2016 DS 3 - prices and specification revealed

Prices for the DS 3 hatch will start from £13,995, while the DS 3 Cabrio is priced from £16,295, DS has announced. The French car maker also announced a new range-topping spec, 'Performance Black', which costs £22,495 for the hatchback and is marked out by matt black paintwork and gold highlights.

Read our DS 3 review

Six spec-levels now make up the DS 3 range: entry-level Chic at £13,995, Elegance, starting at £16,395, £19,795 for Prestige, £20,795 for Ultra Prestige, and Performance and Performance Black priced at £20,495 and £22,495 respectively. The DS 3 Cabrio is priced £2300 above the hatchback all the way up the range, with the most expensive DS 3 Cabrio Performance Black priced at £24,795.

Although prices for the DS 3 have increased by £700, sources claim that the price hike reflects higher kit levels, materials and styling. 

The new DS 3 has made a significant step upmarket as part of the French brand’s push into the premium bracket.

The new DS 3 is based upon the same underpinnings as those of its predecessor, of which more than 390,000 examples have been sold globally since it was introduced as a Citroën model in 2010. However, the new DS 3 is a much-changed car, boasting a bold new design, enhanced connectivity and revised engine and transmission options.

The most significant design changes are at the front of the car, which wears the new DS corporate face, with chrome ‘wings’ that extend from a deep-set grille to the swept-back LED headlights. Farther back, the DS 3 retains some of the original car’s distinctive design features, including the floating roof and the shark fin C-pillars.

Topping the range for keen drivers is the DS 3 Performance, a sporty variant powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine that produces 205bhp and 221lb ft and emits 125g/km of CO2. It is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox with shorter gear ratios than the standard versions and is also fitted with a Torsen limited-slip differential.

Read our DS 3 Performance review