SPOT.
Photo of a Citroën Saxo

Citroën Saxo

The VTS formula: 120 hp, just 935 kg.1

Researched October 30, 2026 from 20 sources

Also called

  • Sax'An affectionate shortening of Saxo used by its fans.2
  • ChansonJapan's official name in 1997–1999: Honda had already registered Saxo.1

At a glance

0100200
26–120 hpPower
01020
8.7–19.1 s0–100 km/h
0125250
91–205 km/hTop speed
0150300
12.7–147 N·mTorque
07501,500
805–1,060 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.1679

Engine
1.0–1.6 L petrol I4s; 1.5 L diesel I4; brushed DC electric motor1
Layout
Front-engine, front-wheel drive1
Gearbox
5-speed manual; 3-speed automatic1
Built at
Aulnay-sous-Bois, France; Mangualde, Portugal; electric cars by Heuliez16
Units built
1,653,514 passenger cars5

The story

Built to replace the AX, the Saxo used Peugeot 106 hardware and traded delicacy for solidity. The VTS brought 120 hp; the Saxo name pairs Citroën's familiar X with a final O chosen to stick in the memory.1345

1996: Geneva debut as the AX's replacement · July brings the 16-valve VTS19961999: Rounded nose; standard ABS on the VTS19992000: Mangualde hands over to Aulnay20002001: 100 hp VTR; two-tone New Morning · Loeb wins in the Saxo S160020012002: Solà follows Loeb to the junior crown20022003: Production ends; C2 and C3 take over2003 Citroën LN / LNA: 1976–1986Citroën LN / LNACitroën Visa: 1978–1988Citroën VisaCitroën AX: 1986–1998Citroën AXPeugeot 106: 1991–2003Peugeot 106Citroën Saxo (S-8): 1996–2003S-8Citroën C3: Launched 2002Citroën C3Citroën C2: Launched 2003Citroën C2 19801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones1347131415
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1976–1986Citroën LN / LNA
1978–1988Citroën Visa
1986–1998Citroën AX
1991–2003Peugeot 106
1996–2003Citroën Saxo (S-8)
Launched 2002Citroën C3
Launched 2003Citroën C2
1996Geneva debut as the AX's replacement
1996July brings the 16-valve VTS
1999Rounded nose; standard ABS on the VTS
2000Mangualde hands over to Aulnay
2001100 hp VTR; two-tone New Morning
2001Loeb wins in the Saxo S1600
2002Solà follows Loeb to the junior crown
2003Production ends; C2 and C3 take over
  1. 1996

    Geneva debut as the AX's replacement

    The Saxo makes its public debut at Geneva in March, using Peugeot 106 underpinnings to replace the AX.35

  2. 1996

    July brings the 16-valve VTS

    The 1.6-liter VTS pairs 120 hp with forged suspension arms, reinforced front suspension mounts and four disc brakes.167

  3. 1999

    Rounded nose; standard ABS on the VTS

    September's facelift brings rounded headlights, a domed hood and an integrated grille. ABS becomes standard on the VTS.2

  4. 2000

    Mangualde hands over to Aulnay

    Saxo assembly ends at Mangualde; Aulnay-sous-Bois takes over all remaining production.6

  5. 2001

    100 hp VTR; two-tone New Morning

    The 1.6-liter eight-valve climbs from 90 to 100 hp. March's New Morning pairs dark/light gray paint with a gray/black cabin.238

  6. 2001

    Loeb wins in the Saxo S1600

    Sébastien Loeb takes the junior world rally title at the wheel of the Saxo S1600.6

  7. 2002

    Solà follows Loeb to the junior crown

    Daniel Solà wins the junior world rally championship in the Saxo S1600, following Loeb's 2001 success.6

  8. 2003

    Production ends; C2 and C3 take over

    The 1996–2003 production run closes. The C3 arrived in 2002; the C2 follows in 2003 to complete the replacement duo.134

Every generation

  • Citroën LN / LNA
    Citroën LN / LNA1976–1986
  • Citroën Visa
    Citroën Visa1978–1988
  • Citroën AX
    Citroën AX1986–1998
  • Peugeot 106
    Peugeot 1061991–2003
  • Citroën Saxo
    S-81996–2003
  • Citroën C3
    Citroën C3Launched 2002
  • Citroën C2
    Citroën C2Launched 2003

Power over the years

From 26 hp to 120 hp in 0 years.

