Standard ‘sporty’
In any case, what you don’t get with DS for €42,140 is a nameplate with the word ‘Crossback’. After all, that addition has been deleted from the DS 3, but what do you receive for about 42 grand?
DS 3 E-Tense – €42,140
Like the larger DS 7, the DS 3 lost the ‘Crossback’ addition not too long ago. Previously, that designation was intended to indicate that in both cases it concerns SUVs, but in the absence of a different body shape, that is actually superfluous. The deletion of the Crossback name was accompanied by a facelift for the DS 3, which brought a new electric powertrain in addition to a subtly different front. That is why today we focus specifically on the fully electric DS 3 E-Tense, after the regular DS 3 – then with Crossback – was already discussed in this section in 2019.
The choice for the DS 3 E-Tense limits the choice somewhat, because the initially announced DS 3 E-Tense in Bastille basic trim no longer exists. The slip-on is now the Performance Line, which means that sporty clothing is mandatory. A Performance Line is not very much more expensive than a Bastille – it is about a few hundred euros – because the difference is mainly in appearance. Black accents and wheels, for example, although those wheels are different if you opt for an E-Tense. Where the Performance Line on petrol gets jet-black Oslo wheels, the electric version is on 17-inch ‘Dublin’ with a polished front. The first profit is already in.
402 kilometers range
Partly due to the scrapping of that Bastille, the simplest electric DS 3 now costs more than €42,000. That is €1,400 more than a similarly equipped petrol model with 130 hp and an automatic transmission, and €5,250 more than a Performance Line with 100 hp petrol engine and a manual gearbox. For that money you get the updated version of the widely used electric powertrain from Stellantis. With 156 hp, it is more powerful than its predecessor, while a 54 kWh battery also means a larger lung capacity. Together with lower consumption, this increases the driving range to a maximum of 402 kilometers.
A simple DS 3 E-Tense is difficult to distinguish from the more expensive Performance + version on the outside. The wheels are a size smaller and the side windows less dark, but then you have had it. Almost, then: LED taillights are missing. However, those – with those black windows – can be ordered as a separate option. A simple DS 3 doesn’t look as basic as it did before the facelift, because LED headlights are now standard. Previously, the car still had halogen viewers and that is certainly a disappointment for a self-proclaimed premium brand.
Alcantara
Getting in is a hassle, because ‘keyless entry’ is missing and the folding door handles do not come out automatically. On the inside, the ‘Performance’ part is in Alcantara, because that is what we all interpret as ‘sporty’. The soft stuff is, among other things, on the dashboard, which creates a cozy atmosphere. Color is not there, because everything is black in this version. With cruise control, automatic air conditioning, a 7-inch digital instrument panel and a 10.3-inch touchscreen, the basic equipment is okay, but of course don’t expect luxury. For example, the car does without heated seats (separate €400), navigation and adaptive cruise control. For the latter, judging by the price list, you have to go to the ‘Pack Drive 2’, an option package of no less than €2,000. A panoramic roof is missing and can not even be ordered at all on the DS 3, just like an electrically operated tailgate. This means that, despite the LED headlights, there are still some things that should not be missing in a so-called premium product.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl