Test Drive Citroen XSARA 2000 - 2004 Hatchback

Mind and feelings

This car radiates friendliness! It is so pulling to come closer, touch, look inside. And the warm rays of the April Sun, playing on the cherry-metal sides of Xara, and bluntly spare in huge block headlamps, bunnies running along the chrome of the radiator lattice, willingly deal with the positive energy that comes from the car.

 

Now, it will not call her with a tackling, causing confidence in one of its naivety: in the appearance of the car, the original French refinement and charm are definitely present. And not a drop of aggression. Sleepiness with sportiness notes - yes, but no desire to prove your superiority. All Citroen proportions have been preserved, although such a characteristic element, as the closed arches of the rear wheels, disappeared irretrievably. And the stylistic wholeness of Ksara is emphasized also painted in the color of the body with moldings and lining on the bumpers. True, it is the prerogative of the SX version for the Russian market and even more expensive EXCLUSIVE. Yes, and wheels of wheels on all Russian beliefs of Ksara cast, and not ordinary, steel. Specified fairly for five-door modifications, three-door has its own hierarchy - VTR and VTS.

 

The XSARA model to the light appeared in the summer of 1997, replacing outdated ZX. For the development and preparations for the production of the car, the French spent without a small four years and a round sum of billion dollars - despite this, the Platform of the same ZX was based on the basis of Ksara. And the mysterious, sounding like an ancient spell the name of the French borrowed from one of the Greek wines. For three years, the family has rummaged, and now in addition to hatchbacks, the Break wagon and compacttva Picasso are included in it. Last fall, the car suffered a serious modernization, which was not only said and not so much on appearance, but at the filling of the car. Strengthened body, new gasoline motors volumes of 1.6 l (110 liters s.) And 2.0 l (137 hp) and a two-liter 90-strong diesel changed the previous engines. The car received the most progressive multiplex architecture of electrical equipment - all electronic blocks are connected by information tires into a single network. Improved means of passive and active safety - so, ABS, brake force distribution system and four airbags are included in the list of standard equipment. Our Citroen is also equipped with climate control, electric car, heated mirrors and front seats, as well as CD player.

 

The interior of the car is not so comfortable or comfortable - he is psychologically comfortable. It does not strain anything in it, but it is not possible to strain enough of the cheapness of finishes, but also a luxury of dubious taste, not only the limited functions, but also an oversupply of the buttons. The salon of noble gray tones is neutral, but it is precisely this neutrality and allows you to feel liberated. The interior design is restrained and elegant, but the main thing is completely deprived of the personality, which was characteristic of many French cars (especially Citroen) for the previous years. Ready, often adjacent to the negligence of the assembly. Some relic solutions still remained - for example, located in the end of the left steering wheel switch, the beep button.

 

I think I will not exaggerate if I say that the Salon Ksara would lose a decent part of his attractiveness, listened to his one-sole detail. It is this detail that brings the shade of nobility and even wealth. We are talking about a steering wheel with its brilliant Citroen Chevron and music control buttons. The steering wheel is successful and from the point of view of ergonomics, in addition, it is adjustable in two planes. In general, there were no special comments to the authorities. Reasonably mild driver's seat with good lateral support is adjustable in height, but it is originally placed highly, which gives landing a minivan character. Maybe this improves visibility, but in turns the vestibular apparatus sometimes becomes unable. Especially annoying that Xsara turns loves and can pass them. And the visibility back is still far from the ideal. A pleasant impression left almost German thoughtfulness of the smallest things. For example, the glove box is spacious and is located in such a way that it does not interfere with the knees of the front passenger. The design of all door handles and handrails is as well as successful. It is possible to find fault, perhaps that the power window buttons, which, by unknown reasons, were on the central console.

 

Yes, Ksara I like more and more. Take a look at the rear doors - they are closed by a whole sector of the wheeled arches, so you can not drink clothes when boarding the back seat is impossible. On the back of the doors there are indicators informing that the children's lock lock is included. And the places behind is enough - both for the heads, and for the legs. Not to say that a lot, but enough.

