IT’S not explosive enough to be termed a hot hatch so Citroen Automobiles Australia has coined its refreshed DS3 as a “warm hatch”.

The description both belittles its potential threat to rivals in the sporty hatch class and belies its considerable, yet greatly underestimated, appeal as a city car.

The DS3 is Citroen’s snazzy upmarket, off-centre cousin of the Parisian street car, the C3.

It’s interesting because there are hints that the Citroen of old, the one that decided a speedo should be a numbered drum rotating behind a magnifying glass and a believer that indicators shouldn’t have to be self canceling, is back.

Not back in its previous eccentric state, more in a slightly anesthetised form.

The result is a small car that’s distinctive to the point of being edgy, fun to the drive without being manic, and yet has plenty of practical attributes.

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