Fifth Gear: Web TV Citroen DS3 Road Test

It's called the DS3 and is the first car to come from Citroen's smart new premium brand. In this Video, Vicki Butler-Henderson heads to Paris to find out if it's actually as good as it looks. For more videos, news and reviews go to fwd.five.tv/fifth-gear

[@MusicAndCars1]

I love Citroens, they're very quirky and unique. It's my favourite car brand!

[@kennybell4108]

I bought this car back at the end of may this year just love it …….. great exelleration with that turbo on board, whilst good economy and comfortable to drive

[@aleksandarkovacevic6239]

How is it serving you, how expensive was it for driving and repairing?

[@RichieRouge206]

Ordered a new DS3 DSport Plus in Belle Ile Blue with a white roof today with the THP 155 engine. Cannot wait for delivery. Test drove the 120 DSport and was deeply impressed with the premium feel and superb ride for a sporty hatch. Quality of the interior was much better than the nasty plasticky Mini Cooper I sat in a few weeks ago at a local car supermarket. Vicki is amazing presenter and love her review of this wonderful, charismatic French hatch!

[@ppmealing]

Well I've lived with one in Oz for 12 mths now and done a couple of lengthy 800km trips, as well as using it for a town car and the odd indulgent fang along tortuous, hilly back roads that are a short drive from my home. In the wet, it's hard to imagine anything can beat it, though I'm sure many cars can. As Chris Harris said (driving the R version) "It just deals with stuff". I agree with everything she says, except I find the gearchange quite solid and precise, with a nice ker-klunk when you slide it home in any gear. I haven't driven a mini, so I can't compare, but the steering is very accurate with lots of feel, and you can get nice neutral drifts in the dry and the wet that feel completely safe and stable without the ESP spoiling the fun. It returned 7l/100k in the first 10,000k or 40 mpg, yet it will pull in top gear from 2000 revs no problem, and good acceleration in 2nd and 3rd when you want it, revving to 6000 with ease.

[@mark-1rc502]

Fair review from an owner,, I'm like 50/50 would like a smaller car, that looks cool, goes quick enough, and economical,, just I'm brainwashed that French cars are in reliable and my bro inlaws Peugeot doesn't really help me change that mind set, with its un-reliability.

[@ppmealing]

Mark C Hi Mark, I owned a 206 GTi before this car, for 14 years, doing 250,000 km. Mechanically, I had no problem with the car at all, and never did any work on the engine, but the computer gave me enormous problems that frustrated me, especially in Australia's hot weather (40C is not unusual in summer). But I bought one of the first to arrive in the country and I think that was a mistake, because it had 'teething' issues, putting it kindly, most of which were sorted under warranty. I bought the Citroen when the model was already 3 years old with a few cosmetic changes - specifically the tail lights and a larger sat-nav screen. I've just come back from a round trip of 2000km, which I do every year and the car performed brilliantly, now with 20,000km on the clock, and it returned 6.3l/100k for the duration. I've driven a DS4 SP and I didn't like it all, I have to say. It felt like a marketing exercise, whereas the DS3 SP feels like a real sports car. It recently won a motoring award in Oz for best value compact car under AU$50,000.

[@ashleybishton742]

Can agree with everything including the gear changes. Currently drive it for my driving lessons. Dosent like pot holes tho I must admit. U do need to move round them.

[@ashleybishton742]

The ds3 is a good car it's what I'm driving in my lessons. I like it quite nippy too. Picks up speed pretty quick. Great handling round corners steering is nice and light too. Dashboard is great same for the clocks. Controls are great too

[@Walden-jx4mi]

I’m driving one and even with the 90bhp engine they out do more powerful cars in that mid range of acceleration. Plus it’s a blast on a B road

[@moshrunnersHD]

I'm learning to drive in the DS3, really nice car.

