1996 Citroen Xantia 1.6i review from France

Blinkers carry on making a little noise for a few seconds after they have come back into position (but no light appears).

This car is far from ugly, but it is shorter than some of its Japanese or Korean competitors of the mid-90s such as the Honda Accord or Hyundai Sonata, and it is only available in hatchback version on top of that. So if you are fond of long, classic saloons, you may think that it is not the right car for you.

However it was built on a long wheelbase (2,74m, about as much as a Ford Taurus today), so it does not look tiny and there is enough legroom inside. The car is elegant and you will like seeing it parked in front of your house.

I think that drivers will get aware of its real assets by sitting behind the steering wheel: the hydraulic suspension makes long trips very comfortable and the basic engine is powerful enough for those who enjoy cruising along on the motorway (rushing with an overloaded car would be quite a different story with this 1.6i engine).

The fact that so many Europeans are crazy for small diesel mini-cars means that a family car like the Xantia can be purchased at quite an affordable price, especially if it runs on petrol.

Maintenance costs have been low so far, but potential buyers should know that the hydraulic suspension sometimes needs changing. However the enormous amount of comfort it provides justifies that kind of expenditure.

To sum it up, a nice-looking car which will pleasantly surprise you and certainly turn you into a Citroën fan if you come across a model in good condition.