2026 DS 3 Specs, Price, Release Date

2026 DS 3 Specs, Price, Release Date – The premium division of the DS brand is owned by Stellantis, the parent company of many manufacturers, including Peugeot, Citroen, and Vauxhall. Originally intended to identify high-end Citroen automobiles, the DS emblem is now used on its own. The brand’s current range consists of the DS 7 mid-size SUV, DS 9 saloon, and DS 4 hatchback, with the 2026 DS 3 serving as its entry-level model.

Like the 2008 SUV and the 208 supermini, Peugeot’s tiny SUV is powered by either an electric or gasoline engine and has a modular design. The combustion engine of the 2026 DS 3 is rivaled by the Audi Q2 and the more costly Volkswagen T-Roc versions, while the all-electric drivetrain of the 2026 DS 3 E-Tense is rivaled by the Vauxhall Mokka Electric, Hyundai Kona Electric, and Kia Soul EV.

The 2026 DS 3’s 2023 redesign included a diesel engine, a new infotainment system, and the elimination of the “Crossback” element from the model’s name. The PureTech 130 cars have an eight-speed automatic transmission and a higher output than the standard PureTech 100 cars, which have a 1.2-liter, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine and a six-speed manual gearbox.

The larger 54kWh battery and more power for the 2026 DS 3 E-Tense were the more significant updates for 2023. The small electric SUV can now go up to 250 miles on the WLTP combined test, which is more than 60 miles more than it could on the previous model.

Although there are three trim levels available—Performance Line, Esprit de Voyage, and Opera—even the lowest models include 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, and a 10.3-inch infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The standard DS Safety Pack includes automated emergency braking, lane-keep assistance, and speed limit recognition. This combination earned the 2026 DS 3 a five-star safety certification from Euro NCAP. 2026 DS 3 Specs

2026 DS 3 Redesign and Update Plan

Exterior & Interior

The original 2026 DS 3 Crossback was the first PSA Group product to use the Common Modular Platform (CMP). Stellantis, the brand’s new parent company, has embraced this platform, which is also utilized by the Peugeot 2008 and Vauxhall Mokka. Despite its sturdy build, it was designed to support electric powertrains, Level 2 autonomous driving assistance, and improved in-car technology.

From the exterior, the 2026 DS 3 appears to be the component. Its powerful front design—which features a large grille, a rather steep ride height, and a notable kick in the windowline on the profile—makes it difficult to mistake for anything else. The 2026 DS 3 is identified by the two vertical LED strakes on either side of the grille, and the party-piece movable door handles are seen when the car is opened.

The grille is available in up to seven exterior color variations and is adorned with gloss black or chromed diamond points, a contrasting roof, and four different alloy wheel styles.

The interior is just as beautiful. There are many tactile elements, geometric shapes, and (unfortunately) oddly placed buttons throughout. Despite its odd form, it is clear that design has occasionally trumped ergonomics. The 2026 DS 3 features touch-sensitive diamond-shaped tiles in place of physical buttons, but they don’t provide you haptic feedback to let you know if you hit them firmly enough. The infotainment screen on the dash top controls a number of crucial features. When jogging, this isn’t very helpful because we had to continually press a lot of keys before anything happened.

One of the few physical controls is the electric door mirror settings, which are hidden behind the steering wheel and difficult to see. The gear lever is surrounded by all of the window controls at the same time. Despite their attractive geometric appearance, they are difficult to distinguish at a glance. It takes some getting used to the 2026 DS 3’s peculiar layout.

The selection of luxury materials does not, however, significantly decline when comparing vehicles with lower specifications to those with higher trim levels. We believe that the base Performance Line model’s interior is sufficiently sophisticated to make you question if the pricey Esprit de Voyage and Opera cars are truly worth the investment.

If you are adamant about purchasing one of the more costly models, Esprit du Voyage substitutes diamond-shaped Nappa leather inlays and Pebble Grey fabric seat upholstery for the Alcantara of Performance Line. Opera has full-leather seat detailing in Art Basalt Black Nappa leather, a head-up display, heated and massaged front seats, and wireless phone charging. Additionally featured are a 360-degree video system and the Safety Pack. Even though the Safety Pack is not required, some buyers could find it useful given the 2026 DS 3’s compact dimensions and integrated rear parking sensors.

All 2026 DS 3s utilize a 10.3-inch touchscreen with smartphone connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. On Esprit de Voyage and Opera grades, the upgraded Iris infotainment system with speech recognition and 3D navigation comes standard.

The updated infotainment system is more useful and intuitive to operate than the previous 2026 DS 3 Crossback versions. The primary screen is quicker and the options work very well, much like on a smartphone. However, navigating through the settings and utilizing the temperature control system might quickly become monotonous. 2026 DS 3 Specs

2026 DS 3 Specs

Engine & Performance

The 2026 DS 3 was built for comfort rather than sportiness, like many of its Citroen ancestors. It’s light on its feet, has a smooth, supple suspension, and looks very well. Even the Peugeot 2008, which has the same fundamental construction as the DS, appears more nimble to drive, despite the Ford Puma being the best small SUV in its class.