[@212121ryan]

Ive just bought the DS3 White Special Edition version of this! Cant wait to pick it up next week :)

[@GrecoFPV]

So how was it after all these years ? 🙂

[@Whiponized]

Greco FPV lol

[@jdiligence]

@@GrecoFPV 😂😂

[@zhaviator]

Owning one for 2 years now, small quality issues as expected, buy good car in general. I heard complains about the gears being too long, but it really helps with fuel economy, and the 240Nm compensate for that as well. Once even hit 210km/h in 6th ( Freiburg - Basel )

[@350lcboy]

Glad i found this,missing fifth gear off the telly,it didnt deserve to get pulled.Top gears funny but sometimes its actually nice to see a proper roadtest,all the best to V.B.H and the crew.

[@TackkyRamzel]

i cant wait to pick up my ds3.Buying the 2018 edition.Love your video!

[@derbigpr500]

I love this car, its one of the coolest cars you can buy today, and its pretty cheap also. I love this car more than Mini and Fiat 500.

[@Soussmeboules]

@TheRacer3000 In fact adaptive headlight system was created by Citroen but in 1967 to be more accurate. It was created for the DS "Phase 2", the one with 4 lights behind a glass (except in the US where it was forbidden, and then sold with double lights without glass). The 1955 DS with single round lights didn't have it.

[@kawaiiaix]

i like it, especially the customization options.

[@TheEGGtech]

@jparty1 depends on engine size but in australia the DStyle DS3 has a NA 1.6 litre 4 cyl. and the DSport DS3 has a turbo 1.6 litre 4 cyl.

[@ricardogunnz2]

In love with my DS3 Racing :)

[@paulb4uk]

Best looking Citroen i have seen for a long time and it sounded well made when vicky closed the door biggest problem with french cars is the reliability and cost of parts .I do like this just a shame there is not a bigger engine version

[@Munkenba]

Anyone else still hate the modern mini cooper? I wish it had just died in 2000, now it's badge is still being violated by the monstrosities it's been nailed to these last 12 years. The worst part is, it's popular, so no one cares what I think. Saddening however is that those who are genuine enthusiasts of the modern mini are a small minority of it's market, so it's design is tailored to the majority of it's customer base, people who don't even know it's German. This is sad because for those who are more forgiving of the mini's latest shenanigans and still like it, are being distanced from it by it's ever changing design as it chases the wider customer base, so it is being relentlessly furthered from its earliest ancestors. I miss the old mini.

[@saavaa]

@StalePhish how many hp your coupe got? Here in Europe 4 cylinder engines got same power as some V8's, and V6's are consider as ''big engines'' for example take mustang V8=4.6L and only ~300hp

[@SchubertAloysius]

My budget for a car was 22000e but my wife said why don't i try DS3 for starter? So i went just bought this car about 5000e, one of the best car i have driven!! I am glad and satisfied!

[@CiaraWithLinzixD]

really need this car!

[@MrGunners100018]

do they do this in automactic

[@mbr369]

Absolutely love this car!!!!

[@blitzbeat06]

150bhp means about 120 whp right?

[@DVyrux]

Yeah, i will get mine DS3 Yellow/Black in 1 month =) I took a test ride with it and i was really impressed and certain that this will be MY car!

[@aleksandarkovacevic6239]

How did you like it? For how long have you driven one?

[@blesbaupin]

I loved this DS3 I wish hey would sell it here in Canada.

[@RogueBrit]

loving the longer hair Vicki....

[@StalePhish]

@saavaa even my eco coupe has a 2.2L and that's the base trim!

[@CartmanUK26]

@CartmanUK26 And saying it is just a fancy C3 is doing the DS3 a disservice, it is a totally unique 3-door body externally, they are hardly minor styling tweeks!

[@Tiger90Drake]

I love this car, in 3 weeks it'll be mine :-) What's the thing on the front @3.37 ....

[@cawimmer430]

I clicked on this video and was presented with a Lexus CT200h commercial where they talked about "styling". LMAO. Lexus + style? ROFLMAO! I couldn't wait to watch the report on the Citroen DS3. Now THAT is STYLE.

[@JoNnY0702]

I hope it sells well. Citroen have been around forever!

