The Citroën Xsara is a front-engine, front-wheel-drive small family car, or C-segment vehicle, produced from 1997 to 2006 in a single generation. The body style options include a five-door and three-door hatchback marketed as the 'Coupe', as well as a five-door estate sold as the 'Break'.
The Xsara used PSA powertrains to drive the front wheels, with standard MacPherson strut layout with an anti-roll bar at the front and PSA Peugeot-Citroën fully-independent trailing arm/torsion bar set up in the rear. Its unusual features include passive rear-wheel steering and inhouse shock absorbers.
This system would prove costly to maintain at high mileages, as the axle-mounting bushes and trailing arm bearings are prone to wear. Larger engines were canted as far back in the engine bay to shift weight towards the middle and improve the centre of gravity and handling.
Trim Levels
Basic equipment includes 3x3 point rear seatbelts, ABS, power steering, body-colored bumpers, cloth seat trim, driver's airbag, electric mirrors, folding rear seats, front electric windows, front fog lights, PAS, passenger's airbag, remote locking, service indicator, side airbags, and steering wheel rake adjustment.
- L trim level adds steel wheels and steering wheel reach adjustment.
- LX trim level adds air conditioning, audio remote, height-adjustable driver’s seat, Isofix child seat anchor points, and steel wheels.
- Desire trim level adds air conditioning, audio remote, height-adjustable driver’s seat, and Isofix child anchor points.
- Forte trim level adds audio remote, full-size spare wheel, height-adjustable driver’s seat, Isofix child seat anchor points, and steel wheels.
- SX trim level adds air conditioning, alarm, alloy wheels, CD multichanger, heated mirrors, height-adjustable driver's seat, lumbar support, rear electric windows, and steering wheel reach adjustment.
Xsara scored a three-star rating in front and side-impact, and two out of four stars for pedestrian safety on the Euro NCAP crash test, making it an unsafe vehicle both now and when it was released.
The facelift of 2000 brought stiffer suspension, improving the handling and safety, as well as an updated engine lineup. The front-end was updated, while the interior received a new steering wheel and some minor changes. The multiplex wiring used would prove too thin, resulting in many electrical malfunctions, including central locking and window of the driver's door. However, Citroën did not confirm this issue.
Years 2002 and 2003 brought more minor updates not worthy of being a proper facelift. Citroën replaced the hatchback sooner than the wagon version, succeeded by the C4 for the year 2005.
Powertrains
The engine options that were available in Australia featured petrol variants only, paired with either four-speed automatic transmission or five-speed manual gearbox.
- 1.6L inline-four petrol engine producing 66kW (89hp) and 136Nm of torque, paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission
- 1.8L inline-four petrol engine producing 66kW (89hp), paired a 5-speed manual gearbox
- 2.0L inline-four petrol engine producing 92kW (123hp), paired with either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 4-speed automatic transmission
- 1.6L 16 valve DOHC inline-four petrol engine producing 81kW (109hp), paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox
- 2.0L 16 valve DOHC inline-four petrol engine producing 101kW (135hp), paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox
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Author: Luka Kusic