Citroen DS3 e-HDi 90hp Airdream DStyle 95g 3dr Car Review - March 2012

With a maximum output of 90bhp at 4000 rpm and torque figures of 169 lb-ft at 1750 rpm, this small family car is able to give a decent burst of power when driven. A top speed of 113 mph is more than adequate for a family car and capable of accelerating from 0-62 mph in 12.5 seconds means that this car is neither the fastest nor the slowest vehicle on the road.

The DS3 is a fab looking car and a very credible alternative to the MINI.

There is plenty of standard equipment offered to keep drivers and passengers entertained. Power steering, central locking, air conditioning, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control and an advanced stereo with MP3 connectivity are all fitted as standard and buyers can choose to enhance their vehicle with a few additional extras.

Rear parking sensors and climate control are offered as a joint option which costs £650 whilst leather seats will set buyers back £1,100 and a metallic paint finish on the exterior costs £440. Bluetooth connectivity costs an additional £350 and a built-in sat nav comes with a price tag of £850.

The Citroen DS3 e-HDi 90hp Airdream offers a great range of safety features including driver, passenger and front side airbags and scored the full five stars in the Euro NCAP safety tests.

Unfortunately, an alarm is not an option on this model and that means that some areas of the security may be lower than expected. The vehicle also comes with a three year warranty at 60,000 miles and a service is recommended every 12,500 miles meaning costs should remain fairly low.

Practicality is fairly standard for a family car and the boot capacity of 285 litres with the seats down is adequate for normal family use. Folding the rear seats increases the storage space dramatically, offering a maximum capacity of 980 litres.

Priced at £14,800 this is somewhat expensive for a small family car. However, the combined benefits of the low running costs and high efficiency mean the car is very cheap to keep on the road and that means it could be a worthwhile investment for families looking for long term ownership.

Achieving an impressive 78.5 mpg on a combined cycle this economical car is a great investment for families on a budget. This is combined with strong green credentials which keep carbon emissions under the 100 g/km threshold – registering at just 95 g/km. This puts the car firmly into road tax band A meaning that there is no charge to owners.

Insurance premiums fall under group 15 which is fairly mid-range for a family car. Whilst this could be cheaper the combined savings offered by the road tax and fuel consumption more than make up for it.

Upgrading to the DStyle Plus trim will offer buyers a few additional features and options but some areas of the range suffers further restrictions meaning buyers need to look carefully at which features they consider a priority.