Citroën DS3 Racing review

Citroën DS3 1.6 THP Racing Road Test

Test date Tuesday, March 08, 2011  Price as tested £23,100

For Attention-seeking looks l Entertaining performance l Everyday liveability

Against Overpriced in comparison with most rivals l Firm ride l Torque steer.

We like the Citroën DS3. If nothing else, it proved that the company is still capable of making desirable, engaging hatches. But the DS3 Racing must do more than just add a bit more power to what is already a successful model.
It costs almost £7000 more than the THP 150 model and is available only with a 204bhp version of the company’s turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine. So the DS3 Racing must prove that it is not just a faster variant, but a totally different performance class and ownership proposition from its capable stablemate.
That Citroën’s motorsport division is the brains behind the set-up lends it the necessary pedigree, but such a high price means plenty of competition. Its direct rival is the Mini John Cooper Works, but with the Renaultsport Clio Cup £6k cheaper than the Citroën and more mature or faster machinery such as the Volkswagen Scirocco and Mégane 250 Cup within price range, the DS3 Racing must either set a new hot hatch benchmark or provide an unmatched blend of performance, liveability and desirability.