Roy Lewis road tests the Citroen DS3 Ultra Prestige THP 1.6-litre petrol.

Citroen DS3 Ultra Prestige THP 1.6-litre petrol.

Price: £20,950.

Top speed: 133mph.

0-62mph: 7.3 seconds.

Fuel: 47.1mpg (combined figure).

C02 emissions (g/km): 139.

Verdict: Funky and eye-catching looks, superb motor and drive train, exciting to drive, compact, versatile and well built.

THOSE Citroens of yesteryear – the DS 19 and 21 –certainly oozed style and French quirkiness and a small number are still to be seen on British roads today. They are full of character and style and are as eye-catching as ever.

Fortunately, the French manufacture continues to offer cars of distinctive appeal with its modern design. The daringly-different DS models carry on the tradition with the emphasis very much on style and personality together with outstanding performance and driver appeal.

The DS is certainly a car for the enthusiast, particularly those who like to personalise their transport.

Regarded as the top model in the DS3 range is the Ultra Prestige which houses a punchy 155bhp 1.6-litre petrol turbo motor and is a real flyer. Priced at £20,950, the car doesn’t come cheap but the compact five-seat super mini has a wealth of impressive kit and distinctive styling touches that sets it apart from other vehicles in the range.

There is quite a price variation within the DS3 range and considering the equipment and individuality of the different models the prices are competitive. Actually, top rivals such as the Mini, Audi A1 and Alfa Romeo MiTo are premium models but their prices are also pitched fairly high.

However, the sporty looking three-door Ultra Prestige is the DS model to have for drivers who like individuality. The model is largely based on the C3 but French engineers have done much work on the chassis and suspension to give the DS a sporty feel and good composure at speed which results in a taut but comfortable ride over most road surfaces.

Being low slung and hugging the road it is a far cry from the soft settings of the more ordinary C3.

The power steering on the DS has also come in for revision with more positive feel. But the outstanding feature is the motor which, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, delivers smooth and strong performance to match its hot-hatch pretensions.

The motor is particularly energetic up through the gears and the 0-62mph sprint time of just 7.3 seconds helps to show the get-upand- go nature of the vehicle.

And after hard driving the multipoint fuel injection unit doesn’t punish the press-on driver at the pumps as fuel returns remain in the mid-forties.

Actually, driven carefully with a light right foot the car will return up to 60mpg but the official combined average is 47.3mpg.

The Citroen’s all-round disc brakes are a reassuring feature.

Their solid performance is backed up by ABS, electronic brake force distribution and an electronic stability programme so that the driver can be assured of stopping quickly and safely when the need arises.

The funky detailing of the DS turns heads in the high street, especially the roof graphics on the Ultra Prestige which resemble a solar panel. There is a rear spoiler, dark tinted rear windows, double chrome exhaust pipes, chrome door mirrors, chrome door sills, white leather dash, drilled alloy pedals, and 17in grey-finish alloy wheels.

Other goodies include cruise control and speed limiter, Bluetooth, USB auxiliary socket and stereo radio with CD player.

The list goes on.

Inside, there is a feeling of individuality.

The creative cabin is spacious with quality materials used, including classy-looking leather upholstery. Panelling is colour coded and the driver-orientated dash dials look smart and showy in their chrome trim.

In the rear, leg room is on the tight side for bigger adults but the boot is large and practical with 60/40 folding rear seats adding to the car’s versatility.

Occupant safety is paramount and there are front, side and curtain airbags, stability and traction control, all backed up by a top five-star rating in Euro NCAP safety tests.

While the DS may not be cheap, it is a premium super mini and buyers get a lot of style and kit for their money. Service intervals are 20,000 miles.

There is also the advantage of splendid resale values when the time comes to part exchange as the DS3, in particular, is very much in demand.