2016 DS 3 1.2L PureTech 6AT FWD (110 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Citroen finally launched the DS Automobiles brand in 2016, and along with that, it refreshed the DS 3 lineup, which was initially named Citroen DS3 when it was unveiled in 2009.

While the name could still confuse some customers, the car was promising. Specific dealerships sold it but were not necessarily connected with the Citroen brand. In addition, the automaker tried to create an upscale vehicle with a French flair, different from what the Germans, the British, or the Swedish automakers could provide. After all, the three-door hatchback and its open-top sibling, the DS 3 Cabrio, were well-received by customers, who bought them in almost 400,000 units in the model’s six-year lifetime until the DS Automobiles brand was established as an independent marque.

Starting with this model, the “double-chevron” badge on the vehicle disappeared completely. It has been replaced by the DS badge ever since and has helped the car manufacturer create its brand identity. A chromed trim adorned the front fascia, surrounding the main grille, and extended with wing-like elements that underlined the headlights. Lower, on the apron, the automaker added a shiny horizontal slat, while below it was a center-mounted trapezoidal air intake flanked by round fog lamps.

The idea of the floating-roof design was well-received by customers, so DS Automobiles didn’t want to change it. As a result, the DS 3 featured a B-pillar with a black upper area that matched the roof color. The side rear windows and the one from the tailgate were visually combined with the dark D-pillar. As a result, the DS 3 created the image of a large, wrap-around glass area. Furthermore, the A-pillars were also dark, and the color of the door matched their look mirror caps. Customers could get the vehicle with either 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels, depending on the engine version and options.

The cabin was revolutionized once again, even though the DS 3 went through a facelift in 2014. For the 2016 model year, it boasted a new touchscreen for the infotainment system that allowed Apple CarPlay connectivity and mirror Android phones. However, it wasn’t equipped with Android Auto. The flat-bottom steering wheel sported the DS badge in the middle, while in front of it was a three-circular instrument cluster, where the speedometer took center stage. It was flanked by the rev counter on the left and by an LCD display on its right. Depending on the grade, the car featured buckets or sports seats at the front, covered in leather, and sporting a unique design with a rectangular pattern. At the same time, in the back, the split-folding bench seat could expand the trunk space.

Under the hood, the automaker narrowed the engine choices, but it still kept the most potent version available. Besides the lowest-powered version of the vehicle, all the others were turbocharged. Power was sent to the front wheels only via five or six-speed manuals or a six-speed automatic.