06 January 2011

First impressions of the new Citroen DS3?
With a sporty roof, yellow interior trim seating and white dashboard, this car is definitely one for the creative and the style-conscious.

The Citroen DS3 isn’t just a car – it’s a fashion statement. With the ability to choose between a huge range of body colours and mix your choice with a massive range of coloured and patterned roofs, interiors and wheel colours, you can almost guarantee you won’t find a car on the road like yours.

The Citroën is also very compact. You won’t compromise on style or space with this small car.

The size of the Citroen DS3 means you’re able to park much easier and manoeuvre around sharp corners and with a ‘floating’ roof design and with a low-slug waistline, the DS3’s exterior will definitely appeal to sports car lovers.

The sporty persona is further reflected on the interior through the use of luxurious leather seating and also 3 aviation-style displays that burst into life when you get your motor running.

What about the interior?
The Citroen DS3 is all about the driver. With low-slung, body-hugging seats, easy access controls and command systems all orientated towards the driver, the interior of the DS3 ensures a comfy drive; even on the longest journeys... in fact, you may not even want to get out when you reach your destination.

Although it’s a small car, the DS3 definitely doesn’t compromise on space so say ‘Hello’ to lots of leg room.

And just like the exterior, you’ll also be able to flex your interior decorating skills by choosing your own dashboard trim and seat covers. Awesome.

The drive
Highways with 110km/hr speed limits, open roads, country town driving and city, peak hour grid lock- the Citroen DS3 can not only drive in all these road conditions, it seriously dominates it.

Whether you’re gliding along a highway, bumping along a dirt road or you are ‘gas, break, honking’ through the city, the Citroen DS3 has you covered.

Additionally, due to its small car nature, this little beast can easily take on sharp corners and tight manoeuvres. All in a day’s work for the DS3.

Best features of the new Citroën DS3?
You can design the car to suit your personal style. V cool.

Think -

• MP3 Compatibility
• Radio/CD player
• Scented air freshener (you can now sneak off your shoes without anyone noticing the smell)
• Steering wheel auto controls
• Glovebox with cooling system (hello ice-cool drinks fresh from your car on hot days)
• Gear efficiency indicatory – you’ll be told the optimal time to change gear, which encourages more fuel-efficient driving (your wallet and the environment loves this car for this reason).

Safety
Safety is a huge priority for the DS3. All models are equipped with ESP (Electronic Stability Program) as standard, together with Electronic Brake-force Distribution, and Emergency Brake Assist. The DS3 is also equipped with 6 airbags.

Price
Prices range from $39,990 for the Dstyle automatic to $35,990 for the Dsport manual, the Citroën DS3 is definitely value for money.

Styles and colours?
There are 2 styles of the Citroen DS3:

• DS3 DStyle – 1.6 litre petrol, automatic
• DS3 Dsport – 1.6 litre turbo petrol, 6-speed manual

As mentioned, there’s an infinite number of style combinations for the DS3. From a red body with a red and white polka dot roof, to a yellow body with a black roof or a blue body with a white roof, the choice is yours and the sky is the limit.

Space and storage?
The Citroën DS3 is amazingly compact. If you’re sporty, this car will fit your tennis racquet, basketballs and hockey stick in it easily. If you’re a shopaholic, rest assured this car will fit your entire shopping binge. If you have a family to think of– you’ll still manage to fit Mum, Dad, the two kids, plus Rover.

Storage features include:

• Cooled glovebox
• Storage on handbrake console
• Drivers side glovebox
• Storage in front door pockets
• Storage pockets on backs of front seats.

Three words to describe the Citroen DS3?
Individual, sporty, compact.

Not so keen on…
I don’t know if it was just me being stupid, but I couldn’t for the life of me work out the radio.

Soundtrack for the Citroen DS3
"Rock Dust Light Star" by Jamiroquai