WHEN it comes to choosing a new car it's always nice to opt for a premium product but often the price can be off putting.

In the case of DS, however, you can now join an exclusive club with the new DS 3 Performance Line Pure Tech six-speed manual version for less than £26,000.

Despite being the entry level version of the marque's smallest car it's still a model which oozes the best of French styling both inside and out and really stands out from competitors.

With its deep gloss black grille, swept back headlights and flush fitting door handles which spring out when you unlock the car it's certainly an eye catcher.

The rear doors have an interesting styling line too with a little flick upwards in the metal where they reach the front doors, although this does reduce visibility from the inside a little for rear seat passengers.

Power comes from a modest three-cylinder, 1.2-litre engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.

But despite its relatively small 101bhp the DS3 is lively if you wind up the revs in each gear and has plenty of pulling power even with four up.

Sixth gear tends to act more like an overdrive gear which is useful for motorway cruising to keep fuel consumption low.

As with all DS models the interior is classy and different. The dashboard and centre console boast a plethora of diamond shapes for everything from the window switches to the air vents and even the starter button, while wide use of Alcantara on the front doors and dashboard add to the upmarket feel.

Despite its relatively compact dimensions the DS3 offers comfortable space for all travellers. Rear legroom looks a little tight on first inspection but having covered several hundred miles with four people on board there were no complaints from those in the rear.

The low price does mean there are some niceties that you find on the more expensive DS models missing, like a reversing camera, hands-free locking and unlocking and a satellite navigation system - although there is a 10.3-inch touch screen for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - but other than those the Performance Line Pure Tech comes as a nice little package.

And despite being a cylinder short of some of its bigger brothers the engine proved to be one of the quietest I have come across in a long time.

Light steering at low speed and a small turning circle make parking easy and go some way to making up for the lack of a reversing camera.

And with the days getting shorter it's nice to know that despite its budget price - for a DS that is - this car comes with Matrix headlights for safer night-time driving.

And don't forget if you buy a DS - no matter which model - you become a member of the DS "Only You Privilege" programme which offers special experiences for owners, including a behind the scenes tour of the Louvre

3yrs/60,000 miles

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