We travelled to Valencia to test drive the Citroen DS3 Cabrio
What is it? Citroen’s bold and eye-catching DS3 Cabrio is a spacious five-seater that makes wind in the hair motoring glamorous and practical.
First impressions of the new Citroen DS3 Cabrio: This gorgeous new addition to the DS3 range is sexy, snazzy and suave and one of the most eye-catching cabrios around. The roof is a beautiful design and can be closed in 16-seconds but more importantly at speeds of up to 120km/h – perfect for those sudden outbursts!
What about the interior? Inside it retains the unique DS personality and there is some beautiful chrome detailing throughout. Distinctive and sophisticated it is both spacious and comfortable. It also the only real 5-seater in this category. The boot is only 40 litres less than the hatchback and at 245 litres it’s substantially bigger than rivals. Access to the boot is disappointing though and means that the space, although generous, is difficult to actual get anything into.
And on the road? At the international launch we had an opportunity to drive the range-topping turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine version.
Citroen DS3 Cabrio and the city: Around the city it is agile with sharp handling.
Citroen DS3 Cabrio and the open road: The Cabrio has a stiff chassis and handles beautifully, nicely balanced with pin sharp steering.
How Much? The 1.2 VTi petrol model is likely to cost in the region of €21,500, and the 90bhp 1.4 HDI diesel, with its Band A 94g/km CO2 output, will be priced in the region of €24,500.
How Safe? The Cabrio version comes with all of the same safety options as the hatchback. Only 25 kg heavier than the DS3 hatchback, the cabrio has been given the rigidity of the hatchback notably by using the same architecture for the sides and adding structural reinforcements around the boot
What about my options: With a bewildering array of colours, trims and roof decals on the cabrio you’ll be unlikely to see two similar looking DS3s.
3 words to describe the Citroen DS3 Cabrio; Snazzy; Sophisticated; Stunning
For more information check out Citroen.ie or the Citroen Ireland Facebook page
6th February, 2013
