Theย DS 3 Crossback E-Tenseโs cabin looks unlike anything else youโll find in any mainstream electric car. Sure, the raised driving position and wide dashboard follow a familiar compact SUV theme, but itโs the numerous intricate details that make the DS 3 Crossback E-Tenseโs interior so eye-catching.ย Rather than conventional rows of square buttons, the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense comes with a fence-like pattern of interlocking diamond switches set above some equally angular air vents.
Sadly, this form-over-function thinking means that some of the DS 3 Crossback E-Tenseโs controls arenโt located where you might expect to find them. The door handles are mounted way down by the door pockets and the window switches are fitted to the centre console rather than on the doors. Thereโs nothing particularly awkward about these features, but they certainly take a bit of getting used to.
DS hasnโt played it safe when it comes to interior trim, either. You can choose from nine different colour schemes ranging from moody black designs to airy (but difficult to clean) white trims. Thereโs also the option of bronze-effect leatherette, but this oddball combination makes parts of the cabin look like they could do.
Whichever of these โInspirationโ packs you choose, youโll get the option to customise the seat fabric, the dashboard trim and the colour of the headlining. The most luxurious โOperaโ option brings with it โwatchstrapโ seats that are immensely comfortable and look fabulous, but theyโre only available on top-spec La Premiere models.
Sadly, even range-topping cars fitted with the most opulent addons still feel a little cheap in places. The glovebox lid, parts of the centre console and surfaces lower down on the doors all have a hard, brittle plastic finish that feels at odds with the rest of the DS 3 Crossback E-Tenseโs swanky cabin. That said, at least they feel like theyโll stand up to a good few years of abuse.
Entry-level DS 3 Crossback E-Tense Performance Line models come as standard with a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system thatโs mounted nice and high on the dashboard so itโs easy to glance at while youโre driving. The screen itself is sharp and reasonably bright so you can read it in direct sunlight.
You do get some touch-sensitive tiles on the dashboard that let you switch between key features such as the sat-nav and stereo, but they donโt click when you press them so theyโre a real pain to use when youโre concentrating on the road ahead.
Unfortunately, none of these buttons controls the carโs climate control. Instead, you have to tweak the temperature through the DS 3 Crossback E-Tenseโs touchscreen, which is less intuitive and takes longer than using conventional buttons like those in the Kia e-Niro and Hyundai Kona Electric.
Pick a DS 3 Crossback E-Tense in Prestige guise or above and you get a larger 10-inch touchscreen with built-in satellite navigation. This screen is a little easier to read than the smaller 7.0-inch unit, but the sat-nav maps arenโt very responsive and take a while to load โ especially if you want to zoom out to view your whole journey. Youโll be much better off using the standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring features that come as standard across the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense range.
Another feature you get as standard is the 7-inch digital driverโs display. This screen, which replaces conventional analogue dials, can display a variety of different dial graphics and directions for the sat-nav, but its dark, angular design means the dials arenโt all that easy to read.
Another thorn in the DS 3 Crossback E-Tenseโs already rather bruised side is the fact that you canโt get it with an upgraded Focal stereo system like the standard DS 3 Crossback.