DS 3 Crossback E-Tense

The DS 3 Crossback E-Tense is a small premium electric crossover with a 50 kWh battery, 320 km WLTP range, and 100 kW DC fast charging. It starts at around €37,500 in France. Built on the CMP platform shared with the Peugeot e-2008, it’s front-wheel drive with a 100 kW (136 PS) motor.

What Is the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense?

DS Automobiles — the premium sub-brand Stellantis split from Citroën in 2015 — built the E-Tense as its first dedicated electric model. It sits in the B-SUV segment, competes with the Mini Countryman Electric and Peugeot e-2008, and targets buyers who want a genuinely upmarket interior in a compact package.

“Upmarket” here means stitched leather, a watch-inspired instrument cluster, and noise insulation you don’t usually find at this size. That’s the pitch. The EV mechanicals underneath it — motor, platform, battery — are shared with Peugeot and Opel stablemates, which is worth knowing before you compare sticker prices.

DS 3 Crossback E-Tense Range and Battery

Battery: 50 kWh gross / ~45 kWh usable Range: Up to 320 km (WLTP combined cycle) Real-world estimate: 250–270 km in mixed use

The 320 km WLTP figure is what DS quotes. In practice, highway speeds and cold temperatures pull that number down to the 250–270 km range — typical for a 45 kWh pack in this class. It’s enough for daily urban and suburban use with overnight charging. It’s not enough for frequent long-distance driving without planning stops.

Charging: AC, DC, and Time to 80%

AC onboard: 11 kW (three-phase) — full charge in approximately 5 hours DC peak: 100 kW DC 10–80%: approximately 30 minutes

One spec worth checking by model year: early 2020 production cars had a 7.4 kW AC onboard charger, not the 11 kW unit that came in from 2021 onward. If you’re buying used, confirm which version you’re looking at. The DC peak rate of 100 kW is consistent across both generations.

DS 3 Crossback E-Tense Price and Trim Levels

France (launch pricing): Bastille+ — from ~€37,500 Performance Line+ / Rivoli — from ~€43,000

UK (launch pricing): ~£35,000–£42,000 depending on trim

For buyers importing into Nigeria or other African markets: DS has no formal distribution network on the continent. A grey-market European import landed in Lagos would push well past ₦30 million depending on model year and condition. That ceiling limits the realistic buyer pool considerably.

Who Should Buy the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense?

This car suits one type of buyer fairly precisely: someone with home or workplace charging, a daily range need under 200 km, and a preference for interior quality over outright range or cargo space. It’s used in small numbers by executive shuttle operators in European cities, but its 320 km ceiling makes it better as a primary personal vehicle than a shared-use fleet car.

If you regularly drive long distances or rely on public fast charging, the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense will frustrate you. Its 100 kW DC rate is reasonable, but the 45 kWh pack fills quickly — meaning you stop more often on longer routes than you would in a car with a 60–75 kWh battery.

DS 3 Crossback E-Tense vs Peugeot e-2008: What You’re Paying Extra For

The closest comparison — in specs and price — is the Peugeot e-2008. Same CMP platform. Same 100 kW motor. Same 50 kWh battery. Same 320 km WLTP range. The DS typically costs €4,000–€6,000 more than a comparably specced e-2008.

That gap buys interior quality: better materials, more refined detailing, a quieter cabin. It does not buy more range, faster charging, or a meaningful performance advantage. Whether that premium makes sense depends entirely on how much time you spend sitting inside the car.

Other rivals to consider:

• Mini Countryman Electric — similar size, similar price, different brand character
• Volvo EX30 — more recent, longer range, faster charging at a competitive price point

Within the DS family, the E-Tense sits below the DS 4 E-Tense (C-segment fastback) and well below the DS 7 E-Tense, which uses plug-in hybrid drivetrains at a higher price tier.

DS 3 Crossback E-Tense Images

1 of 3

Full Electric Vehicle Specifications