A Bit of a Goddess - A look at the new Citroën DS3

They're calling it the coolest car of its generation, possibly of all time. The car in question is the brand new Citroën DS3 and the 'they' is the world's motoring media. I have to agree with them: Citroën's new small car is quite something.

Unlike the MINI, Beetle and to a lesser extent the Fiat 500, it doesn’t parody an old car. The new Beetle didn’t even have its engine in the same place as the original and that may explain why it didn’t last. The new MINI is now in its second generation, but somehow I find it hard to think of as a truly ‘authentic’ car. The 500, as Fiat has recently conceded, was badly positioned in the marketplace when launched and was clearly overpriced. Lower-spec models have since been introduced.

Citroën’s boutique hatch owes nothing but its name to a previous recipient of the double chevron badge but the original DS was a very different kind of car. It was truly a revolutionary design and the DS nomenclature is a play on the French word déesse, which means goddess.

Though based on the humble Citroën C3 the DS3 is a remarkably good car, and surprisingly practical with a generous boot. Especially when compared to the MINI. All models are powered by a 1,6-litre four (ironically virtually the same powerplant found in its arch- rival) while the flagship has a turbocharged version for especially eager performance.

Unlike some French cars of years past, the DS3 seems to have style and substance and is a whole lot of fun to drive. Snuggle down into that body-hugging seat, reach out for the steering wheel, and fire her up… It is sporty, but not so that it rattles your teeth, and the combination of space and comfort means you could happily live with it day in and day out. They start out just shy of the R200 000 mark and the 115 kW turbocharged Sport is R255 000.

What do we like most about the DS3? Well, the fact that you can invariably find something new to admire, debate, or analyse in it s styling (both inside and out) means you’re unlikely to tire of its avantegarde looks, and if you do get bored, then just pop down to your local Citroën dealer and choose a new gearknob, dashboard colour or, even a new roof. Actually, customizing your car isn’t quite that simple but you can do the following when you buy it:

  • The roof can be painted in four colours that contrast with the rest of the body: Onyx black, Opale white, Botticelli blue and Carmen rouge;
  • Rearview mirror housings and door sills can be clothed in body colour or chrome;
  • Wheels and wheel centres can be specified in a near-infinite range of colours.
  • Inside, the dashboard strip – encompassing air vents, instrument cluster surround and multifunction screens – is the largest design-scheme component and comes in a choice of eight finishes.
  • The gearstick knob ships in seven different trims, blending satin-finish chrome with the brilliance of the colour and leather.

And in a symbolic touch, the key plip features a disc in the same colour as the body paint, so that people always have a little piece of their DS3 on them!

What don’t we like about the car? That satin finish chrome of the gearknob on freezing Winter mornings! Other than that, there’s little to complain about and it really does combine a surprising amount of practicality with elegance and charm…it’s a car which only the French could pull off.

The DS3 was designed with three keywords in mind says Citroën: surprise, appeal and vitality. It certainly lives up to that them all.