Citroen adds more zest

CITROEN have enlisted the posthumous talents of Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley to spread the word that there's nothing retro about the DS3.

And there isn't, which makes the recycling of the DS name a tad surprising.

For, as anyone who has ever spent a farthing or queued up at Beau Sejour for a ration book will tell you, there has been a Citroen DS before.

And what a corker that was.

With its flying saucer looks, front disc brakes, height-adjustable and self-levelling suspension, semi automatic gearboxes and power steering it landed like an alien craft in the motoring world back in 1955.

The old sit-up-and-beg side-valve Ford Popular, complete with single, vacuum-operated, wiper was still on sale in Britain and it was four years before the Mini was launched.

Designed by Flaminio Bertoni, who also penned the 'Maigret' Traction Avant, 2CV and Ami, the DS was voted third in the Car of the Century poll – behind the Model T and Mini but ahead of the Beetle and Porsche 911 – and top in the most beautiful car of all time.

But the DS of the 21st century is a horse of a completely different feather.

Based on the C3, the DS3 is the first of a line of DS models aimed at the premium end of the market – DS4 and DS5 will follow.

But unlike previous premium small car successes such as the Beetle, Fiat 500 and Mini, the three-door only DS3 does not have to pay homage to a distant ancestor.

Given that freer hand, the stylists have done a good job. Clever treatment of the pillars makes the roof – which can be specified in a range of contrasting colours – appear to float above the muscular body.

DS3 comes in three grades: DSign, DStyle and DSport with the entry level powerplant a 1.4-litre petrol of 95bhp.

The test car was a DSport with the turbocharged 150bhp motor – it's a version of the powerplant jointly developed by PSA and BMW that also appears in the Mini, which is arguably ther DS3's major rival.

From outside, the DSport is distinguishable by the larger, 17-inch alloy wheels, standard chrome rubbing strips and chrome twin exhaust. The neat LED running lights integrated into either side of the bumper, it shares with the mid-range DStyle.

As a premium model – although prices start well shy of £11,000 – all DS3s come well equipped for the segment with goodies such as cruise control with speed limiter, electric windows and mirrors, six-speaker RDS radio/CD with MP3 compatibility and six airbags as standard.

Like the kit list, the exterior appearance builds up one's expectations and on opening the door, the DSport far from disappoints.

There's a real quality air about the interior, from the top of the fascia to the colourful leather sports seats and the neat contrast stitching on the door panels – like the inserts on the seats this was yellow to match the body colour.

Citroen billed the DS3 as one of the most personalisable cars on the market and there is a wide range of options.

So many that there is an online configurator for you to create your perfect DS3 – a virtual try before you buy.

Customers start by selecting the engine and trim level, then specify body colour, roof colour and roof graphics, as well as a host of other features like chrome door mirrors, chrome rubbing strips, up to 1in. alloy wheels in different styles and colours, front LEDs, upholstery material and colour scheme, and even one of six colours for the dashboard and gear knob.

Optional equipment packs include features like automatic headlamps, rear parking sensors, MyWay satellite navigation, Connecting Box (Bluetooth with USB socket), and a front central armrest.

But back to the test car, where you last heard from me poking about the interior.

The driving position is good and multi-adjustable and the seats comfortable and supportive.

The back seat is decent. The old and lardy will, they tell me, find it a bit of a wriggle to get over the thick sill and around the front seat, but once seated there is just about enough room for a couple of adults or even three at a bit of a push.

Behind that seat lurks a proper boot – 285 litres – comfortably eclipsing its rivals in the style stakes because the Citroen's design is not compromised by paying homage to a tiny predecessor.

And it is an absolute star.

Its 150bhp whisk the small Citroen to 62mph in just over seven seconds and to over 130mph.

Impressive, but largely academic.

The good news is that while it is quite happy to rev, its 177lb/ft of torque are available from 1,400 revs so it's always eager and on the case at real-world speed, even in the higher gears.

Not that there's an excuse to be in the wrong one of the six forward ratios – a gear efficiency indicator tells you when to change up or down and the box is an absolute joy to use.

For all its pretty face, this is a very satisfying driving machine.

The balance between roadholding and ride is superb and the steering well weighted and fairly communicative.

It's not the technological tour de force of its fifties forebear, but with its refined performance, sporty handling, decent practicality – and five Euro NCap stars – the DS3 has all the credentials to establish the DS range as a premium brand.