Citroën Xantia

The Citroën Xantia was a mid-size automobile produced by the French manufacturer Citroën between 1993 and 2001.

History

The Xantia replaced the earlier Citroën BX and maintained the high level of popularity of the previous model.

It signalled that Citroën had learned from the reception given the staid Citroën ZX, introduced two years earlier and criticised by contemporary journalists for its lack of traditional Citroën flair in engineering and design. The Xantia addressed these concerns in an updated, conventionally attractive form.

Although the Xantia was not as dramatically styled as the BX, it was certainly more distinctive than its contemporaries such as the conservative Ford Mondeo and Opel Vectra (Vauxhall Vectra/Cavalier). The Xantia also used the traditional Citroën hydropneumatic suspension system pioneered in the legendary DS. It was initially only available as a hatchback (Berline), but an estate car (Break) version built by Heuliez appeared in 1995.