The new DS 3 premium small SUV has been restyled for 2023 – and it’s been renamed too, losing the wording from its current DS 3 Crossback identity.
The smarter, simpler DS 3 goes on sale in October 2022, with prices expected to start from just under £25,000. This will once again make it a capable competitor to rivals such as the Audi Q2, MINI Countryman and Volkswagen Taigo. First UK deliveries for those buying or leasing a new DS 3 are expected from January 2023. As before, the DS 3 will be offered with a regular turbo petrol engine, and in pure electric DS 3 E-Tense guise. The 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engines continue as before, with either 100PS in combination with a six-speed manual gearbox, or a 130PS eight-speed automatic. The DS 3 E-Tense benefits from significant improvements. An all-new electric motor takes power up to 155PS, while a new 54kWh battery (50.8kWh of which is usable power) extends the range to 250 miles. It’s ready to use 100kW rapid chargers too, for top-ups from 0% to 80% in just 25 minutes. All-round efficiency improvements mean the DS 3 E-Tense travels further for every kWh of electrical energy consumed, while the power boost will deliver more performance as well. Marking out the new DS 3 range is a redesigned front end. It has a fresh new grille, boasting either gloss black or chrome diamond tips; the grille is wider, and is capped by DS ‘wings’ that blend into the LED headlights. The DS 3 has new-look LED daytime running lights too. The bold vertical lines either side are more distinctive, and help make it appear wider-looking out on the road. New aero tweaks lower down mean it slips through the air more easily as well. There’s an all-new choice of 17-inch and 18-inch alloys for those buying or leasing a new DS 3 to choose from. The range includes a new 18-inch ‘Toulouse’ alloy wheel specific to the DS 3 E-Tense, which features taller, narrower, aero-tuned A+ high-efficiency tyres. The DS 3 has a tweaked rear end design. A lacquered black strip runs the full length of the boot, between the LED tail lamps, which holds polished stainless steel ‘DS Automobiles’ badging. Each letter is set individually into the trim panel. A range of seven colours can be set off by two different contrast roof colours, either black or grey. An all-new colour, Diva Red, is a rich three-layer metallic with a ‘flop’ effect that changes colour and brightness according to the viewing angle. The choice of trims has been simplified, and all models have a better standard spec. Options for the DS 3 have been reduced thanks to this equipment boost, and the remaining ones have been bundled into options packs, making it easier to buy or lease a new DS 3. Trim choices are rich throughout the range. Entry-level Bastille versions have smart black woven cloth upholstery with leather-effect vinyl. Performance Line models make plentiful use of sporty Alcantara, while Rivoli have Basalt Black grained leather trim. The range-topping DS 3 Opera boast Basalt Black nappa leather with watchstrap seat pattern. Owners of the current DS 3 Crossback will be pleased to hear the new DS 3 has an improved infotainment system. The 10.3-inch widescreen setup is simplified, with a widget-based menu system, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 7.0-inch driver display is fully configurable, too. The new DS 3 even has a complementary smartphone app, called MyDS. Owners can remotely check if it’s locked, where the car is located, and even send sat nav directions to the car from their smartphone. The state of charge with DS 3 E-Tense EVs can be remotely monitored, and the climate control can be turned on from your living room: perfect to warm the car up in advance on cold wintery mornings.