[@StalePhish]

@mostliberal: I'm from New Hampshire and they are pretty expensive here, but I flew out to Ohio to get a new Pontiac G8 GT because it was the best 4door I could get with RWD and a big ole' V8 for under $30k!

[@mcmassami]

How is the traffic in Europe? Paris looked a little chaotic at 4:30

[@DanMosqueda]

The car is so-so. The video is excellent. Well done.

[@DoctorBJ]

well i live in the US and a mid-engine V6 seems pretty appealing to me (and i dont mind about poor practicality because i value performance over comfort). and if you want to get technical, im referring to BMW Motorsport GmbH, which is a legal subsidary of BMW. and there are no real sports cars sold under the M-Sport trim line, so its not something id know about. idk what you mean by SPORT i never said it wasnt the top model i was just referring to the car in question..

[@scooterboi17]

i gotta say while in France over the summer I always gave the DS3 a second and third look. I think it's a very cool car. Come back to the States cool French cars.

[@ezzieweb]

I test drove one of those, but the 120 hp version.it was fun, but i'd love to drive the 150 hp car. maybe the feeling isn't as great as in a mini (i don't now actually, i never drove it) but to me this car seems a lot more "grown up". really consider this as an alternative when you're thinking of buying a small sportive car.

[@azaas]

@Ishioka89 that was one the most central and crowded points in Paris .. it's like driving through manhattan rush hour ... so yeah. Aside those places traffic is relatively good in Europe . Especially in central and northern Europe sometimes it feels as if you're the only one driving a car ;)

[@theoneandonlybenjamin]

I am french and i can tell you that "sport" is just a trim level in this video. A bit like "m sport" trim level in bmw. Check out the ds3 rallye which has 200 bhp. Which for a mini sized car is quite good!!!

[@dncmotors]

very nice. cool car.

[@tonyh1515]

Got one auto....LOVE IT !!

[@G1NZOU]

Citroen really do excel at styling. Bold and funky, I like it. Will I buy it? No, but only because I love classic cars.

[@telhacerta]

It is gorgeous inside. I liked it =)

[@Soussmeboules]

@gabrielgebeBR These are the main colors for cars in Europe, especially in France: silver, black, and white. It's a bit sad, but it's so. My actual Volvo S60 is also silver metallic, so is also my peugeot 306. My former Audi A4 was black metallic pearleffect, and I had a white Peugeot 205, a light green metallic Peugeot 205, and blue lagoon metallic Opel Corsa. So I'm not very original neither. :)

[@dragojovanovic7561]

i am planing to buy Citroen DS3 1.6eHDI , 6500€ 140000 KM passed do you think its worth it?

[@Ethankeenan02]

No

[@DoctorBJ]

and keeping in mind that i am a performance-oriented consumer, 150bhp is hardly adequate for anyone looking for a decent drive. and the fact that it is "a totally unique 3-door body" (which i mention as styling additions to the C3 it is based on, not minor tweaks) does not mean it looks good. unless of course you like the 4x4 ride height, gaudy LEDs, random chrome accents, a face only a mother could love, and a half-painted B-pillar.

[@TheRacer3000]

@Soussmeboules Damn who would've though...thanks for the info, dude!

[@StalePhish]

@saavaa @mostliberal: coupe has I4 2.2L 145hp, and my sedan has V8 6.0L 361hp

[@dankmcdankface]

My new dream car. That thing is B-E-A-UTIFUL

[@StalePhish]

@alwaysblank: driving on the highway on long trips (more realistic than driving on a test track), my 2.2L gets slightly better gas mileage than the 1.6L DS3

[@bazzie85]

@Rayportugal actually, I beg to differ; Top Gear is very informative WHILE being supremely entertaining. However, it takes a little of attention to extract all the useful information about cars amidst the explosions and destruction of caravans. If you want a real example, watch Top gear's review of the ford fiesta.

[@AudiophileTubes]

Beautiful car, period.

[@toyotaprius79]

@odin52 You should've gone to spec-savers.

