IT'S SMALL, FASHIONABLE AND VERY QUICK

+ Click to Enlarge A WINNER ALL THE WAY: From its bold, unique styling and amazing glass roof to its brilliant handling and performance, what's not to like about the Citroen DS3?

July 26, 2010
By Peta Lee

Oh boy, did we love this spunky little French runaround! From its bold, unique styling and amazing glass roof to its brilliant handling and performance, it's a winner all the way.

I was driving Citroen's newest eye-candy-on-wheels, the DS3 Sport, and I can quite understand why it's been such a hit and is selling like hot cakes.

With its turbocharged 1600 motor, its slick design (and loved those little LED daytime lights – move over, Audi!), the designer selection of colour coding (as many as nine exterior colours, each of which can be matched to a different roof colour, and variations of door trim, fascia, centre console, even gear shifters and pedals), what's not to like?

And then get this, girls, the exterior rear-view mirror surrounds can be specced in either a chromed or coloured finish! And you can choose your wheels.

It's small, it's fashionable, it's oozing with Parisian panache and when you open that tiny bonnet, you can't believe how incredibly neat and efficient the whole engine compartment is - and how well those Citroen engineers have fitted everything in!

That compact little engine, by the way, hoofs out 115kW at 6000rpm and 240Nm of torque at 1400rpm.

Loved it to bits. Loved the legroom, the perfect (for me) suspension, the firm grip on loose corners, the funky instrument cluster, the high safety levels and everything else - and let's not forget that "floating" roof.

It goes like a bat out of hell; you can wind that needle up to a top speed of 214km/h, if you dare, or on the quarter mile sprint, take it from 0-100km/h in a brisk 7.3sec. I also enjoyed the complete absence of torque steer, which I'd noticed on its rival, the Mini.

The DS3 comes in two variants, the Sport, which I drove (and which will set you back R255 000), and the less expensive but not quite as exhilarating Style (starts from R199 000).

To sweeten the pot, by the way, you'll be happy to know all DS3 models come with a three-year or 100 000km warranty, a four-year or 60 000km service plan and three years' roadside assistance.

And finally, that normally cynical BBC motoring journo Jeremy Clarkson called the DS3 the "motoring equivalent of the iPod". Very apt!

Tres jolie, Citroen!

Call for more Mom's Taxis.