Citroën DS3 hatchback - one of the most stylish models on the road

Price: £12,600 - £23,400

Pros: Great range of engines, eye-catching looks, good to drive – especially DSport models

Cons: Customisation can be expensive, Five-speed manual gearbox can be hard to use – six-speed is better, Legroom is tight compared to rivals

Car Buyer, 4.3/5:

"The DS3 is Citroen's entry into the premium supermini segment and offers buyers a stylish alternative to the MINI hatchback and Alfa Romeo MiTo. It's based on the Citroen C3 but offers a more upmarket cabin and a more exciting driving experience, and is named Best Hot Hatchback in the 2011 CarBuyer Car of the Year awards. Engines range from an efficient 89bhp diesel, which is free from road-tax thanks to its low CO2 emissions, to a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine with 148bhp which offers hot-hatch thrills. There's also a range-topping DS3 Racing model, but only 200 examples were sold in the UK. All variants get a spacious, stylish and luxurious cabin making the DS3 a fantastic all-rounder."

Auto Express, 4.0 /5.0

"Decent build quality and classy detailing mark out the DS3's cabin. The dashboard is carried over from the firm's C3 supermini, which means you get eye-catching dials and a logical layout. Buyers can colour co-ordinate the dash, gearlever and key fob with the exterior paint finish. The newcomer steals a march on the MINI thanks to its five-seat layout – the British car can only accommodate four occupants. Opening the tailgate reveals a useful 285-litre load bay."

Parkers, 4.0 /5.0

"The DS3 is the first in a range of very different Citroen models that put the emphasis on style and personality, along with strong performance and driver appeal. With its stylish look and compact size, it's easy to see why so many comparisons have been drawn with the popular MINI and Fiat 500."

Evo, 3.5 /5.0

"The engine combines strong low-rev performance – 110bhp at 3600rpm and 199lb ft at 2000rpm, enough for a sub-10.0sec 0-60mph time – with a claimed 62.8mpg (combined cycle) and 118g/km of CO2 emissions, which sees annual road tax costing just £20."

What Car?, 3.0 /5.0

"The DS3 is Citroen's answer to the Mini and Fiat 500, and it gives you a lot of style for your money. The engines are strong, it has a classy cabin and every version comes well equipped." ·