DS3 Crossback E-Tense - A Premium EV, Is It Worth The Premium Price?

[@Arielffm]

A lot of talking, no attention or appreciation for design... And no surprise, a lot unqualified comments underneath. This is a piece of art, and you need to have an eye for beauty to be able to evaluate it.

[@ElectricVehicleMan]

A work of art! 😄 Yep, it’s on peoples walls as a poster car right now and in 20 years it’ll be a classic like an etype is today! Or in the real world, it’s a Peugeot e2008 in a party frock.

[@allanmitchell2410]

My wife fell in love with this car the first time she saw it. She does not like electric cars but was willing to make an exception for this. We came close to buying one but the dealer was quoting 5.8% APR and was just too high a price. Wife loved the light grey interior that looked an almost cream colour. The campaign colour which is on the electric version only was nice. The real show stopper was the boot. As this was going to be our main car the boot was too small. My BMW i3 has a more practical boot. At least when I fold my back seats down it forms an almost level surface.

[@0-Will-0]

You have made the ultimate sacrifice for us all, driving in London. The only place I never want to drive again and have had fines in.

[@RWBHere]

They tried fining us for driving there when our car hadn't been within 150 miles of London for at least 5 years.

[@neilcameron434]

I look forward to picking up one of these for under 10k in a couple of years

[@JonathanMorris777]

Didn't you mean months?!

[@RWBHere]

I look forward to walking past these and laughing at them derisively, much in the way that people laugh at a Twizy as being a ridiculous and ugly vehicle.

[@David-bl1bt]

I don't look forward to anything concerning this oddly designed piece of French weirdness.

[@ThePrawlin]

Jonathan Morris well said 😉👍

[@ram64man]

Good luck finding one In rhd something tells me it won’t sell as well as the 208 e

[@dcvariousvids8082]

One of your best I think. The two design teams quip made me laugh. Sting was an Englishman in New York but I think a Yorkshireman in London, has far more entertainment value.

[@thereligionofnick]

I know crossovers are the current trend but I wish they had kept it a 3 door hatchback

[@jacobthompson8507]

Nick They are planning on making the hatchback again, apparently. This is the 3 “Crossback”.

[@johnwhite5555]

Wait till you see the interior of the La Premier model if you think this is in yer face. I ordered my DS 3 Crossback E-Tense La Premiere (to give it it's full title) after trying the prototype supplied for the launch tests. I found the ride exceptional, the silence as you say is amazing. Yes the back is small, but as the only passenger I'm likely to carry in the back is a Jack Russell I'm not over bothered. The boot handle does take getting used to but the expected road dirt doesn't happen. Yup, it's a lot more expensive than the norm but for the premium bit I'm happy to pay up. From my experience range is a tad under 200. Weird? Yes. Quirky? Yes. Chic? Depends on yer tastes, but after three years of a Mk 1 Leaf it's more than a pleasant change. Love it. Oh the vid wasn't three bad either, young Sire, although I'd have expected more of a rant about the traffic from a Tyke set loose in Ole Lunnon Tahn ;)

[@no-oneman.4140]

There won't be a long waiting time to get one of these. Damning with faint praise just about sums this review up.

[@richarddoremus1169]

I appreciate your honest reviews.

[@richardnicholls3633]

Another good honest review, love it!

[@MsPaulathomas]

I learnt to drive in central London, Charing Cross Road actually. Great place to drive provided you know how to do it!

[@danwiddon3854]

Sorry for your loss Paula. I've driven in London but done many more London road miles on my Brompton. Yes there's a knack to surviving on four wheels in London, but not dissimilar to testing a car in Leeds (closer to chez famille EVM). Only once you venture outside the M25 do you experience why London has the excellent public transport British metropoli do, augmented by the tube North of the river.

[@jeremylister89]

Astounding they got so much wrong. Everything you noted made my jaw drop more and more. eNiro please.

[@madmax1412]

So many things I dislike about the car, but it's all personal preference. 1. Fake air vents at the back. 2. Shark fin on rear door looks ugly 3. Too much "triangle" design work on dashboard and centre console. 4. The "stain" look on dash and seat would bug me. Looks like someone used the wrong cleaner on the car and it ruined the finish. 5. The watchband look of the seats is too busy and I agree with EVM about the hassle of cleaning the joins. 6. No electric seats on a premium car - wow. There's other things but that gives an indication of how my tastes go. There was not one part of the car that I went "wow, that's nice". Thanks for the review.

[@dcvariousvids8082]

Model 3 man finds time off his busy schedule of enjoying his Tesla. Right now I’ll watch the vid.

