Originally Posted by
Ferrer
2011 Citroën DS3 HDi 110 Sport
This isn't exactly that car I was looking for, I'm interested in the 155 THP version, but since the chasis was the same as well as the trim level I decided to go ahead and try it out anyway.
First things first, I do not like the exterior look of the DS3 and getting to inspect one closely didn't change my idea. It's just too chintzy, too showy and there's simply too much chrome around. The car I'd be driving was wellow and black, just like Barcelona's taxis, which didn't help either. Thankfully the interior is much better. The seats are perfect, very comfortable and supportive without being as radical as the Abarth's. The materials used are of very high quality and ergonomics are quite good as well. Only minus point was the steering wheel which not only was flat-bottomed, but it didn't feel nice when you grabbed it.
Out on the road though, you can't see the exterior so I was eager to see if the little Citroën could redeem itself. The first thing you notice is that those electric power steering systems simply can't replicate the feel of a good hydraulic system. It's not Delta-like catastrophically bad but sometimes you just have to believe that the wheels will do what you tell them to do. However, it is by far the most comfortable of the three cars I've tried out these days. It doesn't bounce around or is unsettled at all by bumps or creases on the road, it's very french if you know what I mean. This doesn't mean it's a boat, though. Bodyroll is controlled and the handling is moderately interesting, back hints itself in the corners if you lift, but it doesn't want to kill you. In that aspect it is much better than the Abarth, but not quite as raw as the Twingo RS (what is, this side of 20 grand?).
For the test purposes I had to drive a diesel, so it wasn't of much use in this department. But anyway I'll explain that the engine is smooth and quite silent at low speeds, but it becomes a traditional diesel if you push. It also has this annoying feature common to all turborcharged engines, turbo lag. There's clear change in the oomph once you go past 1500-2000rpm. The stop-start system is howver excellent, very smooth when stopping and little be harsher when starting, but in any case much better than BMW's. The gearbox is good, a 6 speed manual, and it allows you to change very fast should the mood take you.
All in all a very compelling proposition, an all rounder, even if you get the impresion that it's a bit style over substance, but I guess that in the right spec it could be a great little car.
Anyway, all of this is actually pointless because yesterday it was ordered...