- Doors and Seats
3 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
1.6T, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
115kW, 240Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 6L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Citroen DS3 Cabrio first drive review
Calling all non-conformist Francophiles: your new compact convertible has arrived.
The Citroen DS3 Cabrio, priced from $30,990, offers a unique take on the convertible concept that sets it apart from rivals like the Mini Cooper Cabrio and Fiat 500C cabriolet.
Nobody can accuse Citroen of shying away from that old French saying "Vive la Difference". In fact, research conducted by new Citroen importer Sime Darby says it is what Citroen buyers expect and demand.
"We are quite confident the 'Non-conformist' tag is something that suits the Citroen buyer in Australia," Citroen general manager John Startari told Drive at the DS3 Cabrio launch this week. "It's about wanting something that's different. They don't want the run of the mill car. They want something that looks different, that performs differently."
The Citroen DS3 Cabrio is certainly different, even though its DS3 hatch roots are shared with the Mini Cooper and Peugeot 208 - all three cars are the results of a PSA/BMW collaboration. Unlike the Mini Cooper Cabrio, though, the DS3 Cabrio's fabric roof rolls back along fixed roof rails like a sardine can, stopping in three positions: 'Intermediate' exposes the front seats to the elements, 'Horizontal' exposes all five seats, and 'Total' sees the roof roll down the back of the DS3, folding the glass rear window flat as well. In this last position all rearward vision from the rearview mirror is blocked.
To accommodate this unique folding mechanism, which Citroen says it invented, the boot opens out and up, like some modern oven doors. Bootspace is admirable for such a small car (245L), but the opening is small.
Like the DS3 hatch, the DS3 Cabrio range kicks off with an 88kW 1.6L four-cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission in the D-Style capable of accelerating to 100km/h in 10.4 seconds. Citroen claims the D-Style uses 6.7L/100km on the combined cycle. The DS3 D-Style's $30,990 price is $3,250 more than the hatch, and almost $10,000 less than the Mini Cooper Cabrio with the same engine.
The D-Style is fun to drive, and delivers on the open-air promise, though the fixed roof rails do detract from the feeling of total openness. The cabin is funky and functional, and well-equipped for the price. The driving position is good, the seats comfortable and supportive. The back seats, however, are tricky to get into and lack leg and headroom as you'd expect of such a small car.
To drive, the DS3 D-Style is energetic despite its meagre power outputs and grumpy, old-school four-speed auto, though it does struggle on steeper climbs. It is largely competent through the bends, though the ride is terse.
Citroen says the Cabrio's body has 25kg of extra bracing to make up for the missing roof, but it doesn't feel as rigid or well braced as its Mini rival. The DS3's electric steering is light and effortless but tugs over rough surfaces, especially in corners.
The D-Sport model adds a turbocharger to liberate a more potent 115kW of power, and is only available with a six-speed manual. With 50 per cent more torque, it's not only more relaxing and economical (5.9L/100km) to drive, it's also more enthusiastic, getting to 100km/h from rest three seconds quicker than the D-Style.
At $32,990 plus on-road costs, the D-Sport is the DS3 Cabrio sweet-spot.