Citroen Xantia

Citroen Xantia: generations compared: what the restyling actually changed

Same name, different car — arithmetic on the overlapping versions:

1 generation is Hatchback 5-door; 1 generation, restyling is Liftback. Drive stays FWD. Suspension labels stay Independent hydropneumatic on both axles. Front and rear brakes stay Disc. Engine position stays Front, transverse. Injection on gasoline versions stays Distributed injection (multi-point). Wheel sizes are not measured on every version. CO2 is not measured. Eco class is not measured.

Same name, different car — arithmetic on the overlapping versions:

Buy 1 generation if the same badge must be quicker: the 132 hp 2.0 MT is 2.9 s faster to 100 km/h and 82 kg lighter than the restyle of the same name; the 110 hp 1.8 MT is 1.1 s faster and 31 kg lighter. Buy 1 generation, restyling if you want the Liftback body, the 88 hp 1.6 MT unchanged, the 3.0 MT 0.2 s quicker and 3 km/h faster despite 55 kg more kerb weight, or diesels that the restyle expands (1.9 MT 75 hp, 2.0 MT 90 hp and 109 hp Diesel). Automatic petrols (1.8 AT, 2.0 AT) exist only in 1 generation. Restyle Automatic is only 3.0 AT.

Engines and specs

Every listed version is named exactly as in the catalogue. Two cars with the same name are split by horsepower.

1 generation, restyling (Liftback, 1997-12-01 – 2002-12-31)

1 generation (Hatchback 5-door, 1992-12-01 – 1997-11-30)

Power per litre (hp per 1000 cm³ of the listed displacement): restyle 2.0 MT 147 hp Turbo 73.6; restyle 2.0 MT 132 hp 66.1; 3.0 MT / 3.0 AT 64.5; restyle 1.8 MT 110 hp 62.5; restyle 2.0 MT 121 hp 60.6; 1.6 MT 55.7; restyle 2.0 MT 109 hp Diesel 54.6; restyle 1.8 MT 90 hp 51.1; restyle 1.9 MT 90 hp 47.2; restyle 2.0 MT 90 hp Diesel 45.1; restyle 1.9 MT 75 hp 39.4. In 1 generation, 2.0 MT 150 hp is 75.1 hp/L — the densest naturally aspirated gasoline here — and 1.9 MT 68 hp is 35.7 hp/L, the thinnest.

The 16-valve step is large on paper. Restyle 1.8 MT 110 hp versus 1.8 MT 90 hp: +20 hp, +8 Nm, same ~1762 cm³, 4 valves per cylinder versus 2. Restyle 2.0 MT 132 hp versus 2.0 MT 121 hp: +11 hp, +4 Nm, 4 valves versus 2, same 1998 cm³. Turbo on restyle 2.0 MT 147 hp versus the 132 hp 2.0 MT: +15 hp, +55 Nm (180 to 235), 2 valves, compression 8 versus 10.4.

Performance and economy

0–100 km/h, top speed, fuel use. Where a cell is empty in the source, it is written not measured.

1 generation, restyling

1 generation

The restyle’s fastest 0–100 is 3.0 MT at 8.2 s. 3.0 AT is 1.5 s slower (9.7 s) but lists a higher top speed: 255 km/h versus 230 km/h on the Manual. That 25 km/h gap is in the data; mixed consumption for 3.0 AT is not measured, so you cannot score the Automatic on litres.

On restyle gasoline, 1.8 MT 90 hp is slower than 1.6 MT 88 hp: 14.5 s versus 13.4 s, 180 versus 175 km/h, mixed 8.4 versus 7.9, kerb 1245 kg versus 1170 kg. The extra 182 cm³ and 2 hp do not buy a quicker car; they buy 75 kg and 0.5 L/100 km more mixed. 2.0 MT 121 hp at 13.9 s is also slower than 1.6 MT. If the job is “smallest number of seconds for a restyle gasoline Manual without Turbo,” skip both of those and take 1.8 MT 110 hp (11.9 s) or 2.0 MT 132 hp (12.9 s).

Diesel restyle: 1.9 MT 75 hp and 1.9 MT 90 hp share mixed 6.9 L/100 km. Turbo buys 15 hp, 61 Nm, 3.5 s (17.6 to 14.1), and 15 km/h (162 to 177). City is almost the same (9.1 versus 9.2); highway is 0.2 L lower on the Turbo (5.4 versus 5.6). 2.0 MT 90 hp Diesel matches the 90 hp 1.9 MT at 14.1 s and is 1 km/h faster (178); its consumption is not measured. 2.0 MT 109 hp is the restyle diesel that crosses into gasoline-like acceleration: 12.5 s and 191 km/h, 250 Nm — 15 Nm more than restyle 2.0 MT 147 hp Turbo gasoline (235 Nm), 41 Nm more than restyle 2.0 MT 132 hp (180 Nm).

