2016 DS 3 Puretech 110 Givenchy Le Makeup first drive

What is it?

Givenchy is a French firm that is world-renowned for exclusive fashion and beauty products. Its fame stretches back to an association with Audrey Hepburn in 1957, when founder Hubert de Givenchy created a perfume especially for her.

Givenchy later expanded in to cosmetics in 1989, and it’s the cosmetics department that takes centre stage here in the DS 3 Givenchy Le Makeup limited edition, of which just 500 will be made for the UK. This is not only in name, but also with products: the central armrest doubles as a make-up case, containing lipstick, mascara, face powder and nail polish.

To make sure you apply it smudge free, the courtesy mirrors in the sun visors have been beefed up with powerful LED lights. Additionally, there's rose-pink dashboard panel, black leather seats and branded floor mats.

On the outside, the DS 3 Givenchy has a unique paint finish, called Opaline white, which is matte-look with a sandy texture. There are special badges on the B-pillars, 17in Aphrodite diamond-cut alloy wheels, and the roof and wing mirrors are finished in contrasting purple paint.

It’s available as either a three-door hatchback or a fashionable Cabrio, which has a black fabric folding roof. Both versions have a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine fitted to a five-speed manual gearbox, although you can pay extra for a six-speed automatic.

Here we are testing the hatchback version with a manual gearbox.

What's it like?

Mechanically, it’s identical to the standard DS 3. The 1.2-litre engine develops 109bhp, which gets the little French car from stationary to 62mph in 9.6 seconds. The car never feels rapid, but it certainly has enough to be swift and keep you entertained. It’s rev-happy, too; maximum torque arrives at 1500rpm and the engine pulls freely all the way through to 6000rpm. 

There is a slight mismatch between the eager engine response and the notchy gear change. It feels loose and sloppy, and often leaves you searching for the gear you’re after, or checking to see whether you’ve engaged the intended one. Shifting into second gear enthusiastically can cause the gearstick to knock on surrounding trim, which is rather unpleasant. The clutch has too much resistance, so feels heavy as well.

The DS 3 handles decently, but it won't set your pulse racing. There’s plenty of grip to exploit and the steering is accurate and well-weighted, yet the wheel lacks much in the way of feel. Body-lean is also pronounced if you press on with any degree of enthusiasm. Most of the time the ride is firm but acceptable, although it fidgets around too much over broken surfaces.

Inside, the dash is dominated by a high-level 7.0in touchscreen that controls the car's infotainment system. The pink dashboard panel looks swish, while the other prominent surfaces are a mix of textured plastic and gloss-black finishers. There’s also a rather neat leather-look canopy over the instrument panel. On the whole, it's well designed and feels up to date. 

The driver’s seat is set a little too high, even in its lowest setting, yet most people could find a comfortable driving position because there’s plenty of other seat adjustment and the steering wheel adjusts for reach and rake. There’s also plenty of head room, but the seats are a little on the small side.