Overview

Despite the fact it is owned by Stellantis, the DS brand still like to remind people that it’s been “created in Paris”, the capital of France which one associates with “sophistication and the avant-garde” apparently. And while it’s more glamorously dressed than its siblings and boasts a customer experience that is more personalised, the new DS 3 E-TENSE (the successor to DS 3 CROSSBACK E-TENSE) is still a Vauxhall Corsa-e underneath with the larger battery and motor shared from with Jeep's first electric car. We get a top-of-range model with every option box
ticked – coming in at an eye-watering £44,480 – to test whether you get what you pay for.   

Driving

While DS Automobiles has clocked up two double titles (Teams and Drivers) in Formula E, its performance on the road is far from exciting. There is only one option when it comes to the drivetrain – the 155hp electric motor is fed by a new 54kWh battery (vs the 50kWh old unit) – which is assembled just outside of France. There are three driving modes: Eco to maximise range, Normal which delivers the best compromise between range and performance; and Sport with the maximum 192lb-ft of torque available from the get go, aiding a very lethargic zero to 62mph time of nine seconds.

Suspension setup comprises of MacPherson struts up front, torsion beam axle out back, and coil springs on each corner, plus it is 10mm lower than the CROSSBACK. Despite DS banging on about its Parisian roots, the ride is anything but French! It’s not super soft but it’s not overly firm either, so it copes okay with bumpy country roads, but push it a bit and the damping struggles to cope with those undulations and there’s considerable body roll in tight corners. The steering isn’t very precise either – it’s devoid of feel and too light.

In B mode the regenerative braking ramps up a little but like all cars from the Stellantis stable it’s not a one-pedal car, it’s more of a blended system and unfortunately there seems to be a split second delay when you press the brake pedal.

Our test car obviously had a software bug as the speed limit warning on the heads-up didn’t correlate to the actual speed limit on the road, so driving in a 60mph speed limit zone the car would warn you to stay below 37, 40mph below 25, and 30mph below 19mph. It meant the adaptive cruise control was completely useless, while the lane keeping system favoured the lines of the road rather than keeping the car centred.

While you sit surprisingly high for a compact SUV, all round visibility is terrible. The A and B pillars are very chunky and the side and rear window tiny – you’d struggle to park if it weren’t for the 360 Vision including front and rear parking sensors and Blind Spot Detection, which are only standard in Opera trim. Performance line will only give you rear sensors to help you out.

Range and running costs

DS Automobile claim that optimised aerodynamics and innovative materials, together with an all-new invertor and heat pump (standard across both trim levels) has allowed an increased range for DS 3 E-TENSE – up to 245 miles. In the real world, that’s not achievable especially as it isn’t that efficient, averaging 2.3 miles to the kWh - in Eco mode! Saying that, other journos have reported up to 3.8mi/kWh, thus enabling a mix-use range of around 200 miles. It charges at speeds of up to 100kWh, so at a motorway service station it’ll take 30 minutes to reach 80 per cent. Fortunately, when you buy your DS 3 you’ll benefit from a Connect One pack for ten years, which gives you a choice of games among other connected services.

With an EV you automatically benefit from free access to low emission zones as well as zero road tax and very low BIK rates, at least, making running costs cheaper. If you purchase one online you benefit from a £750 contribution from DS, three year servicing plan for £249 which is said to offer a significant reduction and a complimentary wall box. There are just two trims available Performance Line from £36,715 (or £556.27pm) or Opera as per our test car, which will set you back a punchy £41,485 (or £627.63 pm).

Design

Compared with the CROSSBACK the new DS 3 has been brought in line with the rest of the DS Automobiles range, benefitting from a redesigned wider grille, rear spoiler, wheels and flush fitting door handles – which are also more aerodynamic. There is a choice of seven colours – and even on the Opera models, only one of those is free (Bianca white) which is pretty miserly at this price.

