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Photo of a Citroën Xsara

Citroën Xsara

Passive rear steering on the street; 32 wins for its WRC offspring.123

Researched November 2, 2026 from 27 sources

At a glance

0100200
58–167 hpPower

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.114

Engine
1.4–2.0 L gasoline and diesel inline-fours; 2.0 L 16-valve VTS1
Layout
Front-engine, front-wheel drive; passive rear steering1
Gearbox
5-speed manual; 1.8i 4-speed automatic at launch; no 306 6-speed in VTS4614
Built at
Rennes, France; Vigo/Madrid, Spain; Oferol, Uruguay; Wuhan, China; AAV, Egypt1

The story

Built to succeed the ZX, the Xsara shared its platform with the Peugeot 306. Donato Coco and Giles Taylor gave it Xantia-like lines, with three-door Coupé, five-door hatchback and Break wagon bodies.14

1997: Frankfurt debut on September 919971998: VTS Coupé and 517 L Break join19981999: Kit Car wins Catalunya and Corsica19992000: Stronger shell, new 16-valve engines · Windows CE: two planned 250-car batches20002002: 400-car Citroën Sport edition20022003: 1.4 HDi: 4.5 L/100 km combined20032004: C4 replaces Europe's hatchbacks20042006: Estate ends; 32 wins for the WRC2006 Citroën GS: 1970–1979Citroën GSCitroën GSA: 1979–1986Citroën ZX: 1991–1998Citroën ZXCitroën Xsara: 1997–2006Citroën Xsara 197019801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones12122
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1970–1979Citroën GS
1979–1986Citroën GSA
1991–1998Citroën ZX
1997–2006Citroën Xsara
1997Frankfurt debut on September 9
1998VTS Coupé and 517 L Break join
1999Kit Car wins Catalunya and Corsica
2000Stronger shell, new 16-valve engines
2000Windows CE: two planned 250-car batches
2002400-car Citroën Sport edition
20031.4 HDi: 4.5 L/100 km combined
2004C4 replaces Europe's hatchbacks
2006Estate ends; 32 wins for the WRC
  1. 1997

    Frankfurt debut on September 9

    The three-door Coupé and five-door hatchback debut at Frankfurt; both use a 2,540 mm wheelbase.15

  2. 1998

    VTS Coupé and 517 L Break join

    January brings the VTS Coupé; March adds the Break wagon, stretched by 19 cm and offering 517 L beneath its load cover.67

  3. 1999

    Kit Car wins Catalunya and Corsica

    Philippe Bugalski wins both events outright in the front-wheel-drive Kit Car, provoking protests from World Rally Car teams.28910

  4. 2000

    Stronger shell, new 16-valve engines

    September's facelift strengthens the shell, widens the tracks and adds multiplex wiring. New 1.6 and 2.0 16-valve engines join; the 1.8 disappears.1

  5. 2000

    Windows CE: two planned 250-car batches

    A three-year Microsoft partnership yields voice control, GSM, navigation and email. Two 250-car batches of the Windows CE edition are planned.11

  6. 2002

    400-car Citroën Sport edition

    Based on the 2.0 VTS, Citroën Sport wears Vallelunga red paint and white alloy wheels. An optional body kit adds more rally flavor.12

  7. 2003

    1.4 HDi: 4.5 L/100 km combined

    The new 1.4 HDi delivers 160 Nm and 4.5 L/100 km combined. Cargo capacity reaches 1,190 L in hatchbacks and 1,512 L in wagons.13

  8. 2004

    C4 replaces Europe's hatchbacks

    November brings the European hatchback's replacement by the C4. The estate remains in production.1

  9. 2006

    Estate ends; 32 wins for the WRC

    European estate production ends. The Xsara WRC has amassed 32 wins, three manufacturers' titles and three drivers' crowns with Sébastien Loeb.12

Every generation

  • Citroën GS
    Citroën GS1970–1979
  • Citroën GSA
    Citroën GSA1979–1986
  • Citroën ZX
    Citroën ZX1991–1998
  • Citroën Xsara
    Citroën Xsara1997–2006

Power over the years

From 67 hp to 167 hp in 3 years.

050100150200 19961998200020022004 hp 1997 · 67 hp · 1.9 XUD9A diesel1997 · 74 hp · 1.4 TU3JP gasoline1997 · 89 hp · 1.6 TU5JP gasoline1997 · 89 hp · 1.9 XUD9TE turbodiesel1997 · 110 hp · 1.8 16V gasoline1998 · 133 hp · 2.0 16V Exclusive1999 · 89 hp · 2.0 HDi 90 replaces Turbo D2000 · 167 hp · 2.0 VTS2001 · 109 hp · 2001 model year: 1.6 16V2001 · 110 hp · 2.0 HDi 1102001 · 135 hp · 2001 model year: 2.0 16V2003 · 70 hp · 1.4 HDi 167 hp 2.0 VTS 67 hp 1.9 XUD9A diesel
17131415
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
1997671.9 XUD9A diesel
1997741.4 TU3JP gasoline
1997891.6 TU5JP gasoline
1997891.9 XUD9TE turbodiesel
19971101.8 16V gasoline
19981332.0 16V Exclusive
1999892.0 HDi 90 replaces Turbo D
20001672.0 VTS
20011092001 model year: 1.6 16V
20011102.0 HDi 110
20011352001 model year: 2.0 16V
2003701.4 HDi

