DS is to Citroen and Peugeot what Audi is to VW and Skoda which means that DS tries to be the premium offering that shares most of its parts with its two sister companies, Citroen and Peugeot. DS used to be a special in-house of Citroen, but since 2015, DS has become completely independent and aims to make a mark on the world’s premium car market.
The DS 3 Crossback is the smallest premium SUV by DS that tries to steal customers from cars like the Audi Q3 or the BMW X1. The E-Tense name signifies that this version of the DS 3 Crossback is entirely powered by battery cells, not a combustion engine. However, in this article, we will tell you all the common problems with DS3 Crossback E-Tense and what to look out for.
It seems like the most common issues with the DS 3 Crossback are associated with the car’s accessories and electrical systems such as the door handles have a mind of their own. Some have also reported issues with certain advanced driver assistance systems which can often feel a bit too assertive and non-fluid.
Others complained about the car’s metrics and that the DS 3 isn’t able to correctly gauge how many miles you get left in the battery. Some have also complained about the car’s charging situation as you can’t set the car’s charging timer correctly and that the usable battery capacity is actually well under 50kW.
DS 3 Crossback E-TENSE – Electrical issues
We will kick off this list by mentioning that the E-TENSE sometimes has a mind of its own when it comes to the door handles and how they operate. The car comes with an advanced keyless system which is able to detect when the key is near the car and pop out the door handles so they always greet you when you come near them.
However, some owners have complained that this system isn’t always as effective as it should be and thus lowers the car’s quality levels even though the main purpose was to elevate that. Either way, this is likely just a small software issue that is surely going to be taken care of in the coming months with all the upcoming updates.
DS 3 Crossback E-TENSE – ADAS issues
Virtually all cars these days come with advanced driver assistance systems which aim to keep us safe no matter the environment. The DS3 Crossback gets all the usual stuff such as lane keep assist, blind spot assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and many other amenities.
However, some owners did complain that the lane keep assist is known to be overly assertive and can tug you back to the center of the lane even if you want to make a lane change. Owners say that you can avoid this by turning the system off which somewhat defeats its purpose.
DS 3 Crossback E-TENSE – Mileage predictions issues
Since cars started having advanced electronics, having a mileage indicator on your dashboard has become a standard across all cars. The one on the DS 3 isn’t the very best one out there as it can often mislead you with the remaining range. Owners have stated that the car can sometimes show less than 170 miles even if your car is fully charged.
Others stated that the indicator can sometimes go the other way even if you deplete the battery quite a bit. This is because this indicator tries to take your driving habits into consideration and give you an assessment based on how you drive the car. This works most of the time, but the car can sometimes fail to indicate the real mileage left, no matter how you drive.
DS 3 Crossback E-TENSE – Charging issues
To finish this list, we are also going to mention certain issues with the charging situation where the DS3 Crossback E-TENSE can sometimes be a bit tricky to use. Some say that the app that comes with the car isn’t the best when it comes to predetermining when to charge the car.
This is not the only issue as many owners complain about the app in more ways than one. It isn’t the easiest to use and also is lacking when it comes to cars from the premium segment.
FAQ Section
Should I buy the DS 3 Crossback E-TENSE?
If you like what DS has to offer and you are after a good all-around electric car, the DS 3 Crossback E-TENSE is certainly worth it. The battery could be a bit larger and the car could have a more decisive exterior design as most cars from this premium EV segment have a long brand heritage and their design choices tend to be more coherent.
However, Citroen/DS is known to make cars that don’t look like any other car out there. I guess the question if the DS 3 Crossback E-TENSE is worth it is entirely based on what you love from an EV. If you like DS design language and you deem the range and power to be enough, the DS3 E-TENSE is indeed worth it.
Which cars rival the DS 3 Crossback E-TENSE?
The DS 3 Crossback E-TENSE is often pitched against the Hyundai Kona Electric, the MG ZS EV, and the Kia e-Niro SUV. Between these three, the DS does seem to be the higher-end product and it manages to be the one that drives the best.
The Kia e-Niro and the MG ZS do cost a bit less when compared to the DS 3 which is rather obvious the moment you pit these two against each other. However, the e-Niro gets a larger 67.5kWh battery with up to 230 miles while the MG ZS offers an even larger 72kWh battery with upwards of 270 miles.
What does the DS in Citroen DS stand for?
As mentioned previously, the DS brand left Citroen back in 2014, but a separate DS model didn’t come until 2018. The DS stands for “Different Spirit” or “Distinctive Series” as Citroen tried to make a totally separate brand that caters to customers with a higher income rate.
