• One hybrid engine option
• Automatic gearbox only
• Previously available with peppy petrols

Hybrid engines

This is only petrol-fuelled choice on a brand new DS 3, comprising of a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine like before, but now with a small battery and a electric motor. The motor is integrated into a six-speed automatic gearbox and is able to power the car alone at low speeds and light throttle loads, or boost the petrol engine for more performance.

It feels stronger than the old 130hp Puretech, and perhaps a little peppier than the 9.2 second 0-62mph time would suggest. It’s not the smoothest hybrid system, though. While most gear shifts and power source switching is done smoothly, there is the odd jolt you just wouldn’t get on a Lexus hybrid.

Petrol engines

DS offered two pure petrol engines in the DS 3 until very recently – and we’ve reviewed the electric DS 3 E-Tense separately. These were both based around the same 1.2-litre three-cylinder PureTech petrol engine, that sees service in everything from the Vauxhall Corsa to the Peugeot 5008.

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In the DS 3, it was offered in two forms. The first was limited to the entry-level trim only, and served up 101hp paired to a six-speed manual gearbox. It’d do 0-62mph in 10.9s and on to a top speed of 112mph. This is actually plenty of performance in a relatively small car, and it doesn’t feel at all strained or underpowered.

The punchier option had 130hp and an eight-speed automatic, good for 0-62mph in 9.2 seconds and a top speed of 124mph. It’s appreciably more peppy than the 101hp unit, and the eight-speed gearbox is fairly smooth in operation. It can get confused when working in conjunction with the engine stop-start system, though, with some jerky starts.

What’s it like to drive?

Broadly, very comfortable for the class. At motorways speeds, it’s particularly good at rounding off bumps – but the ride quality can trip up over sharp-edged imperfections. Below 30mph, more jolts pass through the body and into the cabin, but it’s still better than most SUVs in the class.

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While it can’t match the Ford Puma for outright cornering ability, the petrol DS 3 is noticeably nimbler than the electric DS 3 E-Tense, as the suspension isn’t constantly fighting with the added weight of the battery pack. Grip levels are fine and the steering has pleasant weight, but this isn’t a remotely sporty SUV.

There are three driving modes, Normal, Eco and Sport – and as usual we recommend sticking in the Normal mode. Eco dulls the DS 3’s responses to make it feel sluggish, while Sport sticks a cattle prod up the automatic gearbox so that it changes down if you so much as breathe on the throttle.