Citroen Xsara 1.6 HDi Review

The Xsara has had seven recalls to have defective parts replaced over the years, but before you panic, the car came 26th out of 100 in Warranty Direct’s survey of the most reliable cars of the past decade, putting it ahead of cars such as the Subaru Impreza, Skoda Octavia and Audi A4.

All the same, there are faults with the car. Poor electrics are a recurring theme, and although the problems may not be big, they can prove difficult to trace and rectify. Airbag warning lights and fuel gauges are prone to giving false readings, while warped brake discs – which will judder during a test drive – are another potential headache, as are electronic control units on petrol engines.

Automatic gearboxes can also give major and expensive problems. At least the Xsara features convention steel springs and shock absorbers, so there is no fragile hydropneumatic suspension to worry about.

The star of the Citroen Xsara range, offering more space than many of its rivals. Even with all the seats in use, there’s still room for four large suitcases and a golf bag in the back. The seats split and fold on all models, and once they’re down, the load area is flat and wide. Extra luggage can always go on the integral roof rails.

Up front in the cabin, attention to detail is not so impressive. Although all the controls are within easy reach, the design is plain and some of the plastics look cheap.

The economical diesel engines were the best in their day and are still impressive, especially the later 1.9 and 2.0 turbo units. Although the ride can be firm around town, it’s comfortable everywhere else. There’s more body roll than you might like, but the steering is sharp and the handling fine.

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