That said, some things have had to change. As the E-Tense weighs 300kg more than a normal DS 3 (would have weighed even more, had DS not trimmed 50kg from various other areas), and because of the way the e-motor and batteries are packaged, the suspension has undergone some necessary modifications. The rear suspension, for example, is totally different.

Which is why the DS 3 doesn’t ride particularly well. It’s too hard (whereas the normal Crossback is a big softy, for better and worse) - thumping through potholes, over manhole covers and speedbumps, and getting all out of sorts over more progressive dips and crests in the road surface. Funny, what an extra third of a tonne does to a car’s dynamics. Admittedly the normal DS 3 isn’t the best-riding car out there.

With the equivalent of 134bhp and 192lb ft, the E-Tense can accelerate from 0-30mph in 3.3 seconds. Only the most powerful internal-combustion engine, the 155hp turbocharged three-cylinder petrol, is quicker from 0-62mph - taking 8.2 seconds to the E-Tense’s 8.7 seconds. Its top speed is 94mph, which is enough.

There are three drive modes - Eco, Normal and Sport. Eco offers up just 81bhp and is therefore best avoided, unless you’re 20 miles shy of your destination and only have five left in the tank. Normal is fine. It’s gives 107bhp so has a bit more zip about it. Enough to keep you out of trouble.

Sport is where it’s at, though, as it’s the only mode that gives you full power all the time and thus that satisfying, immediate slog of acceleration characteristic of electric cars. That said, at higher speeds the extra weight of the EV somewhat blunts performance - so overtakes can require forward planning.

Said modes also change the weighting of the steering, which is pretty quick but lacking in feel and too keen to self-centre. Feels a bit springy.

The brakes aren’t great. They stop the car alright, but pedal feel is inconsistent (feels especially weak when the battery is fully charged and there’s no regen), which robs confidence. There is a B mode that amps up the regen, but it’s not enough for you to treat the DS 3 as a one-pedal car in the way you would a Nissan Leaf.

Speaking of the Nissan Leaf - on a mixed test route we saw 3.5 miles/kWh from the DS 3. That’s similar to what we’ve got from Leafs in the past, but shy of what we’ve seen from the Kia e-Niro, Hyundai Kona Electric and outgoing VW e-Golf.

DS claims the Crossback is practically silent inside. This is untrue - it is very quiet, but there’s still a bit of whine from the motor and noticeable tyre/wind-roar. Not bad though, given there’s no engine noise to mask it.