Grabbing attention and taking it to the next level would appear to be a DS crusade. Building on the draw of the DS7, the latest DS3 Crossback is identifiable from the outset as an upmarket, compact crossover, with its modest length of 4.12m, broad on-road stance, 18.0-inch alloy wheels and hiked-up ground clearance.
From its sculpted DS grille, the pearl-like daytime running-lights and the tapered LED headlamps, to the chiselled hatchback tail, a contemporary performance image is perpetrated. Attention-to-detail is the hallmark of the DS brand and is visible everywhere around the car’s exterior, through the flush-fit door handles that deploy as the car is approached by the owner, a kinked-up centre line and twin chrome tailpipes for the conventional petrol and diesel engines…naturally, the all-electric version is devoid of this final flourish. The broad, shoulders strike an evocative departing style.
Personalisation is expressed with the five DS trims: Montmartre, Bastille, Performance Line, Rivoli and Opera but there is also a La Première limited edition. Mixed and matched colours and materials inside and outside the car tease individual tastes and requirements. The quality is maintained with textured Nappa leather top-stitched in a pearl, or diamond, pattern, with braided textiles, Alcantara surfaces and a steering wheel fully upholstered in full-grain hide.
The coherent approach of DS7’s interior design is carried into the DS3 Crossback, complete with gear selector, toggle switches and electric handbrake, with a smartphone charging pad, and an array of storage compartments that include cup holders and a broad, functional sliding armrest. Needless to say, the DS signature is displayed emblematically almost everywhere you look.
Particular emphasis has been placed on acoustics and vehicle soundproofing, which help to enhance the in-car hi-fi experience, while improving overall comfort levels. Naturally, the forthcoming EV versions will be the most refined, when they appear in the second half of 2019. Following a fast-charge, the E-Tense models avoid trip nervousness, with a 280-miles range. Dip into its performance pool and a DS3 Crossback EV will accelerate from 0-60mph in around 8.4s. The rest of the range is the first to feature the latest upgrade of PureTech, with a 155bhp petrol engine mated to an EAT8 auto-box. Two other PureTech engines (130bhp and 100bhp) complete the range of petrol units, while a 1.5-litre BlueHDi 100 diesel engine satisfies diesel fans.
Naturally, connectivity and driver assist programmes intend to deliver a more relaxed drive. They provide the next step on the road to autonomous vehicles. Using on-board radar and a camera, DS3 adapts to the driving conditions, the vehicle following a set course and altering its speed automatically, taking safe distance and a need for a complete stop into account…although the driver can take back control at any time. Unlocking and starting the car, using a smartphone and the MyDS app, means that DS3 Crossback can be lent to a person of choice (up to five), without having to give them the key.
The intuitive digital instrument cluster lets the driver display a wide range of driving information using a pull-down menu possessing up to five different and customisable screens. A head-up display projects key driving information (in colour) onto a transparent panel that is in the driver’s field of vision. As an expression of Gallic style in a more compact form, the DS3 Crossback builds on the foundations of the first of the new line, the DS7. Of course, it will polarise opinions but a ‘love-loathe’ reputation is far better than none at all.
