Within the PSA Group, there's the sub-label DS. It's positioned slightly above all of the other brands. However, just like with every other car,
a luxurious brand also has a entry level car. That's why we're driving the DS 3 Crossback with a 100 horsepower 3-cylinder.
To get an idea if that extra money only gives you a different look, we also have a car of a more mainstream brand with us today.
This is the Kia Stonic. Just like the DS, it's a tad higher up and powered by a 100 horsepower 3-cylinder engine.
The pinnacle of DS is the design. Of course, it's a matter of taste, but they've certainly put a lot of work into it. Maybe too much even,
because if we look at the very well made interior, the shapes seem to have been more important than functionality.
That's too bad, because the buttons look very nice and fancy. It's a tad unclear and unlogical. There's a whole horde of buttons on the dash...
which require some looking for. There are also some buttons on the middle console which you wouldn't expect there either. I mean,
I like to control the windows with a button in the door, not on the middle console. Not very handy.
The multimedia system in this car looks good, but it's not very quick and the menu structure is a little vague sometimes.
Other cars have done this better. I'm almost two metres tall myself and the seating in the front is very good. The seats are soft and very comfortable,
but the seat could be longer if you ask me. Anyway, there always has to be something to complain about right?
So let me complain about the seating in the back. My head is completely pressed against the roof and there's no legroom either. I have to put mine...
around the seat in front of me. I can hold out for a bit, but not for too long. The luggage space is decent with 350 litres,
the only downside to it is that you're barely able to access the boot. It doesn't have a handle or a clear button. Instead, you have to find...
the rubber button amongst all the dirt just above the number plate. If you press that, the boot opens slightly, and you have to find a way...
to grab the bootlid and push it up. Again, we've seen better solutions.
As I already mentioned, we're driving the base engine which is a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder, and it's a pretty pleasant engine to use.
It doesn't make a lot of noise because the noise isolation is very good. You don't even have to change a lot of gear to be able to go with...
the traffic flow, which is a bit of comfort. On the other hand, changing gear could be a little tighter. Sometimes it feels like you're sturring rubber.
It does suit the chassis, which is soft and rubbery as well. You could call it comfortable, but you certainly can't call it dynamic.
If you're driving a premium car, you're allowed to expect thriving technology. However, if we look at the electronics, it's kind of disappointing.
The systems that are aboard this DS aren't systems PSA is known for or anything. It has road sign-recognition, driving lane assist...
and cruise control, but that's it. Heated seats or a heated steering wheel aren't available in this car, and that's a bad thing,
because those are the basic things you should expect from a car which is being presented as a premium product.
The Kia has more of a tighter and less outspoken design. It certainly doesn't mess with functionality.
If we look at the interior, the used materials might a tad hard, but the design looks good and very clear.
You can use the buttons very intuitively and it has physical buttons for the fans and airconditioning. You don't need to look through menu's.
The used materials again are a tad hard, but the finishing is very good. It has very small gaps. Also, what helps with the clarity in the interior,
is the instrument cluster which only has two dials. Two big ones with a red needle.
The multimedia system Kia uses is one of the better ones available. That goes for the speed and the menu structure. Other brands could learn from this.
When it comes to market position, Kia might be a tad more middle-of-the-road than the upmarket DS. However, when we look at the trim,
this car isn't blown away or anything by the DS. This also has cruise control, lane keeping assist, rear view camera, and even heated seats...
and steering wheel. The seating position in the Stonic is a tad lower than in the DS, which actually results in an easier entry.
You'd expect a higher entry to be easier, but because the sill on the DS is pretty high, you're bound to get your trousers dirty.
If you really want a higher seating position, you should go for the DS. This is only slightly higher than the Rio.
For getting in, the Kia is the better car.
The seats in the front are slightly shorter than in the DS, and if you go for longer distances a longer seat would be nice.
On the other hand, my legs might be a little too long for this car. Other than that, there's enough room around in the front.
Headroom enough, legroom enough, I can wave my arms around, lovely. The same goes for the back. There's enough headroom,
I can fit my knees behind the seat in front of me without folding myself up. The Kia is just a lot more spacious. If we move to the boot,
the cars are pretty balanced. The Kia only has two litres more in the boot, which is a marginal difference. A nice detail in the Kia is the floor,
which is adjustable in height. Also, the bootlid opens very easily. Another similarity between these two cars is the power source.
Both have 100 horsepower 3-cylinders, but the Kia has a smaller sized engine. It's a 1.0-litre, so it has to work a tad harder to perform.
Sometimes it feels like you're pushing it too hard. You have to change gear a lot and you need to rev more, something you'll hear on the inside.
There's a tad more raw engine noise. The car makes itself present. Having said that, the gearbox does its job without any troubles.
The gear changes are tight and they don't take very long.
The chassis is able to process the produced power very well. The car feels tight and stable on the road and it feels very determined.
The setting of springs, dampers and rubbers is a tad sturdier than in the DS, but I wouldn't call it uncomfortable or anything.
The steering is a tad heavier, or rather a tad less powered than in the DS. That means this car is more communicative, and I like that.
Everything put together, the cars are very balanced. Especially in the same trim level. However, when we look at the prices, the differences are huge.
The Stonic starts at €22.000, whilst the DS starts from €30.500. That's a huge gap, and a title decider if you ask me.
Congratulations, Kia.