Citroën DS3 1.6 THP 156 CV, road test (Engine and performance)

A year ago we got behind the wheel of a Citroën DS3 with a diesel engine, a 1.6 HDI with 110 CV. Since then we have not driven again the city car that launched the DS range at Citroën, a very interesting vehicle for its dynamic behaviour, price and level of personalisation.

And now we are back behind the wheel of a Citroën DS3, this time with the 156 CV THP petrol engine, an ideal choice for petrol engine lovers thanks to its performance, responsiveness and consumption. In this first part we start up the 156 CV 1.6 THP DS3 and tell you everything about the engine, performance, behaviour and consumption.

Engine and performance

By now almost all of you know the 156 CV 1.6 THP engine developed in collaboration between PSA and BMW. It is one of the best petrol powerplants in the French manufacturer’s range, both for performance and smoothness and consumption.

If you want a DS3 but are not convinced by the diesel variants or the watered-down 120 CV 1.6 VTi, your alternative is this 156 CV 1.6 THP, with more than enough power to move this city car and enjoy the open road and the bends, getting the most out of the DS3’s rigid and stable chassis.

The engine stands out for its progressiveness: from 1,500 rpm it starts pushing like a diesel, with strength, pulling all the way past 5,000 rpm. This usable range is hard to find in a petrol engine of just 1.6 litres. Thanks to this responsiveness, whenever we press the accelerator we do not need to play with the gear lever, since the DS3 responds with decision.

Paired with the engine was a six-speed manual gearbox, with a correct feel. It was not especially notable for being direct or precise, but at least it fulfilled its function properly and without major pretensions.

Behaviour

In general, all the DS models are characterised by a firm chassis, with stiff suspensions geared towards sportiness, unlike the soft ones of Citroën’s conventional range. The DS3 is no exception, since it has a chassis that is very well engineered from a dynamic standpoint, very stable and rigid in character.

The downside is comfort, provided the tarmac is in good condition the Citroën DS3 will be comfortable, but on poorly surfaced roads or uneven surfaces the suspension suffers too much from its firmness and loses comfort.

The steering has a sporty character once again, being rather firm and suited to the kind of driving this little Frenchman is aimed at. Finally, the brakes simply do their job very well, pulling up our Gallic protagonist with force.

Consumption

This is the second area where the DS3 stands out, or rather, its 156 CV 1.6 THP engine. As well as being performance-oriented and having a good usable range, it is also economical, or at least it stays within more than acceptable figures.

On motorway it settles at 6.5 litres per 100 km, the usual figure for this car. On the open road, after several tests, we consistently stayed around 6 litres. Finally, in town it rises to 9.2 litres per 100 km.

In the second part of the test we will keep analysing the DS3, recalling details of the design and interior, as well as discussing prices and our overall assessment.

Photos | David Taboada / Diego G. Moreira / Thanks to the collaborators in the photo shoot