There is just one interior option for each trim – ours is DS’s infamous ‘watchstrap’ leather which extends beyond the seats to the dashboard fascia and door panel. DS Automobiles prides itself on craftsmanship and while you can’t argue that the materials and finish are of extremely high quality, the design is best summed up by my six-year-old son – ugly! You see, unique to the DS 3 is the use of diamond patterns – and they are everywhere... Across the dash, touch sensitive controls, air vents, even the start/stop button. It’s supposed to echo the design of the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, but it really doesn’t translate well! It just screams of style over substance.

The new DS 3 gets an improved infotainment system at least – accessed via a 10.3-inch screen – although it’s not as responsive as I’d like, and some of the common controls, such as air con, are buried making it challenging to use on the move. You’re better off using the standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring features that come as standard.  The 7.0 inch digital instrument display behind the steering wheel is small but better than nothing (like Tesla) and gives you all the vital information.

Comfort and practicality

In terms of storage, it’s not great – the door bins are tiny and the rear ones difficult to reach, while the cubby under the armrest is nothing to write home about, and the boot isn’t particularly impressive at 350 litres. The seats are too firm (despite being covered with an ‘innovative high-density foam’), and while the driving position has changed with the adoption of a new steering wheel, it’s hard to find a comfortable position. Perhaps it’s because I’m almost six foot.

But I’m better off driving as I wouldn’t want to be a passenger in the back thanks to the downward sloping roofline, which is much better suited for kids. Saying that the doors don’t open very wide and the ISOFIX points are hidden by small zips and impossible to use once you do access them, so fitting child seats are a nightmare. As well as being cramped it’s also dark, because of that pointless reverse shark’s fin on the B-pillar which reduces the size of the window. Another knock-on effect of this “daring design” feature is reduced visibility for the driver.

Another pet hate, the window switches are on centre console instead of on the door – an expense cutting exercise that again feels a bit penny pinching.

Looking at the positives – it’s a well-equipped car. Even the Performance Line is pretty comprehensive with most high level driver aids fitted as standard. The top of the range Opera is very good as you’d expect with electric, heated and massaging front seats, Blind Spot Detection, head-up display, wireless charging, 360 Vision including front and rear,parking sensors, and DS Iris System (3D Connected Navigation, natural voicerecognition, Bluetooth® connectivity andover-the-air updates), 18inch alloys and 11kW on-board charger.

In fact the only optional extras are the Extended Safety Pack Plus which gives you Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Lane Positioning Assist, Extended Traffic Sign Recognition, and Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS3), but for £800, we wouldn’t bother, ditto with their Matrix LED Vision, which while impressive, is another grand, and a different colour roof – that will set you back £200.

Verdict

I’m sure if they could DS Automobile would use the strapline “why settle for less?” But personally we think the extra money spent on craftsmanship just isn’t worth it unless you like to pay through the nose for quirky design and upmarket materials and the range suits your lifestyle.

At this price point there are far more practical options – such as the cheaper Peugeot e-2008 and Vauxhall Mokka-e. The longer-range Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia Niro EV also spring to mind – they’re easier to use, have a longer range and are a better drive frankly. They’re also not predicted to depreciate as fast and compared to DS Autmobile’s three year warranty they have five and seven years respectively.

It is a competitive market now, and EV buyers aren’t particularly loyal. It seems DS are clinging onto its design and luxury credentials of the past and making a half arsed attempt at all the other things we buy cars for.

Key Specs

2023 DS 3 Opera E-TENSE

Price (RRP OTR): From £37,465, £44,480 (model as tested)
Top speed: 93mph
0-62mph: 9 seconds
Power: 115kW (155hp)
Torque: 192lb-ft
Driving range (combined): 245miles
Charging time: 7 hours 30 min (7.4kW 0-100%), 5 hrs (11kW, 0-100%), 30 mins (100kW, 0-80%)
Insurance group: 29
Vehicle warranty: 3 years / 60,000 miles
Battery warranty: 8 years / 100,000 miles