DS is the luxury brand of French company Citroen and shows all the flair of the fashion world. The DS3 Crossback takes cues from architecture, fashion and artisan crafts. Quality prevails in this Crossover. 

The DS 3 Crossback is the company's entry-level compact SUV. 

Available with three power sources: petrol, diesel and the electric E-Tense, the first premium compact SUV that is battery-electric and a possible 200-mile range. Competitors are the Audi Q2 and Mini Countryman; they don't come with nearly as much technology as standard or the styling inside and out. The Crossback stands out as luxurious.

The DS 3's safety systems allow the driver to engage autonomy fully on their journey; the system also has adaptive cruise control, which monitors the distance to a vehicle in front and corrects the car's speed itself. The driver's hands must remain on the steering wheel at all times. 

You get a buzz looking at the superb styling of the car, which has a French flair. The lighting has been carefully thought about, and the more expensive models have Matrix LED Vision headlights. All models have flush-fitting door handles, which pop out when the key holder approaches the car. They then retract when the keyholder moves away.

Performance and handling are impressive, with the front-wheel-drive SUV hugging the road, giving plenty of confidence and traction. The model I had whisked me along. The eight-speed automatic gearbox is silky smooth with no detection of transition between gears. It offers the option of manual control with gear changing selection through the paddles on the steering wheel. 

Within the model options, you choose interiors that take their styling from famous French areas. DS Inspiration Montmartre is the entry-level package, then Bastille, Performance Line, Rivoli and finally Opera. This takes inspiration from the famous Garnier Opera house and features Basalt Black Nappa leather finishes. I

DS 3 Crossback has Matrix LED Vision where you can have lights on Full beam without ever dazzling oncoming traffic. The car is equipped with Level 2 Autonomous driving enabling the driver to take their hands off the wheel and have the car take control of your journey. DS Drive Assist is incorporated into this system. Positioning the vehicle in the centre of the road for the direction of travel. The car can park itself with Park Pilot, which allows the technology to take over from the driver. Only available on cars with an auto gearbox. Active lane departure warning, active braking are two other essential safety features fitted as standard.

The DS 3 Range Starts from £27000; this means it will be very competitive in the expanding small/compact SUV market.

The electric-powered E tense with a 200-mile range on the WLTP cycle and 100kW rapid charging. 99bhp 1.5-litre diesel and a 1.2-litre PureTech petrol with three choices, 99bhp, 128bhp and, a new 152bhp model.

After a week of driving the DS 3 on all types of roads and in various degrees of traffic ranging from empty to stop-start, I can say I genuinely like it. It is compact but feels more significant, and it is luxurious and certainly delivers with impressive specifications for the price. I felt like I was in a much more expensive car, which must be a big positive for an owner. The brand is doing everything right to attract customers and keep them by making great looking cars that deliver in all areas.

Words Jeremy Webb

Photos Jeremy Webb and DS Automobiles.