050100150 1996199820002002 hp 1996 · 26 hp · Electrique (peak)1996 · 50 hp · 1.0 petrol1996 · 58 hp · 1.5 diesel1996 · 60 hp · 1.1 petrol1996 · 75 hp · 1.4 petrol1996 · 90 hp · VTR 1.6 8-valve1996 · 120 hp · VTS 1.6 16-valve2001 · 100 hp · VTR 1.6 8-valve update 120 hp VTS 1.6 16-valve 26 hp Electrique (peak)
13568
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
199626Electrique (peak)
1996501.0 petrol
1996581.5 diesel
1996601.1 petrol
1996751.4 petrol
199690VTR 1.6 8-valve
1996120VTS 1.6 16-valve
2001100VTR 1.6 8-valve update

Versions

12 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • X / SX / VSX / Eastcoast

    Standard

    X / SX / VSX / Eastcoast

  • Exclusive

    Standard

    Exclusive

  • Performance

    Westcoast / Furio / VTL 1.4

    75 hp
  • VTR 1.6 8V

    Performance

    VTR 1.6 8V

    1997–2003

    100 hp
  • VTS 1.4 / 1.6 8V / Belgian 1.5 D

    Standard

    VTS 1.4 / 1.6 8V / Belgian 1.5 D

  • VTS 1.6 16V / Cup (Portugal)

    Performance

    VTS 1.6 16V / Cup (Portugal)

    1996–2003

    120 hp

  • Special

    Audace / Athéna / Spot / Tiscali-Liberty Surf / Luxia

    1996–2003

  • Limited

    K-Way

    1998

  • Special

    Bic

  • Special

    Open Scandal

  • Electrique

    Special

    Electrique

    1996–2003

    27 hp

    2,174 built

  • Limited

    New Morning

    2001

    1,000 built

How to spot one

Look for

  • Three- or five-door hatchback with a Peugeot 106-like windshield and doors.17
  • Early cars have rectangular headlights; the September 1999 facelift brings almond-shaped lamps.6
  • The major facelift puts the grille into a hood carrying two lengthwise creases.6

Year by year

  1. 1996 VTS

    The first VTS has black mirror housings and a painted grille bar; early VTS 16V instruments have dark faces.7

  2. December 1997

    A more open grille and white upper rear-lamp sections arrive; VTS 16V mirrors become body colored.67

  3. September 1999

    Almond headlights, a hood-integrated grille and two hood creases reshape the nose; lower rear lenses become lighter red.6

  4. 2000 VTS

    The rear spoiler becomes standard; white-faced instruments and a polished aluminum gear knob brighten the cabin.3

Don’t confuse it with

  • Peugeot 106

    Doors and windshield resemble the 106; on late Saxos, look for almond lamps and a hood-integrated grille, plus the rounded dashboard.67

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 12 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 14 stories from its legend
    • “Loeb in 2001, Solà in 2002”
    • “Only six finished; Saxos took first and second”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 7 generations

  • Market

    • 5 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 20 sources
  1. Citroën Saxo - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  2. CITROEN SAXO VTS 16v (1996-2003) - GUIDE OCCASION automobile-sportive.com
  3. Citroen Saxo (1996-2003) - autoencyclopedie.com autoencyclopedie.com
  4. Saxo – Citroen Car Club citroencarclub.org.uk
  5. Trideset godina Citroën Saxa: Mali osvajač sa sportskim verzijama VTR i VTS, dizelašem... – Revija HAK revijahak.hr
  6. Citroën Saxo — Wikipédia fr.wikipedia.org
  7. Citroën Saxo VTS 16V (1996-2003) : un kart chevronné, dès 5 000 € caradisiac.com
  8. Why The Citroen Saxo Is A Proper 90s Hero Car | CarThrottle carthrottle.com
  9. Citro�n Saxo �l�ctrique citroenet.org.uk
  10. The Citroen Saxo VTR; A Bargain Pocket Rocket And Why You Need One | CarThrottle carthrottle.com
  11. Citroën Saxo Cup, um dos preferidos da época dourada do tunning paraeles.pt
  12. Our cars: After hunting for a decade I've finally bought a Citroen Saxo VTS – Car Dealer Magazine cardealermagazine.co.uk
  13. Citroën LNA - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  14. Citroën Visa - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  15. Citroën AX - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  16. Citroen Saxo's one-two on the 'Junior' Acropolis. | Crash.net crash.net
  17. Junior Saloon Car Championship | BARC barc.net
  18. Citroen Saxo | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  19. Testujemy używane: Citroen saxo - Motoryzacja w INTERIA.PL motoryzacja.interia.pl
  20. Sold | 2000 Citroën Saxo VTS theclassicvaluer.com
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • automobile-sportive.com
  • autoencyclopedie.com
  • citroencarclub.org.uk
  • revijahak.hr
  • fr.wikipedia.org
  • caradisiac.com
  • carthrottle.com
  • citroenet.org.uk
  • paraeles.pt
  • cardealermagazine.co.uk
  • crash.net
  • barc.net
  • autoexpress.co.uk

Photo credits

Other car files