Being the less glamorous sibling can be no fun at all, ask Chris Jagger. But that is exactly what the Citroen Xsara has had to live with for most of its life. Because whilst big brother the Xsara ‘Picasso’ has for many years been the UK’s best selling MPV, the same cannot be said for the Xsara. Far from being a bad car, in many respects it’s very good. And this anonymity amongst used car buyers has led to a rather attractive situation. Today the Xsara is relatively undervalued or as we used to say ‘a bit of a bargain’.

Introduced to the UK in October 1997 as a replacement to the popular ZX model the Citroen Xsara is perhaps the least controversial car that Citroen ever made, with none of the gimmicky garlicky elements characteristics of many other Citroen models. From the outside the car has a clean, simple shape. In three door guise Citroen rather optimistically call it a coupe, even in a lary colour, sitting on some fat alloys it looks little more self conscious than sporty. Get inside and there’s little to set the pulse racing either. The Xsara’s dashboard is simply, black and altogether a little dull. On base models the equipment list is sparse with central locking, driver’s airbag and tinted glass the only items of note. Shell out about £300 more for a used LX and you get an electric sunroof, electric front windows and a remote control for the central locking; money well spent. Take the car for a drive and you’ll find it performs better than the looks may suggest. The steering is nicely weighted, the brakes are strong and the suspension (despite the absence of any fancy Citroen systems) is delightfully smooth. Soft and compliant on poor surfaces it still feels sharp and secure through the bends. Under the bonnet you’ll have a fair choice of engines, if you like petrol power then the 1.8 litre fitted to cars from 1997 to 2000 is the best, reasonably economical and vice free it also delivers reasonable performance. If you fancy a diesel engine then you’ll have to shop more carefully

The early 1.9litre non turbo units are sluggish and noisy, paying another £200 gets you into the much better turbo charged 90bhp version. Quicker, smoother power and just as economical sounds the obvious choice but you need to check for smoky turbo’s under acceleration, the cost of replacement could be half the value of the car. Without doubt the finest engine is the two litre HDi; introduced in October 2000 it provides a choice of 90bhp or 110bhp. Noticeably more refined than the previous engines it’s also the most economical engine in the range with over 50mpg achievable.

On the 110bhp models Citroen are almost unique in also offering the option of automatic transmission, which works well with the engines high torque output. Voted tow car of the year by the Caravan Club in 2001cars with tow bars, or signs that one has been removed need to be inspected closely for signs of wear particularly rear suspension, clutch and brakes. Test the brakes by pulling the car up from 50mph to standstill, listening for any noise or feeling if the car pulls to one side. It’s worth keeping the stereo and fan turned off when you do this or you’ll miss any untoward noises. To test the clutch pull away in fourth – if the clutch is good the car should stall, the seller won’t like it but explain what you are doing and they won’t be offended. Whether you fancy a hatch, coupe or estate used Xsara’s are relatively plentiful, with many non franchised dealers happy to stock them because they look such great value.

Post 2000 cars tend to be the most sought after thanks to introduction of the HDi engines and the facelift that saw the inclusion of larger headlamps and revised bumpers. With the replacement for the Xsara, the funky looking C4 due out later this year, the passing of the Xsara could signal the end of the ‘conservative’ years for Citroen. But rather like school dinners, with their absence they will inevitably be remembered with some fondness.

• Engine – Avoid 1.9 non turbo diesel cars, slow and noisy with no better economy than the turbo charged versions or the later 2.0HDi
• Tow bar – Voted Tow Car of the Year in 2001 its popular with caravaner’s try to find out the size and weight of what has been towed as this puts a strain on engines, gearboxes, clutches and brakes
• Safety – Lateral airbags standard on post October 1998 cars
• Estate – Xsara estate introduced in April 1998, handles as well as the hatchback
• Remote central locking – check system works on all doors and tailgate
• Boot space – Surprisingly large, even on coupe model
• Electric headlamp height adjustment – check system works
• Colours – Gold and some bright blues not so desirable
• CD player – mounted in the boot it does intrude on luggage area
• Steering wheel – adjustable for reach and height
• Spare Wheel – stored in cradle under the boot floor it can be a target for theft, check its still there
• Exhaust – Smoky exhaust usually a sign of failing turbo
• Coupe – 167bhp model in Coupe gives decent performance
• Corrosion warranty - 12-year body warranty from September 1999
• Clutch - Release bearings on HDi’s can fail on cars around 30,000 miles
• Timing belt pulley - needs replacing at same time as timing belt around 60,000 miles
• Fuel gauges – some owners report incorrect reading
• Service history – Essential as clocked cars disguise high mileages easily
  
  

• Citroen Xsara 2.0HDi 110 LX 5 door
  5 speed manual
  2001 ‘Y’ with 30,000 miles
  Pay £5,875 at a dealer with 12 months warranty £5,000 privately
  

 © Jason Dawe Productions Limited August 2004