When the DS 3 Cabrio was officially tested by Euro NCAP back in 2011 it achieved a full five-star rating and we’d expect the same score if this latest version goes through its round of testing.

All cars come equipped with hill-start assist (which prevents rolling back when starting on an incline), front seatbelt pre-tensioners, emergency braking, remote central locking and LED daytime running lights.

A new system called DS Connect Box has joined the 3 Cabrio range and is available as standard in all cars except in entry-level Chic trim. This includes an automatic system that will call emergency services if you’re in an accident.  

Parking is made easy thanks to the reversing camera and front and rear sensors available either as standard or optional depending on the trim you choose. However, there is a distinct lack of more advanced safety kit either as standard or optional extras commonly seen on a lot of modern day cars such as lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring or collision prevention aids. 

• Good boot space on offer
• Lack of storage options in cabin

DS 3 Cabrio practicality has remained unchanged from the previous Citroen DS 3 Cabrio.

There’s 285 litres of space on offer still which is bigger than the MINI Convertible, Fiat 500C and Vauxhall Adam Rocks and only a fraction off the Ford Fiesta hatchback. The boot opening is not very wide, though, so loading larger objects will be a challenge.

Inside the cabin there are a limited amount of storage options. The highlights include a cubby in the centre console ideal for loose change and a fair-sized compartment near the steering wheel which would fit most modern day smartphones. Disappointingly there are no cupholders on offer anywhere in the cabin and those in the rear seats will have to make do with a small cubby each and pockets behind the front seats.

The glovebox is too small to be practical and you’ll struggle to fit anything but a 50cl bottle in the doors.

Although officially a five-seater, the rear seats are only really ideal for children and the doors do not open as wide as we’d like making getting in and out a difficult operation, especially if you’ve got to tackle a child seat.

On sunnier days you’ll be able to open the fabric roof at motorway speeds and it will take 16 seconds to open fully. Wind noise when the roof is open is minimal around the city, but take the car on a faster dual carriageway and the cabin will become quite noisy. Roof up and sound insulation is much improved over the previous version.