DS3 Prestige – suits you sir!

WITH its roots in Paris and a styling that mirrors the city’s fashionable boulevards, DS Automobiles specialises in trendy design, exciting sensations and meticulous refinement down to the last detail.

But it’s something much more simple that can make the once sporty division of Citroen – now a car brand in its own right – really stand out.

You can load up with no end of personalisation options, and DS has dozens of those, but pick a striking body colour and plonk a white roof on top with some matching wing mirror caps and the admiring glances will follow.

DS says its cars are designed for customers looking for a means to express themselves as individuals – and on the supermini scene the DS3 is up there with the coolest.

It may be based on the by comparison more conservative Citroen C3 model but the DS3 is way more jazzy and modern with its shark-fin shape central pillar really catching the eye.

Even the names of the three trim levels – Chic, Elegance and Prestige – reflect the brand’s design-led philosophy.

Our test model, in top spec Prestige grade, came with a Sapphire Green piant job (funny, I always thought sapphires were blue) that looked a carbon copy of the old British Racing Green that adorned classic Aston Martin, Lotus and Bentleys of the past.

Green may not be a popular colour among the superstitious but there’s no escaping the fact that with its white accompaniments this Sapphire hue certainly looks a gem, even if it does cost an extra £495 for the combination.

And there are plenty of other features to appreciate with this model, not least the shaped soft leather seats that give the driver and front seat passenger plenty of side support.

With lots of glass and cleverly shaped rear side windows there’s no danger of rear passengers feeling claustrophobic.

At first glance, as you slide back the front seats to enter this three-door only supermini, it looks a tight space.

It’s deceptive though, as the front seats are shaped in such a way that there plenty of knee room.

No one wants to be piggy in the middle and while it’s tight for three at the shoulders, the centre position isn’t perched and there’s plenty of leg space.

And the snazzy touches you would expect from a dedicated sports sub-brand are there too in the shape of a chunky flat-bottomed steering wheel, drilled alloy pedals, piano black detailing around the dash, fascia and door openers plus classy looking silver and black alloy wheels.

Up for grabs are a choice of PureTech petrol and BlueHDi diesel engines, the 130bhp petrol unit in the tested model giving the DS3 some spirited performance allied to an official average fuel return of 62.8 miles per gallon.

All very commendable but a car like this needs the advanced dynamics to match its visual appeal – and on that score the DS3 delivers, with loads of grip, little in the way of body roll, a positive feel from the steering and refined on faster roads.

It’s a terrific little performer.