REVIEW: Her.ie Road Tests The New Citroën DS3 Cabrio

If you’ll permit us to open with a fashion analogy, consider this: if you’re the kind of girl who feels sexier in skinny jeans and killer heels than in a mini skirt and a Wonderbra, for example, this might be the car for you.

We took ownership of the stunning CITROËN DS Cabrio recently and road tested it on the streets of Dublin and beyond for a happy week.

It's sleek and sexy, but in a way that’s more subtle and classy than many of the cars we’ve tested before. The soft top is a dream for anyone who has ever fantasised about life on the open road with the wind in her hair, but this car is no one-trick pony and doesn’t rely on the convertible aspect only to make it stand out from the crowd. Which is just as well, given the typical Irish weather.

The latest addition to the DS line, the DS3 Cabrio is ‘all about pleasure’ according to makers, and we can see why. The original DS3 launched just three years ago, and has proved an undeniable success since, with close on 180,000 registrations. The DS 3 Cabrio is sure to bring some new fans along for the ride. 

A big part of this car’s appeal for any potential buyer will be the personalisation options.DS3 Cabrio owners can personalise the roof, body and wheels of their ride. The car is available with three roof colours: black, Infinite blue and DS Monogramme. CITROËN has maintained the distinctive floating roof feature by colouring the rear side panels black and echoing the colour of the soft top on the upper part of the body sides, the front cross strip and the rear spoiler. The decors on the dashboard insert, air vent surrounds and gear stick handle are also colour-coded with the body paint and soft-top. Six decors are available: grey, Brillant black, white, Carbotech, Infinite blue and Moondust grey. 

In the cabriolet segment, this car is something of a trailblazer, boasting an electrically manoeuvrable roof up to 120 km/h, and with the distinction of being the only real five-seater in the category. It also boasts the largest boot in the category, 245 litres, which we put to the test with a quick spin to Kildare Village.

So here comes the science bit; at 3.95 m long, 1.71 m wide and 1.46 m high, the DS3 Cabrio retains the original’s compact proportions. And, while most convertibles weigh in at some 100 kg more than the regular model, the DS3 Cabrio is just 25 kg heavier than the DS3 hatchback. This model also retains the 60/40 split-folding rear bench. The tailgate has a particularly original path (circular motion), which enables motorists to fully open the boot no matter what the space behind (for example, when parked rear to wall). 

Tech talk aside, this car drove like a dream. Smooth, easy handling and great control made it perfect for both city spins and the open road. Chic without being overtly flashy, it’s exactly what you would expect from a fine French maker. We were a little bit gutted to hand the keys back…