22:15 27-12-2025

DS confirms DS 3 successor with new design, EV and hybrid

DS has put a stop to rumors that its most compact model would disappear without a replacement. Brand chief Xavier Peugeot confirmed that a successor to the DS 3 is coming, and the next generation will be extensively reworked. The big question is its shape. After the shift from hatchback to crossover, the model didn’t turn into a bestseller, and DS now says it is openly exploring new styling directions that don’t slot neatly into familiar classes.

The brand’s message is telling: it aims to break out of traditional categories, saying the market is saturated with look‑alike B‑segment SUVs and small cars. That course has backing inside the company. Reading between the lines, the next DS 3 could end up somewhere in between—borrowing some crossover cues seen on premium compacts, yet without simply repeating the current recipe. It’s a sensible way to sharpen the car’s identity in a sea of sameness.

There’s also a pragmatic reason not to abandon the “junior” model: with DS sales modest, focusing only on pricier projects would be a risky play. One important technical detail is already on the table: the future DS 3 is planned in electric and hybrid versions. The timeline is less clear. The current model is long in the tooth, but its life cycle may be stretched roughly to 2028, with the successor expected before 2030. If DS uses that runway to refine the concept, the result could be a small car that finally stands apart in a crowded field.