Citroën Xsara 1997–2000 car dimensions: 4167 mm long, 1698 mm wide and 1401 mm high. Unladen weight is 1,020 kg. Braked towing is 1,100 kg.
The cabin seats five with a split-folding rear bench and offers good space for the class. Power steering, central locking, front electric windows and audio controls on the rake-and-reach adjustable steering wheel come as standard. Higher grades add air conditioning. No electronic driver aids such as cameras or sensors appear on this generation.
Boot volume is 408 litres with the rear seats up and expands to 1190 litres when the split bench folds. The rigid parcel shelf clips behind the seats when not needed and the load floor stays flat.
Braked towing capacity reaches 1100 kg and unbraked sits near 595 kg. Payload is around 540 kg. The hatch suits everyday family loads and light towing with no special heavy-duty cooling or suspension packages listed for this generation.
The cabin feels cozy with soft comfortable seats and a stylish dashboard built on rounded lines. Steering adjusts for height and reach. Driver seat has height adjustment. Wide door openings ease entry. Rear bench is profiled for two but fits three adults thanks to a low centre tunnel. Split-folding rear seats expand the boot. Legroom is limited for tall rear passengers.
Petrol combined consumption 7.2-9.1 l/100 km. diesel 6.2-6.6 l/100 km
Fuel tank 54 litres
Oil change every 15 000-20 000 km or 12 months
Euro NCAP 3 stars
Standard front airbags plus side airbags. seat-belt pretensioners and force limiters
ABS optional at launch, standard from mid-1999
Engines range from 1.4 to 2.0-litre petrol and 1.9-litre diesels. Combined fuel use sits between 7.2 and 9.1 l/100 km for petrols and 6.2-6.6 l/100 km for diesels. The 54-litre tank gives a practical range for mixed driving.
Oil and filter changes fall due every 15 000 or 20 000 km or once a year. Air filter and spark plugs renew at 60 000 km. Timing belt replacement is scheduled at 120 000 km. Brake fluid changes every 60 000 km or two years.
Euro NCAP awarded three stars. Dual front airbags were standard, with passenger deactivation on many cars. Side airbags came standard or as an early option. Front belts have pretensioners and force limiters. All seats have three-point belts. ABS started as an option and became standard from May 1999.
Engines last well past 250 000 km with regular oil and timing-belt care. Watch the rear torsion-bar suspension and sills for corrosion. Parts remain available but some body items take longer to source. The car is simple to keep and handles cleanly on twisty roads.
Length 4167 mm, Width 1698 mm, Height 1401 mm, Wheelbase 2540 mm (Xsara 1997–2000)
Sources: manufacturer data, autocentrum.pl, autoevolution.com, drom.ru.