[@KPKaccountt]

im gonna buy this car when i move to europe

[@me2ontube]

i love paris - 1 of my most favorite cities in the world

[@Rayportugal]

@Blood0cean what's wrong with this review?

[@saavaa]

@StalePhish what did you expect, V8 ? it's a small car, it don't need bigger engine

[@CartmanUK26]

Performance oriented means something very different in the US and the UK and europe as a whole, in a car this size 150bhp is more than enough! And as I said, they are not styling additions, it is for all intents and purposes a different car! It does NOT have 4x4 ride height, the LED's are classy and modern not gaudy, the chrome is both attractive and a common industry feature. The face is the freshest on the market currently and the B pillar is not half painted it ends where the paint does!

[@KPKaccountt]

@10glasshouses and theyre gonna put the DS name in the other citroen line up lol

[@DoctorBJ]

@CartmanUK26 i wouldnt kno ive never read or seen a review of the clio V6 only driven it in video games. and i wouldnt choose the clio i'd choose a Nissan jS14 200sx and mod it as my daily drift. but if i had to choose a french car i'd take the clio over the DS3 because of the value and the performance.

[@ecouriercouk]

@62Lofu62. Your such a bag of Joy!.. I bet your fun to be with. MS.

[@The3vilLurker]

yes it has automatic but only if you take the feul system 120 Pk engine. De diesel doesnt have automatic.

[@StalePhish]

$28.4k (18.4£) for my 6.0L sedan. I've never even driven a car, sedan or coupe, with less than a 2.0L

[@CartmanUK26]

I wasn't referring to practicality but the fact it has the turning circle of a battleship and will likely cook you before you make it to your destination (or make a lap). And if you are such a petrol head that you ONLY like real sports cars this review really isn't for you! And for it's market 150bhp is impressive!!

[@c0c0asauce]

@ScLeCo thats the clothes shes wearing

[@bazzie85]

@Rayportugal actually, I beg to differ; Top Gear is very informative WHILE being supremely entertaining. However, it takes a little of attention to extract all the useful information about cars amidst the explosions and destruction of caravans. If you want a real example, watch Top gear's review of the ford fiesta... having said that, Fifth Gear is good too, though it cannot compete with Top Gear, imho.

[@PXR05]

Nice little town car. I wouldn`t have it in yellow though.

[@DoctorBJ]

the point i would make, if any, is that there are much better cars for sale in any market that would actually look good, actually satisfy the driver, function well in the city, and all for a lot less. the Clio V6, as i said that i, personally, would prefer, could be purchased for less and modded to my liking. although even more than the Clio i would prefer a JDM car

[@CochiTravels]

i've been on one today. it's not that fast (even the 155 bhp version)

[@nico1764]

..........Este auto tiene mucha influencia del clasico mini ingles, se nota un intento francés por hacer un diseño con lineas mas llamativas y atractivas...pero al final del día no supera la elegancia de un clásico auto ingles.....

[@benzbubblecat]

I like you the DS3?

[@kd1s]

Why doesn't Citroen sell in the U.S. anymore? I like this car and it gets fantastic gas mileage. Why the hell wouldn't they sell here? Could it be that Peugot is eating their lunch?

[@carlosalbertoquintero5738]

the last citroen sale on USA was the citroen XM, such a good cars

[@kd1s]

Carlos Alberto Quintero Castañeda A shame - I like their cars. I mean this one is cool looking and their DS was an impressive vehicle that dates back to the 50's. But it had many advanced features - like no springs in the suspension - it was liquid based.

[@carlosalbertoquintero5738]

kd1s i love it a had 3 citroen two with hidroneumatic suspension!

[@kd1s]

Carlos Alberto Quintero Castañeda Nice, all I've ever had were American cars. One Chevy and three Fords.

[@redwithblackstripes]

i think it is because of legislation about hydropneumatic suspension that killed citroen marketshare in the us in the late 80's not sure though , then citroën conquered the asian market (chinese mostly) and maybe is to busy dealing with it to re open the american one , plus American bashing on everything French can be a problem too...

[@famuzz]

boy this clip is badly lit.

