DS 3 E-Tense review

The DS 3 is available in four trim levels. Two are visually sporty, even if neither their performance nor suspension are actually any different: Performance Line and Performance Line +. Then come two majoring on French luxe: Rivoli and Opera.

In all cases the price step from the 130 auto to the EV is a steepish £8,700. It's now £37,200 for the Performance Line E-Tense, and £42,700 for Opera E-Tense. For a small car, that's a potential cause of sticker shock. Yet DS says people do buy the upper trims.

At least the Opera has as standard full driver assist, a head-up display, DS's famous 'watchstrap' 3d leather, wireless phone mirroring and wireless charging (for your phone not the car). Most of that can be had as reasonably-priced separate options on the rest of the range. The biggest option is LED matrix headlamps at £1,000.

Launch-offer PCP for the Performance Line + is £540 a month over three years with a £7,500 deposit, at 8,000 miles a year with a balloon payment of £18,333. And that's at a relatively unfriendly 8.9 percent APR.

The E-Tense has 232-250 miles range, but that upper figure is for the base version only. A 100kW-plus rapid charger can hit 80 per cent from nought in half an hour. It's an hour on a 50kW connection.

A domestic 7kW supply can fully charge the battery in 7.5 hours. It can also take 11kW three-phase, but that doesn't hugely accelerate charging. That spec is a reflection of French conditions: in the UK if we have three-phase at all it's usually at 22kW, a speed that - if the car could take it - would cut charging to 2.5 hours.

DS is pitching its cars at lovers of French fashion, culture and gastronomy, and offers owners exclusive access to events of that kind. Might make you feel more loyal.

As well as the standard warranty, DS Assistance is free for the first three years of ownership. The battery is warrantied for eight years/100,000 miles.