New 2023 DS 3 facelift on sale from £25,900

DS has given its DS 3 SUV a mid-life refresh for 2023, dropping the Crossback name, revising exterior styling and extending the all-electric range of the E-Tense variant. 

The DS 3 Crossback SUV was originally launched in 2018 as an SUV alternative to the now departed DS 3 supermini. Taking on the DS 3 name, the French marque’s smallest offering is on sale now from £25,900, making it a rival for the small SUVs such as the Nissan Juke and MINI Countryman, but also family EVs like the new MG4 and Cupra Born. 

As we’ve said previously, DS has taken a light approach to the DS 3’s exterior revisions. The “DS Wings” LEDs are similar to the ones found on the larger DS 4 and DS 7, plus there’s a wider grille and new lower lip spoiler. The rear lights feature a black finish surround and there’s a fresh choice of 17 or 18-inch wheels.

There was a time when Performance Line was the highest specification of DS 3, but it kicks off the range in 2023. Like on every DS 3 there are chromed flush-fitting door handles and the Performance Line also features 17-inch wheels (every wheel option is diamond-cut). 

Black Alcantara leather adorns the interior, along with a perforated leather steering wheel and DS’s eye-catching, diamond-themed, touch sensitive dash layout. Above this there’s a standard-fit 10.3-inch touchscreen and the driver gets a seven-inch digital instrument cluster.  

Above this there’s Performance Line+ from £30,500 which adds 18-inch wheels, the DS ‘Iris System’ that includes 3D sat-nav and voice recognition, a central armrest, keyless entry and start plus aluminium pedals. 

Rivoli trim comes next at £31,000, adding a unique set of alloy wheels, electrically-operated heated and massaging front seats, and chromed exterior badges and grille. DS 3 Opera tops the range at £34,000 with additional features like a head-up display, wireless smartphone charging, a reversing camera, and DS’s ‘Advanced safety pack’ incorporating energy brake assist, traffic sign recognition and blind spot detection. 

Three powertrains are available for the DS 3 now the BlueHDi diesel has been dropped. The 1.2-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder PureTech 100 produces 99bhp and comes with a six-speed manual gearbox - it can only be specified on the entry-level Performance Line. Above that there’s a PureTech 130 which uses the same engine but puts out 128bhp and is only offered with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain is available across the range. 

Sitting at the top of the powertrain range is the all-electric E-Tense model. It’s offered on every trim level, bringing up the spec-base Performance Line version to £37,200. 

DS has worked on the DS 3 E-Tense to make it more efficient and bumping up range in the process. The firm says it benefits from the knowledge it’s acquired from its Formula E exploits, adding a new 54kWh battery with a standardised heat pump and thermal preconditioning to take range from 200 miles to 249 miles. 

Power has also risen from 134bhp to 154bhp with 260Nm of torque. This hasn’t affected the DS 3 E-Tense’s 0-62mph time however, which remains at 9.0 seconds. DS claims recharging speeds  of 10-80 per cent in 30 minutes with a 100kW charger.

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