Equally, the switches for the cruise control and music are obscured behind the steering wheel. Most of the switchgear feels sturdy to the touch, but the buttons for the infotainment system on the centre console are small and difficult to use without taking your eyes off the road. The DS3's cabin is at least as stylish as the outside, and all the materials used feel pleasant to the touch. Even lower down in the cabin, where rivals such as the Ford Fiesta feel cheaper, the DS3 feels fairly plush. What’s the Citroen DS3 1.6 BlueHDi 120 like inside? Big bumps enter the cabin with a thump, and the biggest can actually throw the car off its line. It jostles constantly over even relatively smooth surfaces, making the DS3 feel jittery and nervous when travelling down fast country roads. The stiff suspension - which helps the car stay fairly flat in corners - spoils the comfort further. The engine noise is not very well isolated from the cabin, either, and is very clattery most of the time, enough that it's difficult to ignore. On the DSport’s bigger 17in alloy wheels there's lots of boomy road noise at higher speeds, particularly when it's also joined by intrusive wind noise over the door mirrors. However, more frustrating than any of these niggles is the poor refinement. Having said that, the Citroen’s steering feels slow compared with that of a Mini or a Ford Fiesta, so the car doesn't feel as keen to change direction, and the light steering doesn't inspire much confidence through fast corners, either, so the DS3 isn't as much fun to drive as a Mini, let alone a Ford Fiesta. When cornering a bit harder, it’s grippy, clinging to the road gamely while the bolstered seats hold you firmly in place. The nose tucks in purposefully and the body stays reasonably well controlled as it turns. Throw the DS3 at a corner and it feels suitably sporty. You do need to let the revs build a little before it starts to feel responsive, but the engine is unquestionably powerful enough to make the DS3 feel quite punchy around town, and even when overtaking on the motorway. What’s the Citroen DS3 1.6 BlueHDi 120 like to drive?Īccelerating in the DS3 is a relaxed affair. On the DSport version we’re testing here, the Plus pack brings leather upholstery, rear parking sensors, a central armrest between the front seats and an upgraded sound system.
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December 2022
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