Citroen Xsara 2000 test drive - 2004 hatchback

Do you like to ride?

Citroen Xara made his debut in 1997. By 2001, the model year was modernized: new headlights, changed body parts, reinforced body power elements, an updated interior. It is offered as a three -door compartment, a five -door hatchback and a station wagon. It is equipped with gasoline engines 1.6 liters - 110 liters. With. and 2.0 l - 137 l. With. or diesel with direct injection (2.0 liters, 90 l.).

The reason for a close acquaintance with Citroen was a significant event - the official dealer of the company reappeared in Moscow. Now the only St. Petersburg seller of these French cars has a partner. You look, it will go further ...
Acquaintance with the machine, as a rule, begins from afar - with the study of the pedigree, technical characteristics, setting options, prices. What were we preparing to see when going on a date with Xara? Of course, special French features in the form - without sharp faces, sharp corners, sports ambitions; Small deviations from typical European manners inside are not too dense seats, a compact pedal node, a sound signal, carried out on the left steering wheel switch, and a mandatory combination of functionality with elegance in everything. And now the car is in front of us.
Under the hood - a 1.6 -liter engine of a new generation (Euro III, 110 hp). The gearbox is mechanical - the machine did not interest us. Fifteen -inch wheels in standard configuration, disc brakes in front and rear. Yes, by the way, the rear suspension is with the effect of steering. In general, the car is not as simple as it might seem from the side. And the seller does not stop: ... air conditioning, two airbags, ABS, electric drives of glasses and external mirrors, heating mirrors, a radio with six speakers, an side comprehensive comprehensive comprehensive comprehensive compartment, reporting the next service core, multiplex tire instead of the usual electrical wiring, a steering wheel with two adjustments and the ability to control the radio, without tearing off the hands from the steering wheel ...
- And how much does it cost?
- less than $ 16,000.
- We take it ... So far for the test.
PLAY WITH ME
Leaving the car dealership, Xara and I went to the Moscow Ring Road. We begin to adapt to each other. In a slowly crawling stream, a small failure between the first and second gears attracts attention. When the road became freer, we accelerate. The faster, the more you like the engine. A pleasant impression (especially on passengers) is overtaking on the IV program. At a speed of 90-100 km/h, the car shoots up to 130-140 in a matter of seconds, instilling envy in the hearts of the owners of the ninety-ninth-they also want it! We offer the car another test. Slowly (40 km/h) overcoming a small rise, go to the V transmission, give gas and wait for the reaction. Xara strains, but pulls. To the line of 80-90 km/h, the car (continuing acceleration on the fifth) is aligned in accelerated dynamics with the main stream of cars. After a hundred finally wakes up and asks to give more. At 130-140, it shows that the process is in full swing and releasing the gas pedal is illogical now. And by about 160, the car makes it clear that the reserve is enough for another 10-20 km/h, but it is not good to hooligate!
We slow down and try to steer vigorously. To begin with, we sharply shake the steering wheel (there are no cars nearby). Xara with minimal delay performs what they want from her. As promised by advertising avenues, the steering wheel at high speed is a little dumped. This is the work of a smart amplifier. At low speed, it helps to steer, on medium (approximately 50-80 km/h) - does not interfere (it is easy to twist the steering wheel now and without it), on a large one - slightly increases the force on the steering wheel, warning the driver from sudden movements. At first it is unusual, but soon begins to like it - there is no need to cling to the steering wheel with a dead grip and concentrate on the slightest movements.
Now - the entrance to a steep turn on the asphalt. Speed \u200b\u200b80 ... normal, 100 - good. Add more? Perhaps. Yeah, that’s the steering rear suspension showed itself: the car is trying to trust. It does it a little harsh, but in general not bad. Inhibition during the maneuver (the machine is equipped with ABS) further enhances screwing into the turn. By the way, we almost forgot about large disc brakes with electronic distribution of the force between the wheels (depending on the loading of the machine and the rolls). Now, how much is there on the speedometer? Wow! ABS on dry asphalt did not have time to grunt - Xara already froze. However, with such brakes and on such rollers you do not count on less.
Strokes to the portrait
What a sin to hide, evaluate the dynamics and handling of a new car is pleasant. But there are other important things. For example, governing bodies and ergonomics of the driver's seat. We liked the work with a lever of the gearbox: the inclusions are soft and clear, medium moves. The lever itself is a little longer than we are used to seeing in classmates. The steering wheel of a small diameter is more suitable for driving for pleasure than for moving from point A to point B. The car boasts a good range of steering wheel adjustments (in height and length of the column) and driver's seat (longitudinal position of the chair, the angle of inclination of the back, the height of the pillow pillow ). Some complaints caused a small failure between the first and second gears (partly it is compensated by the traction engine), a liquid driver's seat for large people and a too tightly composed pedal node.
Separately about tires. Low-profile Michelen-Primasi excellently hold Xara on the road, but they are well transferred to the steering wheel of vibration, and when driving along asphalt concrete, they carefully buzz. The energy intensity of the suspension does not cause an alarm. For 300 km passed, it never worked on a breakdown, although there were light provocations from the driver (the test all the same).
And - a little about what traditionally fits into the canons of this class. The space for the rear passengers: three are cramped (the heads of the extreme relate to the roof), two is normal if there are no basketball players in the car. The information content of governing bodies, visibility and a sense of size are good. There are locks of electric windows, the right airbag (if there is a children's chair here), children's blocking of the rear doors, armrests, niches for small things, large pockets in the doors, even the second nest for automobile electric appliances and a second ceiling for rear passengers.
FOR DESSERT
We decided to talk about the adaptability of Xara for Russian conditions separately, it deserves it. To our surprise, the car successfully combines good driving qualities with functionality. The trunk (by the standards of this class) is large at Citroen. The compact rear suspension (independent) with horizontal torsiones helped this, one for each wheel, and highly tilted shock absorbers, and carried out under the bottom of the reserve (by the way, typically in sytrene). For attaching small cargo in the trunk, there are straps on the sides, for large - there are loops on the floor. Now let us recall that we have a hatchback. The rear seats, folding in a ratio of 1: 2, can increase the trunk to an unusually large size.
It remains to look under the car. The closest to the road is a powerful subframe (it is reinforced compared to the previous xara). Here in the center to the ground - 175 mm (!), Closer to the wheels - 165 mm. Here you have a purebred Frenchman. The silencer and the resonator are at an altitude of 180 mm (at the unloaded machine), and after all, in many foreign cars they find themselves the lower point. True, a rather low (240 mm) pump is placed. It is difficult to damage it, but to atone in a puddle is easily. I would like to have a protection of a motor compartment, at least plastic - from dirt. Otherwise, the car is ready to leave the asphalt and you can recommend it for outdoor activities.
A little about warranty and service conditions. There are official service stations in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Warranty for the car - 3 years or 100,000 km of run. The cost of a norm -hour in St. Petersburg (the service has been working here a long time ago) - about $ 20, in Moscow - about $ 40. Perhaps, as the Sitroen Park grows in the capital, their service will be somewhat cheaper.

