Citroen Xantia
The Citroen Xantia is a large family car that’s typical of ‘old style’ models from the French automaker. Comfortable and composed with quirky styling and a refined nature, it’s great value for money and a solid option for those people on a budget.
Introduced at first in 1993, the Xantia was in production until 2001, and enjoyed a face lift in 1998. Although it was replaced by the award winning C5, the Xantia was a hugely popular car in its own right, as over 1.2 million units were produced during its 8 year life. Available in both estate and hatchback formats, there’s a lot to like about it. A particularly interesting feature is the computer controlled ‘Hydractive’ self levelling suspension that made for a comfortable ride and enjoyable driving experience as it knew how to behave during cornering, acceleration and so on.
Compared to the most modern cars, this Citroen is comparatively sedate in terms of design, but make no mistake that it was cutting edge back in the day. Quite angular in shape, some weird shapes can be found all over the body, and the rear spoiler on the hatchback is particularly funny. The interior is certainly ‘90s’ and there’s quite a lot crammed into the rather small centre console. Some interesting designs, particular on seat fabrics, adds a touch of liveliness too. Spacious on the whole, the boot is a good size on the estate and quite surprising on the hatchback too.
Due to the clever suspension, the Xantia holds the road well and is leisurely to drive. Some good engines, including turbo charged 2.0 and 3.0 litre V6 petrols, mean it gets up to speed well and can pack quite a punch. Not overly exciting to drive overall, it does exactly what you’d want nonetheless, and that’s keep going in a composed manner.
These days you can find some great deals on second hand Citroen Xantia cars, not least because the model has been around for years, but also because there are quite a lot of quality ones still around. Motors.co.uk is among the premier places to shop for used cars for sale, and if there’s a bargain to be had you’ll be able to sniff it out with ease here. Discounted prices make everything more appealing, but be sure to book a test drive to ensure a car is right for you.
Plainly then, the Citroen Xantia is a good all round family car that gets on with its job in a hardworking and honest way. There’s still life in the old dog yet, and it’s great for people who need something solid for very little money. Overall you get quite a lot of bang for your buck, especially with the V6 engine. If budget friendly motoring is what you’re after, take it at face value and enjoy the ride.