New DS 3 Crossback E-Tense 2019: specs, prices and on-sale date

Refundable deposits of £500 are now being taken for the new, electric DS 3 Crossback E-Tense, with sales set to start later this year ahead of the first customer deliveries in January 2020.

Petrol and diesel versions of the car are being offered in four trims, with the electric E-Tense variant available in the top two of those: Prestige and Ultra Prestige, priced at £32,350 and £35,350 respectively.

First revealed at the Paris Motor Show in 2019, the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense is the brand’s first electric vehicle, and breaks new ground for the company having merged from a hatchback into an SUV. 

DS 3 Crossback E-Tense drivetrain

The reason the new DS 3 can go electric is that it’s based on the PSA Group’s new e-CMP platform, which will also form the basis of the new Peugeot 208 and Peugeot 2008, as well as the Vauxhall Corsa-e.

The E-Tense model will have a 134bhp electric motor powered by a 50kWh battery. That gives it a 0-30mph figure of 3.3 seconds, with a 0-62mph time of 8.7 seconds. You can read more about how the car drives in our DS 3 Crossback E-Tense prototype review. 

Range of 200 miles is promised (according to the WLTP test procedure), with 100kW rapid charging capable of delivering a 0-80% in just 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, a 7kW home wallbox should fully charge the E-Tense in eight hours.

The battery system weighs in at a total of 350kg, although DS claims that this is mitigated to a degree with 50kg of savings elsewhere when compared with other versions of the car.

The battery is located under the floor, preserving passenger space and boot capacity.

The E-Tense comes with Eco, Normal and Sport driving modes, as well as two settings for the regenerative braking system: Normal and Brake, with the latter offering greater deceleration.

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Drivers will have the MyDS smartphone app at their disposal, allowing them to programme and monitor charging remotely, as well as pre-heating or pre-cooling the interior ahead of journeys.

Interior and styling

Other than a few details specific to the E-Tense, we expect that the interior of the electric version will follow very closely the car that was on the company’s stand at the Paris Motor Show. That means a very distinctive design that'll stand out a mile from its rivals.

A 10-inch touchscreen dominates the dashboard, with a panel of touch-sensitive controls arranged in a diamond formation below it. There’s no question that DS wants to do things differently, but it has also made sure that the quality inside is very good, with classy materials and plenty of space. Unique styling features of E-Tense include an Anthra Grey radiator grille and its own design of 18-inch alloy wheels.

Price and on-sale date

Prices for the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense start from £32,350 for the Prestige trim, rising to £35,350 for the top-spec Ultra Prestige car. An eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty is included as standard, and prices include the Government’s £3,500 plug-in car grant.

DS is also offering Personal Contract Purchase finance deals for the E-Tense: with a £4,000 deposit, buyers can secure monthly payments starting from £436 over a 48-month term at 5.9%, with a driving allowance of 10,000 miles per year.