[@paulmoy9736]

Not finished off as well as my MG ZS EV

[@Mark-ue6pm]

Any plans for a range test? By the way, the more people hate it the better. I ordered it and this means that you see it rarely. I just liked the design. And indeed far from practical. For that I use my 10 year old Volvo V70.

[@peterf1966]

Andy - the e2008 or this? I've ordered the e2008, but from just looking at specs and space last year, I thought the Pug was better value. Does it compare to the e208/eCorsa in size and how it feels?

[@ElectricVehicleMan]

e2008 is more practical and cheaper. This is more ‘custom’ and higher end. Depends what you’re after.

[@peterf1966]

Ta. Well practicality and cheapness, although the e2008 ain't exactly cheap. It's lease cost is quite good tho. Of

[@topgearalwaysrock]

Uniquely styled, but not quite sure if this is what people would actually buy. Their interior quality needs more working, even the DS7 Crossback..

[@tipperarymick5337]

It looks nice, but surely that 'shark fin' panel on the side would block the vision of small kids in the back, and that is surely the market they are aiming for 🤔 Young families.

[@royking1]

Plenty of pleats in the seat to hide car sick child vomit induced by rear seat claustrophobia from car design sneezing.

[@gregcarling1081]

Can they just make some blinking vans, they'd sell well for London.

[@robsmith1a]

I ruled this out because it is incredibly expensive and I prefer the E 2008. If you want matrix lights you are almost in Tesla model 3 territory price wise. Barely any better range than my Zoe ZE40 (battery owned) that was half the price. I suspect these will be better value second hand.

[@Jonsk111]

Yeah hello from 2023, in finland this is now cheaper than a e-2008 gt

[@hamshackleton]

Why do these manufacturers insist on a 'landscape' satnav, and not a 'portrait' one, which would give you an earlier warning of turns and junctions? - Also the 'direction-shift' - why push forwards to go back, and pull back to go forwards? (Yes, I know the French are weird!) - - Nice description of the seats - crumb-catchers!

[@TheNeoChan]

They are not triangles!

[@melodytalks3432]

Well, how can I break the news about this peculiar design... To start with it is more gimmicky rather than practical, over priced by far considering how small the car is, not practical at all, lots of after thoughts, door handles which are clumsy & not lasting at all, ride is all over & range is smallish not mentioning how closetrofic is the car specially at the back seats! Over all if you like the look then, I recomend don't pay dealership whooping £35,000....!!!! Personally I think MG EV is a better car if you're on budget & Put 4k on top of £35,000 & get Tesla model 3. Yes, 35k for a car which hardly worth 20K.. remember , this is the same platform as Vauxhall Corsa, Peugeot 2008.... I hope you like this impartial review.

[@jaz4280]

Make sense . Thank you

[@RWBHere]

Agreed, it's claustrophobic, especially in the back. That awful 'design flaw' halfway down each side makes it look as though two design teams worked on each end of the car, decided it was too long when put together, then fudged the drawings to shorten the rear passenger space. And the boot opening latch must have been forgotten by the designers until the last minute. The manual seat levers are also unforgivable on a modern car with high end pretentious. Maybe some bean-counters removed the electrical extras as a way to cut costs? To cream the cake, they gave it fake air vents and a ridiculously ugly and impractical front grille and squinting 'eyes' for headlights.

[@yorkshirejags7410]

If you add the govt grant the top end car is touching 40k. That I'm afraid is laughable!

[@thinkfirst9464]

Or take £12000 off and get a better spec MG with liquid cooling and long warranty

[@flossythepig5141]

Old Citroens were quirky in a nice way, and for a reason. This seems to be quirky just to be quirky.

[@jur4x]

I just want electric version of C6. As close to the original as possible.

[@nitelite78]

The dash and seating are hideous. As are the bizarre shark fins on the side. Why would you reduce the feeling of openness in the back with such an ugly aesthetic?

[@JonathanMorris777]

I get that the looks are subjective but a slow UI, buttons with no tactile feedback, seats that will store crumbs, restrictive view in the rear etc etc suggests the designers had no intention of ever driving one of these - so why should anyone else?

[@ardaz1987]

That house is worth more than Yorkshire, classic!!!

[@SWR112]

That design on the door I’d walk up thinking ouch that’s some dent. Still think it looks a bit chav inside.

[@holdontoyourwig]

It looks nice from the outside but my MG ZS EV has more spec and more room. No thanks.

[@Sofala]

Let's hope it doesn't begin to rust before your eyes.

