Car Test
|
R0254 | |
|
July 2002 |
||
| Citroen Xsara Estate | ||
| Printer Friendly Page | Featured model: 2.0HDi LX (110bhp) | |
|
Cars are a bit like actors: some shoot to stardom and keep on winning Oscars, as well as commanding fancy fees, despite their temperamental ways. Others do bit parts, making a steady living, but never make the big-time, despite their abilities- probably because they lack glamour.
This second description fits the Xsara perfectly. We (personally) didn’t like the colour of the test car and, on first approach found the fascia drab and the driving seat soggy and unsupportive. Yet when we had spent longer getting to know this estate version’s road manners and accommodating ways, we concluded that one would be hard pressed to surpass this keenly priced proposition. This is a critical factor, because for the last year or so, Citroen’s succession of promotions means you can buy at your local dealer, at prices that rivals can only match on-line or at super-centres. Buying from a Citroen outlet confers a three-year warranty (something we wouldn’t be without) and, with the latest HDi diesels, you have the prospect of low fuel costs, as well. However, the real surprise is how well this estate car drives. Once the engine gets to 1500rpm (about 30mph in fourth, 40 in top), it’s a smooth, relaxed performer with lots of torque that enables you to overtake or climb gradients with little recourse to the (pleasant enough) gearshift and slightly weighty clutch. Its ride is distinctly superior to most and, apart from a rather weighty feel at the helm, it corners with alacrity and little roll. The estate car comes with a back seat (velour trimmed, with neat carpet everywhere in the load area), that’s the equal in comfort and space to the hatchback’s and folds deftly to produce a flat L-shaped load platform for three occupants. There’s no load sill to speak of, useful illumination and tie-down facilities are provided, and its luggage volume is better than most because of generous load height, even below the window line. In general, it’s better as a four seater than Golf or Astra and only the Focus accommodates more - by the odd two or three centimeters. The one deficient dimension is load length through to the front seatback. Rear kneeroom is enhanced by the deeply scooped-out-front seatbacks - but a prominent lower padded roll does no favours to leg-stretching space. |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
=option