DS 3 E-Tense review

Although it's as roomy as the ICE version, some difference was unavoidable. The E-Tense weighs 270kg more than a petrol auto DS 3. Because of the way the e-motor and battery cells are packaged, the suspension has undergone some necessary modifications.

Don't hope for a stereotypical super-soft French ride. This is a tall small car, and a heavy one. Besides ultra-cushioning is sister brand Citroen's job.

What's good about it?

The suspension is OK going relatively slowly and it copes nicely with rounded bumps. It's also fairly quiet compared with the clonky suspensions of many previous cars on this platform.

And the bad?

But it doesn't do enough to disguise sharp potholes and manhole covers. At speed the damping can get out of sorts over dips and crests. And if it strikes a bumpy surface when weighted up in a bend, the steering column shimmies noticeably, as if there are over-soft subframe bushings. Steering isn't perfectly progressive either and it feels a bit springy.

Even so it's quite a game little car and doesn't discourage you. Given the electric torque, traction isn't bad. If it's the sort of slippery weather when it does keep slipping a front wheel, you can just dial back torque with the 'normal' mode instead of 'sport'.

With the equivalent of 155bhp and 192lb ft, the E-Tense can accelerate from 0-62mph in nine seconds. Its top speed is 94mph, which is enough, at least up to about 50mph, because it arrives exactly as you ask for it, with no delay. But at high speed acceleration tails off even in the high-power sport mode, so overtakes require forward planning.

The brakes stop the car alright, but pedal feel is a little inconsistent. There is a B mode that amps up the regen, albeit not enough for you to treat the DS 3 as a one-pedal car in the way you would a Nissan Leaf. But it's a blended brake system so as long as you drive smoothly and don't jab the brake pedal too hard, it's just as efficient.

Ah yes, how efficient are we talking?

On a mixed route, our DS 3 efficiency hovered around 3.5mi/kWh, which is OK, but some slightly bigger EVs can do better.

The assisted driving works reasonably smoothly, so this is a fairly relaxing car on the motorway, even though wind and tyre roar rather undermine the notional silence of going electric.