[@aftonline]

And way cheaper into the bargain. Better looking too. The overall looks of this car are ruined by those awkward triangles on the side.

[@holdontoyourwig]

@@Sofala I was under the impression that they had sorted the rust problem with extra sealant.

[@davidmccarthy6061]

Interesting design features. I like it. I'm really hoping that with the EV's arriving and emissions regulations no longer an issue that the US gets some of the cool cars. BTW, I'm still sorry I mentioned not liking the scratch test as you are correct, there really isn't any better way.

[@xchopp]

5:40 "Area not mapped" -- er, this is London, England, right?

[@mrhignettshorses]

Looks like regents park.

[@xperyskop2475]

Does it have biofilter like Tesla.

[@TassieEV]

Now I liked it overall BUT as you're a EV guy and have tested a few now well quite a few I even played it back a few times in case I misheard. Around the 16:35 mark you made quite a faux pas, "50kW battery"..oops. ;) Can I suggest just while your filming to not have your sunglasses on. I know on camera it doesn't look small maybe compare it to a few others of similar size as one way especially your international audience outside UK & Europe. Is it similar to the Kona?

[@jock364]

I would have appreciated a price comparison with the ICE models.

[@mrlintonious]

You forgot to mention if it comes standard with Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Pedestrian Warning,etc and On Board Charging Rating/Spec?

[@ElectricVehicleMan]

It’s a review, not a spec list. Charge speed was stated.

[@rcajavus8141]

@@ElectricVehicleMan still should be more informative, its not a poetry reading, its a car with advantages and disadvantages, lane keep assist is only reason I actually placed an order on Skoda Citigo electric because its cheapest electric with it. and ds3 does 150 km/h max speed, advantage over "small" evs, but in that price range, you should know better than me what competition has as top speed and would be useful to know, cheers :)

[@RWBHere]

@@rcajavus8141 It's too slow for a high end car, and would be left standing if taken to a German autobahn, or even a U.K. motorway. No need to mention that when the review has already panned the car for good reasons. That would just add insult to injury. EVM knows when to stop.

[@0-Will-0]

Yeah these are much needed functions and it put me off the etron that they were optional extras.

[@timsmith5339]

It seems to be style over function, which I don't like even when function isn't impaired by the silliness. When it is, as here, I definitely don't like it. Shame, as I liked the first DS exterior, I don't think I've seen the inside of one though.

[@trumptypumpty]

Hmmmm?...not only do the seats catch crumbs and gunk but those electric window switches will be catching full left overs!... For the price there are plenty other makes that are just plain better.

[@andymccabe6712]

Better?? On the basis of not liking the seat design and a couple of switches?? Seems a bit harsh........!

[@rubencaixeiro9762]

Drive is backwards and Reverse forward? I am confused.

[@RWBHere]

That always confuses me too. Very unintuitive. A bit like a mouse in Windows, but far more expensive.

[@clairehiggins7120]

Another great video, your Chang is starting to grow fast now, Id be surprised if you don’t hit 100k by the end of the year

[@ElectricVehicleMan]

What’s a Chang?

[@mikees60]

A penis

[@RWBHere]

@@ElectricVehicleMan Someone from China.

[@andrewdyson4255]

Having had 2 Citroen’s in the past I’m quite pro them. But this one is not for me, better cars out there for similar money. Good review though, pity you couldn’t get out of the smoke and give it a proper run.

[@marktiller7760]

I'd buy a SR+.

[@jumbo994]

great vid as usual

[@BubblewrapMe]

Oh so they *still* haven’t bothered moving the fuse box to the right hand side. Tight sods. No excuse for that.

[@madonemt]

I won't touch them for that reason. Sorry but it's a basic issue.

[@gegwen7440]

Illogical gear shift (IMO) To reverse I would prefer to pull the level back & to drive push forward. Mercedes had this back to front arrangement in their HGV's and was hated by most drivers I know.

[@clasqm]

That's the way my i3 has it too - forward to go forward, back to go back. Logical. When I got a 3-series loaner it had them reversed, which drove me batty!

[@gegwen7440]

@@clasqm Yup and what I find amazing as that those who sign off on this seem unaware, what else are they unaware of ? Yes those stupid controls that he was trying to use that were not tactile so you are forced to look at them to check. This of course went unnoticed by the EV man !

[@AdamMansbridge]

Or get rid of the centre controls and change gear with a steering column lever as Tesla do

[@PedroConejo1939]

Great review that doesn't seem to have a preconceived idea about the car that has to be justified all the way through.

