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| Road Test: Citroen Xsara (2000-2005) |
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| Small Family |
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| DRIVING RATING: |
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The Xsara's certainly user-friendly: the driving position is good and all versions are obedient and responsive to handle. The power steering has been improved, so the Xsara's not as light and floaty as before, and the car feels altogether better planted on the road. However, the coupe's short-throw gearbox is not as slick as it should be, and the dashboard's dated architecture means ergonomics are not up with the best. The Xsara's certainly got enough power, but when you really put your foot down, it becomes apparent just how dated the essential design of this car is. The five-door versions may have matured into family-friendly cruisers, but the game's moved on in the coupe market and the Xsara three-door's not kept up; stiff suspension doesn't necessarily make a sports car. In all models, the speed-sensitive power steering system may have eliminated the floaty feeling, but it's numb and uncommunicative, which won't inspire the enthusiastic driver in any way whatsoever.
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Introduction The Xsara range covers most options: a three-door coupe, a five-door h... |
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