Citroën Xantia - The Sensible Citroën (1996 1.9TD Break Estate Road Test)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2021
- Citroen’s hydropneumatic suspension creates an almost unrivalled wafty, relaxing driving experience. Only trouble is, the cars that use it - such as the CX, BX and XM - aren’t the most approachable or mainstream choices. The Xantia brought the hydro-Citroen experience to a car ordinary and sensible enough for normal people and Joe absolutely loves it!
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Thanks to Jack Grover for loan of his Xantia.
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I owned one for 7 years. Fantastic ride quality so good that you still feel fresh even after an 8 hours long distance drive. Each time my daughter sat in the back seat, she would fall asleep cos it was so comfy. Once, my rear tyre punctured while on the road and I didnt realise it until I arrived at my destination and someone pointed it out to me. Just went to a tyre shop, patched up the tyre and it could still be used. Any other tyre would have been a write off. Only problem was the rubber washers which was used for the suspension spheres didn't last long. Fluid leaked several times. Haven't been able to get into another car that comfortable since I sold the Xantia.
Great cars for the money!
Have owned one for about 3 years now, bought it with only 35000km, now has 89000km. Runs very well, and the ride still blows my mind. Never had a major issue beyond regular servicing.
Owned 2 Xantia Breaks, a 16V and a HDi, both some of the cheapest, fastest, roomiest and most comfortable cars I've had!
A superb 90s car! I’d even go as far as to say that the Xantia might even represent ‘peak’ car, before they got all silly with drive by wire everything and intrusive driver aids. Handsome, comfortable, frugal in HDi form, and with decent build quality - I very nearly bought one......(wish I had actually). It’s also the last Citroen to fully embrace the marque’s engineering heritage.
I found one in mint condition with 300k+ km on the clock about 8-10 months ago, I deeply regret not buying it, it even was a one owner car with all maintenance done himself with detailed descriptions, only reason I didn’t buy it was that I didn’t dare pulling the trigger on it in the life situation I was in
Thanks, a very complete explanation of the Xantia. Why does nobody else mention Elch Test when presenting the Xantia? Not only does the Xantia hold the record even today, yes 2021, the Xantia even has no ESP and still beats Porsches, Ferraris, Audi R8 etc, that shows how good Citroen's hydropneumatic is!
One note on the superb handling: That comfort and handling is no compromise, doesn't that go for all HP Citroens? I replaced my 605 with an XM and to my surprise I must say between these company sisters the XM is the way sportier car. While the XM is super comfy, the steering is very sharp and pointy. And maybe the biggest thing is that the brakes are on the hydraulic system and therefore don't use a break server. Once I got used to the pedal being heavy with little movement, I suddenly struggle to drive everything else. I have never in my life driven a car that has brakes that are so accurate, pointy and easy to dose. Even in my case it's a big XM, you can really race it round bends, everything is so spot on, she feels like a much smaller car, but even in this "race mode" she never loses the comfy ride. She feels like floating but everything that happens on the wheels is super accurate.
The Xantia suspension should be the benchmark for every car in 2022...instead we get beam axles and coil springs
I am still daily driving a 1994 Xantia 1.9 TD, this engine suits the car so well, with a few tweaks to the fuel pump it can still easily keep up with modern cars and the ride is amazing! I work in the motor trade and have driven pretty much everything out there... nothing feels like a hydropneumatic Citroen and I think the xantia is one of the most under-rated cars ever made.
Keep old cars going folks.
Just picked up my Xantia from the shop yesterday. Regular maintenance plus timing belt / water pump (age, not km). Has 56000km now and drives very well. Slight oil loss from valve covering. Apart from that - luxury comfort for little money.
Moved to the Isle of Man, bumpy roads, twisty, took my Jag XJR, great ride way to big, cant use all that power, crap fuel consumption, Impretzas just want to race you. Alright borrowed a mates Suberoo, good ride with low C of G, small enough too many racers. OK what do the taxi drivers use?...Xantia.....always wanted to try Hyda pnuematic suspension, £600 lighter I get my 1.9TD saloon. Incredible machine and the shock was just how incredible it was on bumpy fast corners.....perfect IOM car.
I had a 1995 Xantia and it was a love hate relationship. Mine was on one of the early 16 valve 1.8l petrol models and though quick and smooth the engine burnt oil. Also the timing chain went 20,000 miles ahead of its scheduled replacement, the clutch cable snapped and the rear supension spheres misbehaved. The version to own was the 1.9TDI which I would have bought but it was not available with ABS at the time. It was the best model choice for the car at the time. That said, my car took me and family to and from France in very great comfort. At times I did really love the car but just not often enough!