[@davidlewis4399]

Just been on the website and it handily provides a real range estimate depending on speed and use of heater. So my journeys are usually on the motorway at an indicated 75mph and it reckons the range is 110 miles really. I guess that is based on 1 person not the usual 4 so for me I will be a waste of space I need a car to go for 150 miles without hunting for a working charger. Hopefully within 10 years this will be possible until then I will wait and before anyone asks I cant afford 40+K for a car that can do it as I usually spend around 9K.

[@andymccabe6712]

Yeah, that's me too - £9K provides a great, low mileage PRACTICAL hatch/miniSUV. New EVs are way, WAY off for most realistic, sensible budgets...!!

[@brucekennedy5274]

That house is probably worth more than Yorkshire 😂

[@chrispenn715]

Wow - that interior was a shock - I actually said 'oh my God!' when you opened the door. Maybe I'd get used to it - at least it's different to the usual bland car.......

[@sparkiekosten5902]

my thoughts Exactly!

[@problemchild1976]

Another great vid from EVM

[@andymccabe6712]

Piece of advice, Yorkshire Bloke - stay up North - it's MUCH better.......!!!!

[@SamuelPrette]

Thanks for the great review

[@mcdon2401]

It's...distinctive. Didn't think the outside was too bad looking, but the inside? Erm, no, thanks.

[@moebees3060]

I assure the camera does not make it look huge at all.

[@SantaridesaKTM]

Honest as always. Good Stuff.

[@RPGeert]

Maybe the Mazda mx-30 is more premium but lower range

[@madonemt]

It does look more premium as does Honda e. Both have a full glove box too

[@davidsworld5837]

would be better to but an e-niro for 35k or less miles for model 3 35k its not good enough miles per kwh

[@tiger8853]

IMO it's overstylized and over priced. Great review!

[@stephenearly8064]

Ugh, that satnav display. Looks like the same software as the Citroën C5. Slow, confusing menus, difficult user interface. I still remember having to leave the engine idling for an hour to do a firmware update so it didn't power-off in the middle. Blech.

[@bulbhorn]

Great review. Thank you.

[@jur4x]

That rear design would look somewhat reasonable on a 3-door hatch. But with 5-door? No, not at all.

[@clansome]

No competition to an eNiro. Looks worse, less mileage, less room BUT costs more.

[@moebees3060]

I'll give you a thumbs up. Thumb down on the car.

[@dindu42]

That centre console looks like a dirt and dust magnet.

[@Sofala]

Gear stick on an EV? What's wrong with a button?

[@uktechie8013]

They are in plentiful supply so one for the impatient Citreon fan

[@richardglover314]

Familiarity plays both ways. The DS3 has sold very well and now is very popular as a used buy for young drivers but it is looking common and dated so not what I would want as a new buy and certainly not at that price.

[@Falney]

The fact that you need to pay extra for safety features competitors put in as standard kinda puts me off the DS 3 Cross Back.

[@briankavanagh7191]

Has EVM turned into a Tesla fanboy? Nice review of the car

[@dougonutube]

Why on earth would I want one of these over an e-Niro or even the MG (for several grand less!) - at least I'll get electric seats!!

[@madonemt]

We just ordered an mg phev. Looks more premium than this and has more functions.

[@F15HHOOKS]

I think you shall have to drop your title of "tight" Yorkshire-man since buying the Model 3. Nothing wrong with that and good luck to you.... thrifty maybe which is how you probably managed to afford one?

[@alaneasthope2357]

It's like it's a DS trying too hard not to be a Citroen. Was it a designer sneeze or a hiccup? :)

[@waynehardy6080]

£450 a month!!!!! In a lot of Britain, that's a mortgage! Clearly taking the Michael there!

[@stepheng8779]

Awful. Can't see a place for DS much longer now the PSA/FCA group has grown.

[@wallywood49]

Ha! Great review. You should do stand up on stage, you have a great natural timing. As for the car, it's interesting, but too expensive for what you get. I'll wait for something less expensive and bigger, I'm 6'2" and not petite, with more luggage capacity. Too bad you couldn't bring your wife and daughter with you to see how it would work with a real family inside. Maybe something to do with your future reviews to get the family perspective and not just the single man's view.

[@alanshaw5286]

I'm not impressed. You talk about the seat's being crumb catcher but those central switches for the windows etc. would catch so much crap. All in all, as you say, not worth the money. I will stick to my Niro hybrid until I can afford a used Niro EV, here in Western Canada.

[@HanYou2]

my god this is a good review

[@philmorbey1827]

I paid 25k for 2018 ioniq which has more premium features than this!