Versions

11 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Standard

    X / L

    1997

  • Standard

    LX

    1997

  • Standard

    Exclusive

    1997

  • 2000 facelift

    Standard

    2000 facelift

    2000

  • VTR Coupé

    Performance

    VTR Coupé

  • Performance

    VTS 1.8 / 1.9 Turbo D

    1998

  • VTS 2.0 16V

    Performance

    VTS 2.0 16V

    1998–2004

    167 hp
  • Westcoast / VTR Furio / Forte (GB)

    Special

    Westcoast / VTR Furio / Forte (GB)

  • Special

    Seduction

  • Limited

    Windows CE

    2000

  • Limited

    Citroën Sport

    2002

    167 hp

    400 built

How to spot one

Look for

  • Hatchbacks have a high, short tail with a trunk-like step.14
  • Rear light clusters wrap into the rear fenders.4
  • Broad protective moldings run around the body.4
  • Facelift cars show big headlights and chevron badges front and rear.11017

Year by year

  1. 1997–2000

    Early cars have slim headlights and a grille crossed by two thin chrome bars.14

  2. 2001 model year

    Larger headlights incorporate the fog lights; hood, front fenders, bumper and grille are reshaped.110

  3. 2001 model year

    Rear light clusters change, and the new hatch carries a prominent logo.1

  4. 2001 model year

    Wider tracks and standard 15-inch wheels give facelift cars a broader stance.1

  5. 2003

    Three- and five-door hatchbacks gain a chrome strip along the rear trunk sill.113

Don’t confuse it with

  • Photo of a Citroën Xsara
    Xsara
    Photo of a Xantia
    Xantia

    Xantia

    The Xsara is smaller and more rounded; the Xantia has straighter body lines.14

  • Photo of a Citroën Xsara
    Xsara
    Photo of a Xsara Picasso
    Xsara Picasso

    Xsara Picasso

    The Picasso is a small MPV; the regular Xsara has hatchback or wagon bodywork.1

Against its rivals

  • Toyota Corolla 1.4

    Xsara vs Toyota Corolla 1.4

    Test fuel consumption lower is better

    Xsara5.7 L/100 km
    Toyota Corolla 1.46.3 L/100 km
    23

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 11 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 11 stories from its legend
    • “32 WRC wins and Loeb's first three titles”
    • “Front-wheel drive upstaged the WRC”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 4 generations

  • Market

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

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Sources

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

See all 27 sources
  1. Citroën Xsara - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  2. Citroën Xsara WRC - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  3. Rétro - Citroën Xsara WRC (2003) : les chevrons de la gloire... sportauto.fr
  4. Citroën Xsara: La creación de un superventas - Versión para impresión motorfaq.com
  5. Citro�n Xsara citroenet.org.uk
  6. CITROEN XSARA VTS 2.0 16v 167 ch (1998-2004) - GUIDE OCCASION automobile-sportive.com
  7. la Citroën Xsara à essence - L'argus largus.fr
  8. The 10 best front-wheel-drive rally cars – DirtFish dirtfish.com
  9. Remembering Philippe Bugalski: Citroën's original WRC hero – DirtFish dirtfish.com
  10. Aero evolution of the Citroën Xsara: from the Kit Car to the T4/WRC – WRCWings wrcwings.tech
  11. Citro�n Xsara Windows CE + Xsara restyle citroenet.org.uk
  12. Série Spéciale - L'Auto-Journal autojournal.fr
  13. Citro�n Xsara at Frankfurt 2003 citroenet.org.uk
  14. Citroen Xsara VTS Coupe - Car Keys carkeys.co.uk
  15. Les CitroÎn Xsara diesels - L'argus largus.fr
  16. Citro�n Xsara citroenet.org.uk
  17. Citroen Xsara VTS coupe Reviews | Our Opinion | GoAuto goauto.com.au
  18. Citroën Xsara VTS 167 ch (1998-2004) : une étonnante machine à sensations, dès 4 000 € caradisiac.com
  19. Et si vous achetiez une Citroën Xsara VTS ? - PDLV pdlv.fr
  20. catalogues Citroen Xsara s�ries sp�ciales archives-catalogues-automobiles.fr
  21. Citroën GS - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  22. Citroën ZX - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  23. Citroën Xsara klar for elitedivisjonen aftenbladet.no
  24. rallycross.com - History museum.rallycross.com
  25. DENUNCIAN EL ANUNCIO DEL "XSARA" QUE PROTAGONIZA CLAUDIA SCHIFFER | Líder en Información Social | Servimedia servimedia.es
  26. EA SPORTS™ WRC Car List - March 2025 Update ea.com
  27. Peugeot Citroën DS Adventure • The Official Sale - 2023 - Citroënvie! citroenvie.com
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • sportauto.fr
  • motorfaq.com
  • citroenet.org.uk
  • automobile-sportive.com
  • largus.fr
  • dirtfish.com
  • wrcwings.tech
  • autojournal.fr
  • carkeys.co.uk
  • goauto.com.au
  • caradisiac.com
  • pdlv.fr
  • archives-catalogues-automobiles.fr

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