In 2013 we took our 1997 Series I Xantia 1.9 turbo diesel 5 speed manual, far outback in South Australia. Thru the Flinders Ranges, past flocks of emus, roos, wedgetail eagles. Up the Oodanadatta Track, past Lake Eyre full of water. The only 2 wheel drive we saw on The Track. Fabulous comfort, space, great dust sealing and air-conditioning.
Continued to Coober Pedy and down to Kangaroo Island then back up the Murray River Valley.
Touring at 120-130 kph tar and dirt.
Average 5.4 to 5.8 litre per 100 km.
There is no better sedan for such a 5,000 KMs trip.
As much as I have on about BL now. When I was a child we had Citroen's. A BX and a Xantia. Ultimately I have better memories of the BX but that Xantia, god was it comfortable!
You don't say. We often like to think of the drop in ride comfort from the GSA onwards. But from what you say the Xantia was a worthy heir.
I used to run my 1.9 TD's on 50% veggie oil. One funny comment when I took it for an MOT...the garage owner said it smells like a chippy ;-)
Fantastic video Joe! I’ve ordered a Xantia brochure and I’m going to a video on it- exciting!
I am currently on my third Xantia estate. I am officially addicted 😃
Good on ya! 😁
Had to pause and go back to this: Second best selling hydropneumatic Citroen after the DS? You didn't spot the 2.3m BXs produced, then?
Great work. The kind of project I would do
I absolutely agree that Xantias are beautiful and also solid cars (owning my second 2021 one starting from 2006). However I insist that the controls in the BX and XM (and even in a CX ) are rather smart and easy to use once you are used to it. No buttons "in the back of the seat" but exactly there where there should be if you thought of it without preconceived notions...
Clean and nice design. Why can't cars these days be design cleanly like this?
The Xantia diesel estate was one of the most practical mass produced road cars ever made... if you could keep the rust at bay.
where have all the 90's cars gone...?
Handsome Car!
fantastic vid
A great car! I just saw it in HubNut's channel so i may as well put the same here.
In 1994 my aunt in Farnham was given the opportunity to get a rather good company car, she had a boring Ford Sierra estate, the Xantia was new, I told her that would be the best thing but didn't want to be too pushy so I suggested she also look at Mercs, BMWs, and the Renault Safrane before going to Citroen. She drove the Xantia and fell in love, she got the highest spec one, the VSX, 1.9 TDI, even with heated electric seats and the extra sphered hydro suspension. It was a silver gold colour. It looked so modern compared to the German things. She had it for about 15 years and near 300,000 miles, she still misses it. It was super reliable and so roomy, the boot would fit nearly as much as a big estate.
The top spec ones with alloy wheels were way above the Mondeo / Cavalier category, superb Bertone body, its form still looks really modern now.
Always fancied an Activa. The elk test fact made me say ‘WOW’ out loud. Great car, steamed windows and all.
Yes Joe!!!!!!! You finally did a xantia
Had a Series 2 ‘98 SX TD break. Lovely car, great build, still a real Citroen. But... I preferred the 4 BXs which preceded it! The GTI style seats in the BX supported in all the right places compared to the Xantia seats.
I've owned lots of cars in my fifty years of driving and the Xantia was one of the best. A quick pump up on the spheres and a 100 thousand mile car drove like new. Cheapest suspension upgrade ever and the turbo diesel was reasonably fast and cheap to run. Blew the radiator in the end, at a quarter of a million miles, wish I had bothered to get it fixed....
They produced more GS/GSAs as well!
I had a xantia 1.9td for about 5 years, was a great car, it carried us on holidays to devon and cornwall , and me to work every day....It never let me down. It was more economical to run than our toyota hybrid we have now. I`m now thinking about a citroen again, a ds5 hybrid.....maybe.
Great car. I had a 95 xantia 1.9 turbo diesel.. saloon. Really lovely comfy car. Would cruise all day on the motorway at 95 mph.. it had a leaky LHM Pump. And a head gasket blew. Got that fixed and it went in for a couple more years. Unfortunately I had to have company car so had no room.. wish I could find another one ..
Other people's "Money No Object" cars would be Lambos or Ferraris. Mine would be a V6 Activa Xantia Estate.
Wasn't the GS/GSA the best selling hydropneumatic Citroën with 2.5 million units, followed by BX at 2.3 million? Always liked the sleek styling of Xantia, never owned one, but have very fond memories of my BX14 I owned from 2004-09.
I agree. Having owned a total of 17 Citroens over 51 years the Xantia was the full package without the usual eccentricities. Style, comfort, handling, space, good air conditioning, dust sealing and rust proofing.