 

The trunk of the machine can be opened by pressing the button on the key from the ignition lock. This key deserves a separate mention. It is made like a knife-funk: its steel part is folded so as not to tear pockets, and then by pressing the button is thrown out. Ksara's trunk is excellent - big, with a wide opening. If necessary, the rear sofa can be folded in a 1: 2 ratio or completely, increasing the volume of the cargo compartment to 1.2 cubic meter. I really liked a large handle on the back side of the fifth door, intended for closing the trunk, - I did not meet this even on SUVs. The behavior of Ksara on the road was revealed for me. No, of course, I had more than once and not two to hear stories about the movements of cars with a hydropneumatic suspension, but I treated them with some skeptical: Car owners, like fishermen, prone to free interpretation of facts. On the other hand, Ksara is not a hydropneumatic, but an ordinary suspension; Although the rear is torsion, fully independent, with elastokinematic connections. So. Pits car does not notice. Generally ignores - both small, and large, and chips, and joints. There is even a feeling of unreality - it seems that the wheels are not at all, and the car goes above the ground on the magnetic cushion.

 

With increasing speed, riding turns into a shaving flight, and the XSARA road holds canceled. Okay, I think. The smoothness of the Mercedesian stroke, it means that the handling will say, specific. And then I have a light shock. In the corners, the car behaves just great! An excellent returning effort on the steering wheel (his little bit is not enough only at large steering corners), rapid reactions, small rolls. The rotation of the car is almost neutral, and at each next turn Citroen is overtaken obedient and willingly. The elastokinematic suspension allows you to control the machine with one gas: the Xara reaction to the steering action is directly related to the position of the accelerator pedal.
 

Gas reset - and the car is sharply screwed into turn, perhaps overly sharply; Adding gas - the trajectory straightens. And this is not the theory, it is really possible to feel on high-speed germinals. After half an hour, the ride you start to desire one thing: so that the whole road turns into a series of clinging turns, where you and Xara, spread together, will not know yourself equal. The perfection of the Ksara design is proved by the victories of the front-wheel drive car over all-wheel drive cars of the WRC category on the asphalt stages of the World Rally World Cup. Then Philip Bugalski and his XSARA Kit Car brought another rustle among much more powerful competitors. However, it should be noted that such cars are extremely sensitive to the selection of tires - only those recommended by the manufacturer should be installed. Independence can worsening the behavior of the car.

 

The automatic transmission with an adaptive algorithm of work is offered only for KSAR with a new 1.6-liter TU5JP4 engine. And it is clear why. This motor is trapped and at the same time economical is an excellent companion for the machine. In calm switching modes, it takes place smoothly, the machine reacts to the addition of gas almost without lag. If you ride faster, paying an accelerator pedal to the floor, the box is very quickly reconfigured, transferring the moment of switching to the high revolution zone. But the delay becomes already noticeable. By pressing the button, you can translate the machine to the Sport mode (there is a second track - Winter Winter), and then the switching occurs near the red tachometer zone - about 6000 rpm. The acceleration intensity increases slightly, lags are re-reduced, but the box begins to work with tangible jerks. With all this, the promotion of the excitement motor does not add: overclocking remains smooth in the entire range of revolutions, without pickups, is a typical picture for a torque engine. I can not complain on the brakes: they are not sharp, but differ in the informativeness of the drive.

 

I will say honestly: Citroen XSARA is one of those cars with which it is a pity. After all, today the intelligent machines with such extruded characteristics remained not so much. And those that remained, as a rule, the felt. An active driver seeking to enjoy communication with Xara to fully, you can only recommend to stop your choice on the version with a mechanical transmission. This does not mean that the machine is bad, no, it just limits the achievable level of mutual understanding with such a car.
 
   
 
 
 
 

 
 

A source: Magazine "Wheels" [№48 / 2001]