Citroen Xsara
COMMON DATA
The number of places is 5; Equipped mass - 1140 kg; full weight - 1660 kg; maximum speed - 195 km/h; acceleration time from a place to 100 km/h - 9.7 s; fuel consumption in conditional suburban and city cycles - 5.5; 9.3 l/100 km; fuel supply - 55 liters; Fuel - AI -95 gasoline, unhealthy. Dimensions, mm: length - 4188; width - 1705; height - 1405; Road clearance - 165; The volume of the trunk is 408/1190 l. Engine: in order, four -cylinder, located in front transversely; working volume - 1587 cm; cylinder diameter and piston stroke - 78.5x82 mm; Power - 80 kW/ 110 liters. With. at 5750 rpm; The maximum torque is 147 N.M at 4000 rpm. Transmission: front wheel drive; The gearbox is a mechanical five -speed. Suspension: in front - an independent type of mcesson with gelicoid springs and a reptile stability stabilizer, the rear is an independent torsionic with a pine stability stabilizer. Brakes: disk front and behind, in front - ventilated, with electronic distribution of brake force.
Steering: rheck with a hydraulic wrap. Tire size: 195/55R15.

+Good dynamic qualities, large road clearance, rich equipment, effective brakes, honed controllability.

-The sorcerers of ergonomics, the failure between I and II programs, there is no protection of the motor compartment, small irregularities are noticeable on the steering wheel.
Text / Alexander Budkin, Sergey Voskresensky
Photo / Igor Solidov, Vladimir Trusov, Alexander Budkin

Source: The magazine "Driving"