[@neilbrandon]

Is glovebox on left hookers bigger? Car is prob my least favourite EV.. design is not to my liking. Mr EV man you have done a good job of pointing things out. What is the turning circle?

[@madonemt]

Yes. All French cars are the same. Nothing but contempt for British buyers.

[@timaustin2000]

It's,... Awful. No, it really is. The exterior I could live with but that interior is just,... Ugh! What were they thinking?! I'd get a headache every time I got into the dratted thing.

[@krispyai4229]

Nah, not at all convinced by the brand or the car.

[@RWBHere]

Thanks EVM.So, for £26,000 over 4 years, you can drive an ugly Citroen wearing a different badge? I would rather buy outright a better EV for a few thousand more, have a good range and more convenience, and then be able to drive it as far as I want to do. After 4 years, I could either keep it for longer, or sell it and have a big deposit for the next car. The DS makes little sense on that basis.

[@staudtj1]

I know ... somehow you ended up in Gibraltar.

[@hairzilla]

You park where I park for work everyday, if I’d spotted you I would have said ey’up

[@gingernutpreacher]

and then given him cov19? no stay away ;)

[@claytonroot806]

After taking a "PUKE" break following viewing of the rear side doors, I gave up on this thing altogether after you opened the liftgate. Not only is the opening handle location ridiculous, the immediate reveal of a totally dug out floor area was a total turnoff. The instrument panel design caused me to stop watching the video. Couldn't care less what the price is. I wouldn't be caught dead in this contraption.

[@Aaronage1]

PSA want you to think it's a premium car, but frankly the materials and switches are mostly sh*t, the infotainment is beyond sh*t and the performance and range isn't appropriate for the price bracket. It's totally misjudged. Great review, though!

[@davedyer3654]

Lol, maybe the handles are the only thing 'better' than the Model 3, personally I will stick with my Tesla

[@janetmorris6792]

No Thanks this won't be on my list

[@robert5008]

OMG that car looks like poop. All the fake chrome inside & out. Did they really think fake air vents would pass in the rear? How about the backwards shark fin on the rear doors that doesn't even flow with the car in forward motion. The over sized charging door also looked like poop. To all the car executives around the world here is your PSA : Build normal cars that you can't even tell they are a ev. Hint, your DS brand name will not overcome a bad design like BMW's name pulling along the bad design of the I3. At least with BMW I get the heritage of a car company that built a ugly car.

[@mojojomo6750]

Those seats are a disaster.

[@richardhobbs9038]

I like my 2015 Nissan Leaf bought used for $9K US dollars . . . (like new) , 3 years ago. Still no need to ' upgrade ' . What ? Why ? Don't need to drive more than 60 miles at a shot , and the female - voiced GPS tells me where to go . . . . . (necessary feature for a single male) ! !

[@joel007morris2]

DS3 fan but no, definitely not buying at the price they are stating. Expected electric seats and auto boot door. Seems a little too expensive for my taste. Need to really think things out as the presenter has rightly said.

[@Mrflash222006]

The man complains about gloss black and fingerprints yet owns a Tesla that comes with its own cleaning cloth

[@ElectricVehicleMan]

I can be annoyed at my own stuff!

[@andymccabe6712]

I think you've put your finger on the main point about luxury stuff in general - - - they're a total rip-off!!! What they actually do, is make more money for the manufacturer...!!!

[@HanYou2]

maybe luxury is not for everyone (not implying that this car is any good)

[@moebees3060]

Another hideous looking ev. Bet the efficiency is hideous too.

[@chrispenn715]

Still too expensive for what it does - but I guess it makes sense as a second car for people with more money than sense - if they are convinced by the DS badge...... Tight Yorkshireman - haha an alternative name for your channel? :-)

[@don-qb4xb]

The thing is. No matter what they call it its a Citroen. Which means the quality and reliability will be awful. Great design but they fall apart after a few years.

[@chrism8174]

not an electric car i would buy

[@danielstefanovic2604]

The ev version is worse then the petrol version, looks like they tryed to save money but its still pricey, the petrol versjon can get electric seats and uppgraded focal stereo which the ev cant. I was looking at the crossback, sat in it, realised its to small for a number 1 car so went and bought the tesla model 3, cant say i regret it eventhough the build quality on the tesla is not the best-

[@onlineo2263]

Terrible plane analogy. I have done UK to Oz in economy on many carriers including budget carrier Air Asia X, but I have also done it in business class. Having the lie flat bed is the only time I have ever slept on a plane and for long haul it can make a massive difference to the start of your holiday and getting back to work afterwards. I can't pay extra to get a faster or slower plane, more range is irrelevant it is going to take the same time.