation goes as far as to let you choose the in car air freshener to one that you enjoy. Chocolate anyone?
In the DS3, the seats are an orgy of leather, Alcantara and fabric which combine to give the interior a tasteful addition. The seats are comfortable and appear to do a fair job of holding you in place when you're going for the bends.
The DS3 gets a rather interesting looking instrument cluster that have needles to mimic those on a sports chrono. Units are all clearly indicated in clean and sharp fronts. The analog layout is supplanted with a amber lit digital display that shows your fuel and trip computer.
Though the brochure boasts the DS3 as a five seater, I wouldn't recommend stuffing three in the back for longer journeys as the horizontal space does get quite cramped. Two would be perfectly fine for longer journeys.
The DS3 trumps the Mini in terms of rear legroom as I was able to stretch out comfortably. Not so in the Mini.
Boot capacity stands at 285 litres which doesn't sound like much but when compared with the Mini's 160 litres, is plenty. Even more space can be availed once you call the 60/40 folding rear bench into action.
The custom touch isn't exclusive to the exterior only. Owners can specify the dashboard colours in a plethora of colours though a conservative like me would be happy with polished piano black. Just like our test car. The customisation goes as far as to let you choose the in car air freshener to one that you enjoy. Chocolate anyone?
In the DS3, the seats are an orgy of leather, Alcantara and fabric which combine to give the interior a tasteful addition. The seats are comfortable and appear to do a fair job of holding you in place when you're going for the bends.
The DS3 gets a rather interesting looking instrument cluster that have needles to mimic those on a sports chrono. Units are all clearly indicated in clean and sharp fronts. The analog layout is supplanted with a amber lit digital display that shows your fuel and trip computer.
Though the brochure boasts the DS3 as a five seater, I wouldn't recommend stuffing three in the back for longer journeys as the horizontal space does get quite cramped. Two would be perfectly fine for longer journeys.
The DS3 trumps the Mini in terms of rear legroom as I was able to stretch out comfortably. Not so in the Mini.
Boot capacity stands at 285 litres which doesn't sound like much but when compared with the Mini's 160 litres, is plenty. Even more space can be availed once you call the 60/40 folding rear bench into action.
|
The Drive
Powered by the same turbocharged 1.6-litre found in a Cooper S, the engine comes with 156 ponies on tap. The lively 240Nm of torque starts making itself known much lower down the revs at 1400rpm all the way through to 4000rpm.
From the onset, the acceleration in the DS3 feels a lot faster than the 7.3 seconds on paper. Chucked in first gear, the revs build quickly though a slight lag is detected. The engine briskly gets over itself and starts delivering the low end torque that the Prince is known for.
Shifting through the six-speed manual cog box is slick with each gear change moving almost magnetically into gear though a shorter shift would be a nice improvement. Strangely despite the heady performance, the lack of a tuned exhaust gives the DS3 a rather coarse and agricultural soundtrack.
The steering in the DS3 is sharp though it could do with better weighting as it continues to feel vague to the driver. The chassis is tuned well enough that lift-off oversteer will come into play naturally.
Powered by the same turbocharged 1.6-litre found in a Cooper S, the engine comes with 156 ponies on tap. The lively 240Nm of torque starts making itself known much lower down the revs at 1400rpm all the way through to 4000rpm.
From the onset, the acceleration in the DS3 feels a lot faster than the 7.3 seconds on paper. Chucked in first gear, the revs build quickly though a slight lag is detected. The engine briskly gets over itself and starts delivering the low end torque that the Prince is known for.
Shifting through the six-speed manual cog box is slick with each gear change moving almost magnetically into gear though a shorter shift would be a nice improvement. Strangely despite the heady performance, the lack of a tuned exhaust gives the DS3 a rather coarse and agricultural soundtrack.
The steering in the DS3 is sharp though it could do with better weighting as it continues to feel vague to the driver. The chassis is tuned well enough that lift-off oversteer will come into play naturally.
Brakes in the DS3 are pretty good for what started out as a posemobile though the pedal feel is a tad softer than I would like.
Body roll in the DS3 is slightly more pronounced than you would get in a Mini but it remains controllable. The ride quality isn't quite as firm as one would expect from a sporty hatch but it makes the DS3 rather comfortable at cruising speeds.
Conclusion
The DS3 1.6 THP is a great improvement over the lesser model we tested last year. While petrolheads like yours truly relish the unforgiving and ultimately rewarding six-speed manual, it will invariably turn away those looking for a sporty comfort biased hatch.
If the rumours are true, the more powerful 200bhp fully tuned DS3 Racing that's endorsed by seven time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb might not make it to our shores. Unfair and utterly heartbreaking as it might sound, this might be the most powerful Citroen hatch we'll ever get on our roads.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
Body roll in the DS3 is slightly more pronounced than you would get in a Mini but it remains controllable. The ride quality isn't quite as firm as one would expect from a sporty hatch but it makes the DS3 rather comfortable at cruising speeds.
Conclusion
The DS3 1.6 THP is a great improvement over the lesser model we tested last year. While petrolheads like yours truly relish the unforgiving and ultimately rewarding six-speed manual, it will invariably turn away those looking for a sporty comfort biased hatch.
If the rumours are true, the more powerful 200bhp fully tuned DS3 Racing that's endorsed by seven time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb might not make it to our shores. Unfair and utterly heartbreaking as it might sound, this might be the most powerful Citroen hatch we'll ever get on our roads.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
Photos by Benjamin G, Kline
Also read our comparison article on:
Citroen DS3 1.6 THP (M) vs MINI Cooper S 1.6 (A)
Car Information
Citroen DS3 1.6 THP (M)
CAT B|Petrol|14.9km/L
Horsepower
116kW (156 bhp)
Torque
240 Nm
Acceleration
7.3sec (0-100km /hr)
This model is no longer being sold by local distributor
All Used Citroen DS3
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