Our ultimate test was way Outback in 2013 in my 1997 Xantia 1.9 TD as the only 2WD roaring along the Oodnadatta Track past Lake Eyre in great dust free comfort for 400 kms @ 110 kph on the dirt. As low as 5.4 l/100 km.
I had one from new. The suspension never worked properly for more than a few days despite very expensive “repairs” under warranty.Several times there was a big red warning on the dash telling me to STOP driving immediately. It had to go to the dealer’s on a transporter. I found the driver’s seat very uncomfortable on a long drive (I’m 5’11”). Pity. It had lots of room front and back, and could have been a great car.
My grandfather had a 1986 bx 19 Trd
My father had a 1993 bx 16 halley
My father in law had a 1997 xantia 19 td
All magnificent and affordable
Lovely Jubbly , big👍from me for any French car really.
Plz do a Vauxhall sintra road test (if you can find one)
My parents had one of these in the late 90's, fond memories of it, as a kid the suspension was fab. My parents swapped it for a Picasso, which was completely miserable :(
We can only apologise...
Poor thing
What a promotion. . .
My family had a 1998 estate on an R reg
I just saw this car!!! It was at Pleiades, no?
Great 90's car yes, and comfortable. But you make a teeny mistake: a smidge over 1.2 million Xantias were sold , just exceeded by the 1.5 million DS sales. But arguably* the best selling hydropneumatic Citroën was actually the brilliant BX which sold about 2.3 million. *However if you combine GS and GSA sales that is closer to 2.5 million - so the 'G' series could also legitimately claim that title. And yes, I was surprised too! Nice video though :)
OK, so done the whole vid now, and on the whole it's great. The Activa summary was good (though it was 1995 for us, and we only got the crap 2.0 turbo engine). I can't agree and 'celebrate' Citroen going mainstream though, but then I guess that's a debate that would rage on for eternity; Those who love the quirks, and those who actually buy brand new cars.
I've never owned one. Have ridden in the back of several taxis both in UK and abroad. I remember each time being impressed by the comfortable ride and quietness. Was in a different league compared to a Mondeo or Vectra of the time.
Love the Xantia, my grandfather had the 1.4l base petrol. The past (and late 90s - 2000s and post recession Citroëns) shows that the French should really avoid immigrating the Germans .
It is a trusty stead full of qualities that has aged very well.
However I'd say it's major drawback is the hydro suspension.
Although '' simple '' and purely mechanical (or with basic electronics) you'll need to learn and maintain it yourself as competent & fair priced repairs shop for it are rare. Be ready to also surround yourself with expert that'll help you find quality and durable parts (some oem replacement can't sustain the lhm!)
If you can't do that save the headache and go with a 406...
Oh and for the washer bottle (located behind the front bumper on the side of the rad' with a feed that route up IN the fender to the bay) save yourself the headache and route a plastic tube with a cap straight up and bellow the indicator. Simple to refill the 5-10L once in a while as the indicator is easy to remove with a screw driver
Sales second only to the DS? You forgot about the 1970-onwards GS, which sold nearly 2.5 million and was heaps more comfortable than the Peugeot-era citroens.
I would love owning one!
I've owned 3 Xantias, a 2.0HDi Exclusive estate, a 3.0 V6 Exclusive and a 2.0 TCT Activa. Superb cars, shame there as so few left now.
Amazing thinking that car is older than joe 😂
They sold more 2.5 million gs/gsa models… but great review.
Great car, not got your facts totally correct. nerd modus on: the BX en GS/A where sold over 2 and 2,5 million times and the most popular hydraulic Citroën’s
Apologies, you’re quite right! However, the Xantia sold respectably well considering how short its production run was by comparison 😁
Getting myself a MK1 C5 estate very soon......i am extremely excited to delve into the world of hydraulic citroens........i'm a huge hydro citroen fan, and the good old xsara picasso too
Xantia corners like an Audi Quatro and rides like a Bentley. Buy one!!!
Oy man, what a lovely beast that be!
I still have a xantia hdi exclusive estate as part of my classic car collection
This is going to be my first car.
this is my first car!11
Much prefer the original DS - probably one of the most beautiful cars ever made. From the 1990s onwards Citroen produced uninspiring looking cars.
Why did I sell my Activa? :-(
Good for 500k miles
got a V6 super car
STEAMY WINDOWS!
A leaky boot seal, damp carpets from wet feet, two people breathing, non-functioning air-con and a presenter not wanting the fan on in case the noise comes over on the mic will do that!
Had a R reg 1.9td estate. Huge mistake selling it. Idiot! So comfortable. XUD powered.
Honestly, i would rather drive a space ship