Citroen Xsara VTR Car Review

The Citroen Xsara line-up has been expanded with the addition of a three-door Coupe and it is an attractive little car that should appeal to buyers who want something a little more stylish than a conventional five-door hatchback.

In its 1.6 litre VTR guise, the Xsara Coupe also offers a more affordable alternative to the Xsara five-door hatches. The VTR Coupe is priced at $23,990, whereas the equivalent 1.6 litre five-door costs $25,490. For Xsara Coupe buyers who want more power and more equipment, there is the 2.0 litre VTS version at $32,990. Both Xsara Coupes are available in manual form only.

Though its the entry level model, the 1.6 litre Xsara VTR is by no means a stripped-out, no-frills special. The VTR shares the VTS models "sports-tuned high-performance" suspension and steering, as well as its sports interior trim and instruments.

The VTRs 1.6 litre engine is a new "state-of-the-art" unit that is both lighter and more powerful than the previous 1.6 litre engine (83 kW versus 67 kW).

Standard equipment in the VTR Coupe includes dual front airbags, climate control air conditioning, variable assistance power steering, remote central locking, power front windows, power operated (and heated) exterior mirrors, a six-speaker audio system with CD player and a split fold rear seat.

As well as its high performance 124 kW engine, the VTS Coupe adds ABS brakes with electronic brake force distribution, front side airbags, alloy wheels, automatic rain-sensing wipers, a trip computer, higher grade interior trim, leather steering wheel and a boot floor net.

The Xsara body style adapts very well to the coupe concept, providing a look that is highly attractive and with a distinctly youthful appeal. Newly designed 'teardrop' headlights, a new grille with more prominent chevron badges and reprofiled front bumpers update and enhance the Xsara's appearance.

For buyers who want to give their Xsara Coupe an even sportier look (and perhaps emulate the World Rally version), Citroen has just released a body kit that features a deep front air dam with a wide new air intake, a deeper rear skirt, and side body skirts. The kit costs $1,450, plus painting and fitting.

Large protection strips along the body sides and on the front and rear bumpers, provide excellent defence against minor bumps and scratches, without detracting in any way from the overall appearance.

Compared to other coupes of similar external size, the Xsara Coupe offers a good combination of passenger and load space.

Up front, the driver and passenger sit in a pair of well-shaped, but firmly padded seats. Initially, the seats feel uncomfortable, however a full days driving was accomplished without undue discomfort or fatigue. Theres ample legroom and sufficient headroom with the drivers seat being height-adjustable.

Rear occupants arent quite so well off, with barely enough legroom for adults when the front seats are set right back. However, knee cut-outs in the backs of the front seats help, and you can get your feet under the seats. Both front seats tilt and slide in one operation, making access to the rear better than average for a coupe.

Luggage space is good with the rear seat in use and a large, flat area is available when one third or two thirds of the rear seat (backrest and cushion) is folded. The spare wheel and tyre reside beneath the boot floor, thus avoiding having to empty out luggage should it be needed.

Buyers of the 1.6 litre Xsara Coupe will have to be satisfied with noticeably slower performance than that of the more expensive 2.0 litre VTS model.

Provided you work at it, the 1.6 litre Coupe will return acceleration figures that are average for the class, but it generally lacks any real sparkle, and can sometimes struggle on hills in the higher gears.

Smooth starts from rest require a little practice, as the engine needs to be revved higher than you would normally expect.

The 1.6 litre engine's lower performance is balanced by its frugal fuel consumption. During our testing, the 6.4 litres/100 km recorded for highway-type running and the overall figure of 7.2 litres/100 km were better than average for the class.

Relatively firm suspension settings and steering that's not overly power-assisted give the Xsara VTR coupe a taut, precise feel on the road.

The test VTR was equipped with anti-lock brakes (a $1,500 option) and braking proved to be powerful and effective. However, the brake pedal 'feel' took some getting used to, in order to avoid jerky stops at low speeds.