USED BUYER'S GUIDE DS3 Crossback

FROM 8,500 Chunky DS crossover is a bold and distinctive choice in a sea of small SUVs

- Richard Dredge

AEX NEXT year will mark a decade since the DS brand was spun off from Citroen by then-owner PSA. Since then, PSA has become Stellantis, and while the cars from all brands within the group have come on in leaps and bounds over the past few years, DS has struggled to gain traction in the UK.

The French marque accounts for just 0.06 per cent of the market, with sales of 1,152 in 2024- that's less than half of what DS achieved in the previous year. Yet, despite low sales, models such as the DS 3 Crossback can be tempting as a used buy - even if it's no class leader in any respect, it's an interesting and distinctive choice.

HISTORY

THE DS 3 Crossback hit UK roads in May 2019. There was a 1.2-litre threecylinder PureTech turbocharged petrol engine with 100, 130 or 155bhp, or a 101bhp 1.5 BlueHDi diesel. While the PureTech 130 and 155 came only in eight-speed auto form, the PureTech 100 and BlueHDi 100 were available solely with a six-speed manual gearbox. In January 2020 the electric DS 3 Crossback E-Tense joined the range, with a 134bhp electric motor and a 50kWh battery.

A facelift in spring 2023 brought a change of name (now just DS 3), a 153bhp motor and 54kWh battery for the E-Tense, refreshed exterior styling, new trim levels and extra standard equipment; the diesel option was also dropped. A selfcharging hybrid was introduced in May 2024; it was based on the PureTech 130, adding a 27bhp motor powered by a 0.9kWh battery.

WHICH SHOULD I BUY?

IN some ways, the E-Tense is the pick of the bunch, and you'll pay less for one of these than for an equivalent petrol or diesel model. But if you prefer an engine, we wouldn't dissuade you; the PureTech and BlueHDi units are pleasant enough to drive.