Citroen DS3 Cabrio 2015 Review

The revised DS 3 range has landed in Australia with more power, better fuel economy, more equipment and… a larger price tag. The Cabrio version on test is now $3600 dearer than the outgoing model, which sees it retail for $36,590 (plus ORCs).

Whether the asking price is a little too much for buyers to stomach remains to be seen. But with the Fiat 500C available from $20k, and the new Mazda MX-5 about to land from less than $32k, the DS 3 Cabrio seems expensive, even if it does now offer low-speed autonomous braking (under 28km/h), a reversing camera and parking sensors as standard.

But before you go rushing to the Citroen dealer for a bit of fresh-air fun, you might want to check you have a manual licence. Yes, the revised model offers just one gearbox selection — a six-speed manual. It's a great little transmission, no doubt, though whether the type of buyer interested in a niche vehicle like the DS 3 Cabrio will want to drive a manual is, as we see it, a bit of a conundrum.

Though there are other elements that will certainly impress prospective owners. The DS 3 stands out from its nearest rivals as a trendy, sculpted hatch with clean lines and a classy cabin. The layout of the dashboard and instruments is minimalist but retains all the tech items you'd expect for the price. The dash dims to reveal only the speedo at night and the instrument panel looks more like a high-end watch that a series of gauges. It's neat, it works and we love it.

But the let-down comes from an absence of any real cup-holders and a general lack of oddment storage. The boot is no champion either, with access via a lift-up slot revealing just 285 litres. The aperture makes filling that space difficult too, which could also be said of the cramped back seat.

Up front, however, the seating is comfy and generously accommodating. The reach to the primary controls is spot-on, though the metal-faced pedals are slippery when wet. The six-speed manual has a good throw between slots and the clutch is progressive with just the right weight.

The braking — via four-wheel discs measuring 283mm at the front and 249mm at the rear — is likewise well metered with soft stops easily achieved. The idle stop-start system is pretty quick when getting off the mark, too, making smooth starts a cinch.

The little Citroen's 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine is also a sweet thing and works well to provide crisp acceleration. Power is now rated at 121kW (up 6kW) while torque is unchanged at 240Nm.

The throttle is exceptionally well calibrated to access the low-end torque available just off idle, giving the DS 3 Cabrio easy step-off and a brisk run to redline. Tipping the scale at just 1165kg, the claimed 0-100km/h time of 7.5sec is achievable if you really try, though on test a little wheel-spin meant 8.0sec is more realistic in everyday situations.

It's a shame, then, that the ride is so firmly set. The additional bracing throughout the body — used to shore-up the structure normally supported by the roof — makes the DS 3 Cabrio feel overtly taut.

It doesn't affect the handling per se (we note standard sports suspension and 205/45-series Michelin Pilot Sport rubber), or the nippy steering. But it does make the ride very uncomfortable, with even the smallest bumps triggering a 'thud' through the cabin.

There's also a lot of scuttle shake and vibration through the doors and windows. The lack of support to the sides of the vehicle creates quite a shudder over rough roads, but such is the compromise of having a canvas roof.

On that note, the electrically-operated roof itself seals well, and in spite of the vibration, the cabin stayed perfectly dry and free of air leaks. The roof is well insulated thermally, and the single-zone climate control system maintains temperature very well. However, the noise attenuation through the ceiling is negligible, meaning you can hear a lot of wind and (other) vehicle noise, especially at freeway speeds.

We spent most of the test week on the freeway, travelling from Melbourne's CBD to the outer south-eastern suburbs. In spite of the time spent cruising, the DS 3 Cabrio managed an average fuel consumption tally of 7.0L/100km, a fair way over the ADR Combined figure of 5.6.

As standard, the DS 3 Cabrio comes with LED daytime running lights, LED and xenon headlights (which we might add work well), cruise control, climate control with perfume dispenser, sat nav, auto wipers and headlights, heated and electrically-folding wing mirrors and 17-inch alloy wheels with tyre pressure monitoring.

The seven-speaker audio system comes with Bluetooth telephony and audio steaming and a sub-woofer, though we found the radio reception rather average and the sound quality only passable.

To its credit, the DS 3 (like all Citroen passenger vehicles) offers a five-star ANCAP safety rating, and a six-year/unlimited kilometre warranty including roadside assistance and capped-price servicing. It's the kind of peace of mind buyers parting with $36k deserve and one big ticket item in the DS 3's favour, and may well help grow sales beyond the double-digit numbers the model has achieved thus far this year.

Just how it will fare once the MX-5 lands, of course, is sure to be a talking point.