DS 3

The smallest SUV from DS gets a makeover, a new name and an array of tech tweaks On sale Now Price from £25,900

- Max Adams

HAVING A MID-LIFE makeover is a chance to start again, and that's as true for cars as it is for humans. In its previous guise as the DS 3 Crossback, this upmarket small SUV was undoubtedly eye-catching and well equipped, but it was shown up by cheaper, more well rounded rivals. Now, having shed its Crossback surname, the DS 3 has a second chance at glory.

Minor cosmetic surgery has moved the DS 3's daytime running lights farther apart to make the front of the car look wider, the trim levels have been cut down to four, and the diesel engine has been dropped and the petrol range slimmed down. The biggest upgrades have been reserved for the electric E-Tense, which packs more punch than before (up from 134bhp to 153bhp) and has a larger battery with a 50.8kWh usable capacity (previously 45kWh) for a longer official range (up from 232 to 246 miles).