Since the 2026 DS 3 isn’t particularly adept at driving faster, we think it’s best suited for small city streets. This little SUV is simple to drive around town due of its moderate handling, but it lacks feeling, so there aren’t many thrills to be had.

The 2026 DS 3’s 1.2-liter, three-cylinder engine may run totally on electricity or generate less gasoline. If you prefer to operate on gasoline, the PureTech 100 is your best option. Although the 2026 DS 3’s torquey engine has a lot of mid-range pulling power and performs well in urban areas, it must exert a little more effort to keep up with traffic on faster A roads and highways. The more powerful PureTech 130’s eight-speed automatic gearbox may seem a bit slow at higher speeds, and it’s not as smooth as we’d like in town while trundling through parking and traffic.

The electric 2026 DS 3 E-Tense doesn’t accelerate or bump you in the seat like the fastest EVs we’ve seen. It accelerates more naturally than a 2026 DS 3 with a gasoline-powered automatic transmission, but its off-the-line speed is similar.

The 2026 DS 3 is powered by an all-electric drivetrain and a 1.2-liter, three-cylinder gasoline engine. For the gasoline engine series, which starts with the PureTech 100, only the lowest Performance series specification is available. The basic six-speed manual transmission uses all 100 horsepower from the engine, and its 10.9-second 0-62 mph pace is more than sufficient to stay up with traffic. 112 mph is the top speed.

The 2026 DS 3’s engine output is increased to 128 horsepower and 230 Nm of torque with the PureTech 130. As was previously mentioned, it also has an eight-speed automatic transmission. Furthermore, the 0-62 mph time drops to 9.2 seconds and the max speed rises to 124 mph.

When compared to several other EVs, the 2026 DS 3 E-Tense isn’t all that much faster than its gasoline-powered rivals. Similar to the PureTech 100 and 130 models, it uses a single electric motor with 260 Nm and 154 horsepower to drive the front wheels. However, it takes nine seconds to reach 62 mph due to the 54kWh battery pack’s added weight. It then achieves 93 mph, which is its top speed. 2026 DS 3 Specs

2026 DS 3 Fuel Economy 

The gasoline-powered 2026 DS 3 series consumes more fuel than the Ford Puma, Toyota Yaris Cross, and Nissan Juke. Furthermore, it is inferior to the Renault Captur plug-in hybrid, which is a more suitable choice for a small business car. Those who pay Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax will find the all-electric 2026 DS 3 E-Tense much more appealing.

With a maximum fuel efficiency of 54.3 mpg, the basic PureTech 100 is the most fuel-efficient 2026 DS 3. The more powerful PureTech 130 with its eight-speed automatic gearbox is less efficient even though it achieves 48.7 mpg. However, rivals like the Juke and Yaris Cross have hybrid versions that could theoretically achieve about 60 mpg and emit fewer pollutants than the 2026 DS 3. The 2026 DS 3s that run on gasoline are likewise not class leaders, with emissions ranging from 117g/km for the PureTech 100 to 130g/km for the PureTech 130.

Naturally, if you are concerned about exhaust emissions or want to lower your running costs, the all-electric 2026 DS 3 E-Tense is the model to select. The 2023 update featured a 54kWh battery (up from 50kWh at launch), increasing the small electric SUV’s range from 193 to 250 miles on the WLTP combined cycle. All of these figures may change depending on the trim level you choose; if efficiency and economy are your main concerns, use smaller wheels.

The 54kWh battery (of which 51kWh are useable) may be recharged at up to 100kW with the right rapid charger. From a 10 to 80 percent charge level, topping up should take about 30 minutes. The majority will try to utilize a 7.4kW wallbox charger at home to save money on power costs at night. A flat battery will take no more than 7.5 hours to fully charge at this rate.

2026 DS 3 Safety Features

Euro NCAP gave the standard, European-spec 2026 DS 3 a four-star safety rating, which is below average for its class. It receives a perfect five stars because of DS’s Safety Pack, which is standard in the UK and has an incredible 96% adult occupant score. All 2026 DS 3s offered here come equipped with lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, speed limit recognition, emergency braking, and intelligent speed adaptation as standard features.

The £1,000 Safety Pack comes with blind-spot detection, front parking sensors, and a 360-degree video system. It works with all versions of Opera save the most expensive one. Despite not mentioning the 2026 DS 3 or the DS brand, Citroen placed tenth out of thirty-two manufacturers in our 2023 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey.

Conclusion

Despite being unimpressive in most other aspects, the 2026 DS 3 is notable for its distinctive appearance. Even with its many standard features, the 2026 DS 3 is too expensive for a small, luxury SUV, especially when you take into account that it isn’t as well-made and polished as its rivals.

Although it is easy to drive and quite smooth, the 2026 DS 3, which was developed with comfort in mind, lacks the control that its rivals possess. Nonetheless, the mid-life upgrade for the 2026 DS 3 E-Tense has an incredible range increase, proving that the electric and gasoline engines are both sufficiently potent.

Note: The details included in this blog post are derived from pre-release material that was accessible when the article was written. If you want the latest information, you should check official sources or call your nearest dealership.