In 1 generation, 1.8 MT 110 hp mixed 7.3 is the lowest measured gasoline mixed figure in the whole model; restyle 1.6 MT is next at 7.9. 2.0 MT 150 hp mixed 8.9 undercuts restyle 2.0 MT 132 hp mixed 9.1 while being 2.9 s faster (9.6 versus 12.9) and 18 kg lighter than that restyle (1302 versus 1320). 1.9 MT 90 hp in 1 generation is the cheapest-to-run measured diesel: mixed 6.7, city 7.6, highway 5.0 — 0.2 mixed and 1.6 city below the restyle 90 hp 1.9 MT.

1.9 AT 69 hp is the slowest measured Xantia: 23.4 s, 154 km/h. Versus 1.9 MT 68 hp (18.2 s, 158 km/h) the Automatic costs 5.2 s and 4 km/h for 1 hp more. 1.8 AT and 2.0 AT have 0–100, top speed, and consumption all not measured; they cannot be ranked on those axes.

Dimensions and weight

Tank is 65 L on every version. Ground clearance is 160 mm where measured; it is not measured on restyle 1.8 MT 110 hp, restyle 2.0 MT 90 hp Diesel, and restyle 2.0 MT 109 hp. Wheel sizes are not measured. Kerb and gross:

Lightest kerb in the catalogue is 1.6 MT at 1170 kg. Heaviest measured kerb is restyle 3.0 MT at 1470 kg (+300 kg, +25.6%). Highest gross is 1 generation 3.0 MT at 2000 kg. Payload (gross minus kerb) on 1.6 MT is 540 kg; on restyle 3.0 MT 480 kg; on 1 generation 3.0 MT 585 kg — the pre-restyle V-shaped 6 carries 105 kg more payload than the restyle of the same 3.0 MT. Restyle 2.0 MT 147 hp payload is 570 kg.

Kg per horsepower: 1 generation 3.0 MT 7.4 is the lowest (most power for the mass). 1.9 MT 68 hp at 17.8 is the highest. Restyle 2.0 MT 150 hp does not exist; the 150 hp car is only 1 generation, at 8.7 kg/hp, lighter per hp than restyle 2.0 MT 132 hp (10.0) and restyle Turbo 147 hp (9.4).

Which version to choose

If the question is the fewest seconds to 100 km/h: restyle 3.0 MT 190 hp, 8.2 s. Next is 1 generation 3.0 MT at 8.4 s. Then 1 generation 2.0 MT 147 hp Turbo at 9.5 s and 2.0 MT 150 hp at 9.6 s. Restyle 3.0 AT is 9.7 s — Automatic costs 1.5 s versus restyle Manual on the same 190 hp / 267 Nm engine.

If the question is the highest listed top speed: restyle 3.0 AT at 255 km/h. That is 25 km/h above restyle 3.0 MT (230) and 28 km/h above 1 generation 3.0 MT (227). Consumption for 3.0 AT is not measured.

If the question is gasoline mixed litres: 1 generation 1.8 MT 110 hp at 7.3 L/100 km. Restyle 1.6 MT 7.9. Restyle 1.8 MT 90 hp 8.4. 1 generation 2.0 MT 150 hp 8.9. Both 132 hp 2.0 MT mixed figures that exist are 9.1. Restyle Turbo 2.0 MT 147 hp 9.9. Both 3.0 MT mixed 10.9. Restyle 1.8 MT 110 hp consumption is not measured, so it cannot take the economy title even though it is the 16-valve 1.8.

If the question is diesel mixed litres: 1 generation 1.9 MT 90 hp at 6.7. Restyle 1.9 MT 75 hp and 90 hp both 6.9. Turbo on the restyle 1.9 does not raise mixed consumption versus the 75 hp; it only moves the car 3.5 s and 15 km/h. 2.0 MT diesels have consumption not measured.

If you want Automatic: only four named Automatics exist. 1 generation 1.8 AT 110 hp and 2.0 AT 132 hp have 0–100, top speed, kerb, gross, and consumption all not measured except clearance 160 mm and tank 65 L — you are buying a gearbox type, not a scored performance sheet. 1.9 AT 69 hp is scored and is the slowest car in the set (23.4 s). Restyle 3.0 AT is the only restyle Automatic and the only Automatic with a measured 9.7 s and 255 km/h.

