Citroen launches new-look DS3

Citroen Automobiles Australia (CAA) has launched an updated version of its DS3 compact three-door hatch, which pumps out more power, uses less fuel, is safer and comes with more goodies than before.

The bad news? It's between $3600 and $4250 more expensive and there's no automatic version available – The DS3 is now a six-speed manual-only model.

That's because the range has been condensed to just one model, the DS3 DSport hatch and cabrio, with pricing as follows:

DS3 DSport hatch: $33,990 (up $4250)
DS3 DSport cabrio: $36,590 (up $3600)

CAA says the rationale behind the changes, which see a bump in power from the DSport's 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine from 115kW to 121kW, are that Aussie buyers are shunning the entry-level models and buying DS3s with all the fruit.

"Everything's absolutely standard now," said CAA's national sales manager Shaun Mackle, who observed that "base grades just don't work for Citroen in Australia."

As such, the 88kW DS3 DStyle ($27,740) with four-speed automatic has been ditched, and there won’t be another DS3 auto until a new transmission becomes available. CAA executives wouldn't speculate on when that will be.

"Buyers want something different and they want it highly optioned," said Mackle.

"Traditionally, DS3 customers purchase vehicles with every option ticked, so the new line-up better reflects the desires of Australian DS 3 customers," he said.

Despite the price rises, the French importer reckons its added $5550 worth of value to each model, with standard features on both hatch and cabrio models now including LED/Xenon combination headlights, reversing camera, parking sensors, satellite-navigation, automatic headlights and wipers, electrically heated and folding wing mirrors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, tyre pressure monitoring, 17-inch alloy wheels and six airbags.

Climate-control and a seven-speaker stereo with a subwoofer are gratis, and Active City Brake autonomous emergency braking is also standard in a first for Citroen in Australia.

"We will not be the cheapest, but we will offer vehicles that customers expect and quite frankly buy," promised Mackle.

Other light-size hot hatches include the manual-only Ford Fiesta ST five-door ($25,990), five-door Renault Clio RS auto (from $29,290), Peugeot's five-door 208 GTi manual ($29,990) and Volkswagen's facelifted Polo GTI five-door, a facelifted version of which arrives this week with a manual for the first time.

However, the importer says the DS3 DSport's primary rivals are more upmarket models, such as the Audi A1, MINI Cooper and Alfa Romeo MiTo.

Like them, the DS3 DSport can also be optioned with a wide range of interior and exterior customisations, including different colour roofs, decals and interior treatments.

Despite the lack of an automatic version, CAA says it doesn't expect DS3 sales to dwindle because manuals accounted for 51 per cent of sales of the previous model -- higher than the 21 per cent average for the segment.

Thus far in 2015, Citroen has recorded a 24 per cent increase in sales in Australia, although DS3 sales are 25 per cent down at just 24. MINI is by far the top-selling $25,000-plus light-car to March, with 612 sales, ahead of the A1 (434), 208 (234) and MiTo (52).