[@DoctorBJ]

again, i know very little about the clio aside from its potential performance. and the fact that im a "petrol head" doesn't change the fact that this car is overrated by anyone's reasonable standard. also.. the Ford Focus RS makes 300whp (remarkably controllable through its innovative LSD)-- more impressive, although a bit more pricey and well worth it.

[@jockdr650]

Damn!! What a SU-PERB, may I say SU-PERB, car review! Makes me want to sell my house in California and move to France so I can actually BUY one of those little beasts!! Eeet ees sooooo vury vury Franch!! Moi, j'aime cette voiture extraordinaire!! And your reviewer/journalist......I may be in love. Let me think about this a minute. The car? The girl? The car? The girl?

[@mohammedshahnoor8687]

You should be called sixth gear

[@ikybaiiki]

She's looks so french and pretty in that car

[@monsterenergy713]

I like it

[@Kookanoodles]

You lucky bastard.

[@sultanabran1]

@tbonesixtynine that's because it isn't one

[@kusiak80]

beautifull charmin car.

[@Andremoraes23]

gostei.

[@DoctorBJ]

@CartmanUK26 looks and satisfaction tend to be a matter of opinion, and i gave you mine. 7.2sec 0-100km/h is hardly satisfying considering a comparable Civic Type-R can make it in 6.3. and if its a different car why do they say its based on the C3 (and looks largely the same)? the 4x4 thing was a joke but its too high off the ground for an appealing stance. LEDs are done wrong on this car; they look classy on audi, not small city cars. chrome is annoying imo-- side-view mirrors are too much

[@kasparpl1993]

@MrHendrix1959 top gear is about fun

[@TheMadSlavik]

@zeek3177 Bugatti is a french car maker... I'm just saying/

[@kopfschuss881]

A diesel version with 72mpg..... win

[@sultanabran1]

@yokhana i counted zero. which is even better.

[@dinerorapidoa]

whats that?

[@KPKaccountt]

seez why do they love to honk so much ?

[@holliejennings123]

i learn in this car!

[@wolfgang2653]

I'll be learning in this car soon, what's it like? And what did the lady mean about the gearbox in the video? Thanks!

[@holliejennings123]

It's amazing! Lovely to drive in. The gearbox to me didn't feel flimsy at all, I liked it because it smoothly changed gear. Rather than my 2001 corsa which is a lot tougher, haha. Good luck!

[@kasparpl1993]

If you go on autotrader, loads of those cars for sale are silver! How boring you have to be to buy it in silver! I don't get it. Out of such a big choice people still choose silver and grey....

[@LeBartman]

nice car, wrong name. DS had me expecting it to be like the original ds, which it isn't and it let the car down a bit

[@tacoeatingzebra]

I love my Golf, but if Citroen and/or Peugeot came back to the states...

[@ScottPC]

This or Audi a1

[@AWDfreak]

Yup, Citroen is that cool. No, Lexus/Toyota didn't invent it, they just kinda revived the idea.

[@micglou]

The DS3 is one of those cars, when equipped wrong... it's really really fugly. Do it right and it looks like an amazing machine. Like the 2 or 3 -tone look is something it just needs... the cheaper models are the same color allover, it becomes a really boring car then. And they should've made the rear lights a bit bigger.

[@Soussmeboules]

@guitaristwagner Because we invented it. :P

[@DoctorBJ]

idr where i got 6.3 but i googled it and its definitely 6.6s 0-100km/h. and while this is a fairly fast time, (much faster than 7.3s) the forte of the Type R- and what the marque is best known for- is handling, not necessarily acceleration. the DS3 has neither of these. £19K for the citroen seems ridiculous compared to the £18775 for a type-R civic. the DS3 is gaudy, unsporty, expensive, and honestly, indicative of metrosexuality.

[@joshieboi005]

Which is good :)

[@CartmanUK26]

I beg to differ on that, there is no car I would chose over this at the current time, believe me I have seen it first hand and no the local market! And you would be sorely disappointed should you chose the Clio!