DS 3 Crossback e-Tense – travels up to 285 km at 90 km/h, up to 191 km at 120 km/h (test by Bjorn Nyland)

The DS 3 Crossback E-Tense is the PSA Group’s electric crossover based on the battery and drive unit also used in the Opel Corsa-e and Peugeot e-2008. The range of vehicles studied by Nyland will tell us what to expect from the e-2008 and the new Opel Mokka (2021). Conclusion? We get a car that can easily be charged once a week while driving in the city, but on the road it needs to monitor the driving speed.

DS 3 Crossback E-Tense, specifications:

section: B-SUV,
battery: ~45 (50) kWh,
moc: 100 kW (136 KM),
torque: 260Nm,
run: FWD,
reception: 320 WLTP units, approximately 270-300 km of real range,
price: from PLN 159,900,
competition: Peugeot e-2008 (same group as the base), Opel Corsa-e (segment B), BMW i3 (smaller, more expensive), Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia e-Soul (“under premium”).

DS 3 Crossback E-Tense range test

Let’s start with a short introduction: Nyland tests cars on the same track at 90 and 120 km / h. He drives with cruise control and strives to ensure repeatable conditions. Its dimensions should be considered as values under ideal conditions, especially those made at a temperature of about 20 degrees Celsius. Worst case, weak numbers will appear.

On the other hand, changing the rim to a smaller or more aerodynamic one can lead to better results.

DS is, by definition, a premium brand, so it tries to compete with Audi and Mercedes. Unfortunately, neither Audi nor Mercedes currently have any offers to counter the DS 3, so the car can only be compared to the BMW i3 and Hyundai Kona Electric.

The DS 3 Crossback E-Tense tested by Nyland was driven in B/Eco mode, i.e. with high revs and air conditioning set for economical driving. With the battery charged to 97 percent, the car showed a range of 230 km and this alone suggested what results we should expect:

Distance 90 km/h = maximum 285 km

Finally, it turned out that with a very economical operation at a speed of 90 km / h The actual DS 3 Crossback E-Tense range will be:

up to 285 km and battery discharge up to 0 percent,
up to 271 km if we give up to 5 percent (from this point it is still possible to charge at a rate of up to 100 kW),
to 210-215 km when we rotate in the range of 5-80 percent (eg the second stage of the route).

The 2-point number is important because PSA Group vehicles reach a maximum charging power of 100 kW with only 16 percent of battery capacity. Therefore, it is better to discharge them to around 5 percent than to go to the charging station with a battery that shows a battery of 15 percent or more:

> Peugeot e-208 and fast charging: ~100 kW only up to 16 percent, then ~76-78 kW and slows down.

Distance 120 km/h = maximum 191 km

While maintaining a speed of 120 km/h, the car will be able to cover the following distances on a single charge:

up to 191 km and battery discharge up to 0 percent,
up to 181 km if we give up to 5 percent,
to 143 km, when we will rotate in the range of 5-80 percent.

So, if we were to travel around Poland, comfortably, with one stop, we would travel around 320 km (2+3). If we decide to drive slower, we will travel 480 km.

Urban area = WLTP and profit

If we are interested DS 3 Crossback E-Tense range in the city, it is worth checking the measured value using the WLTP procedure. Here it is up to 320 km, so with good weather and normal driving, we can expect the same performance: up to 300-320 km. In winter, at low temperatures, you should consider values of 2/3-3/4 of this number, ie about 210-240 km.

What are the advantages of the electric DS 3? According to Nyland, the car provides high driving comfort, has a more spacious cabin than the Peugeot e-208 (understandable – it’s higher) and better soundproofing.

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