IG There are a mind-numbing three million possible unique outcomes for your DS3

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Better still, with cars like Citroen’s DS3 you can express your individuality however you want and make your car one in a million. We’re not joking. With 78 body and roof colour combinations, 10 decal options and numerous other ways to create your dream car, there are a mind-numbing three million possible unique outcomes for your DS3 – all this from a car that starts at less than £14,000. No wonder style-obsessed Britons can’t get enough of the little DS3. We snap up more than 16,500 of them each year, buying even more than the French, but six years on it’s now time for a nip and tuck to keep the love affair alive. So what’s new? Well, you won’t find a single Citroen badge anywhere on the DS3 because it is now sold by the car-maker’s posh DS brand. You’ll notice a new nose that sports a pair of redesigned headlamps and the DS brand’s new chrome wing-effect grille, while at the rear just a pair of revised tail lights hint at the changes with not a single piece of sheet metal altered.

These latest updates see the current engine range continue, with the addition of a more powerful 130bhp version of the tiny 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol that was already available with either 82 or 110bhp. For now, the flagship petrol is a 165bhp 1.6-litre turbo which can offer a near hot-hatch performance with a 0 to 60mph time of 7.5 seconds. There’s also a more powerful 210bhp version on the way as a permanent fixture to replace the previous limited edition DS3 Racing. That’s just as well as, despite the 1.6’s on-road punch, we’d give it a miss and opt for the cheeky but less powerful 130bhp 1.2 turbo. That’s because the more powerful 1.6 is surprisingly jerky to drive. The throttle response is too sharp, as are its brakes, while the gearchanges on the six-speed manual are too notchy. The less powerful 130bhp 1.2-litre, meanwhile, is smoother, easier to drive and offers just enough performance to be nippy in town (0 to 60mph in 8.9 seconds) and is far more economical to boot (62.8mpg versus 50.4mpg). Of the two 1.6-litre turbo-diesels, there’s a 100bhp and 120bhp on offer with 62.8mpg average fuel economy and emissions as low as 87g/km. On the road the 100bhp version was very likeable and turned out to be a pleasant match for the DS3’s more relaxed nature, offering plenty of performance low down in the range.

IG 16,500 DS3's are sold every year in Britain

Ultimately though, when you reach your favourite road the DS isn’t the best in its class. The Mini remains our pick for driving exhilaration but the DS can still be an entertaining companion and we’d certainly choose it over the Fiat 500. Ride comfort, or lack of it, also carries over from the old model. Even on modest 17-inch alloys too much of the road’s surface is transmitted into the cabin. That said, neither the Mini or Fiat manage to offer the comfort levels of a bigger car, for that you’ll have to look at its more mainstream rivals like the Fiesta or Polo and, if you’re reading this, we’re betting you’ve already ruled both of those out. Inside, it feels very much like business as usual in the DS3 – both good and bad. The interior colour combinations really do inject a sense of fun. The joy of specifying your very own little DS will be enough to win you over but the car itself is far from perfect.

IG Of the two 1.6-litre turbo-diesels, there’s a 100bhp and 120bhp on offer

The DS3 first went on sale back in 2010 and interior-wise it’s really looking its age. That “new” infotainment system, for example, isn’t as quick or crystal clear as the best on the market. The little DS now comes with more supportive seats on the base models, boosting comfort and offering a more humane driving position. It also beats the Italian for quality inside, although there are still hard, unpleasant plastics that litter the cabin and show its age. Finding a decent driving position is tricky: you sit higher than expected, even with the seat on its lowest position. It’s also difficult to adjust the steering wheel into the optimum place but, that said, the end result is still far superior to the awkward driving position a Fiat 500 offers. A new 7-inch touchscreen infotainment takes pride of place on the dash and now incorporates both Apple’s CarPlay and Android Mirrorlink.

IG The little DS now comes with more supportive seats on the base models

You can continue your creative spree in the cabin with yet more choices, this time from seat upholsteries with high quality “watch strap” leather. The level of personalisation even extends to choosing what fabric to wrap your dash with. But what you might think tasteful may have your friends calling the fashion police. The refresh has also introduced autonomous emergency braking that applies the anchors in town (up to 18mph) if you hadn’t noticed the car in front stopping. Undoubtedly though, the Mini is the best all-rounder compared to rivals. It’s better to drive than either the Fiat or the DS, has a great interior and decent range of engines but, as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for and at £3,000 more than both its Italian and French rivals, it may be too much. That’s why if you’re looking for a fun, stylish hatchback the DS3 remains your best bet.