If you want Turbo: gasoline Turbo is only 2.0 MT 147 hp (both generations). Diesel Turbo is 1.9 MT 90 hp (both), plus restyle 2.0 MT 90 hp and 2.0 MT 109 hp. There is no Turbo Automatic in the data.

Buy restyle 1.6 MT 88 hp when kerb mass and mixed gasoline use matter more than seconds: 1170 kg, 7.9 mixed, 13.4 s — and those numbers match 1 generation 1.6 MT, so generation is a body-type choice (Liftback versus Hatchback 5-door), not a spec change.

Do not buy restyle 1.8 MT 90 hp or restyle 2.0 MT 121 hp for speed. Versus 1.6 MT, the 90 hp 1.8 MT is 1.1 s slower and 0.5 L mixed worse; the 121 hp 2.0 MT is 0.5 s slower than 1.6 MT with consumption not measured. The 1.8 you want, if you want a 1.8, is 1.8 MT 110 hp: 20 hp and 2.6 s (restyle 11.9 versus 14.5) over the 90 hp twin. In 1 generation that 110 hp 1.8 MT is stronger still: 10.8 s, mixed 7.3, fuel 98.

Buy 1 generation 2.0 MT 132 hp rather than restyle 2.0 MT 132 hp if both are on the table: 10.0 s versus 12.9 s, 203 versus 195 km/h, 1238 versus 1320 kg, mixed both 9.1. The restyle of this name is 82 kg heavier and 2.9 s slower for the same 132 hp and 180 Nm.

Buy 1 generation 2.0 MT 150 hp when you want the peak naturally aspirated 4-cylinder: 150 hp, 75.1 hp/L, 9.6 s, 213 km/h, mixed 8.9, 1302 kg. Versus 1 generation Turbo 2.0 MT 147 hp it is 3 hp up, 52 Nm down (183 versus 235), 0.1 s slower (9.6 versus 9.5), same 213 km/h, 74 kg lighter, and it has a mixed figure (8.9) while the Turbo’s consumption is not measured. Versus restyle Turbo 147 hp it is 0.4 s quicker, 8 km/h faster, 1.0 L mixed better than the restyle Turbo’s 9.9, and 73 kg lighter.

Buy restyle 2.0 MT 147 hp Turbo when you need restyle years and the 235 Nm peak at 2500 rpm (versus 180 Nm at 4200 on restyle 132 hp). You pay 10.8 s instead of 1 generation Turbo’s 9.5 s, and mixed 9.9 versus not measured on the earlier Turbo.

Buy 3.0 MT when 190 hp and 267 Nm are the point. Restyle Manual is the quicker of the two Manuals (8.2 versus 8.4 s) and the more highway-efficient (8.0 versus 8.5) despite 55 kg extra kerb. 1 generation 3.0 MT is the lighter kerb (1415 versus 1470) and the higher payload (585 versus 480 kg). Fuel is 95 on 1 generation and 92 on restyle. 3.0 AT is the restyle pick only if Automatic and the 255 km/h figure matter more than the 1.5 s lost to the Manual.

Buy restyle 2.0 MT 109 hp Diesel when restyle diesel must approach gasoline 132 hp times: 12.5 s and 191 km/h versus restyle 2.0 MT 132 hp at 12.9 s and 195 km/h, with 70 Nm more (250 versus 180). Consumption for this 109 hp is not measured, so you cannot claim it uses less fuel than 1.9 MT 90 hp mixed 6.9.

Buy 1 generation 1.9 MT 90 hp as the measured diesel that combines the lowest mixed (6.7), the lowest city (7.6), and 12.7 s — 1.4 s quicker than restyle 1.9 MT 90 hp. 1.9 MT 68 hp / 1.9 AT 68 hp / 1.9 AT 69 hp are the bottom of the power band (68–69 hp, 120 Nm); take them only if Automatic diesel in 1 generation is the constraint, and then prefer the 69 hp 1.9 AT solely because it has a measured 23.4 s sheet, while 68 hp 1.9 AT 0–100 is not measured.

Problems and reliability are not in the data: there is no failure rate, no service interval, no hydro-sphere life figure. What is measured and shared by almost every version is Independent hydropneumatic front and rear, Disc brakes both ends, FWD, 65 L tank, and 160 mm clearance where listed. Those do not separate versions. Version choice on this model is engine, valves, Turbo, gearbox, and which of the two first-generation bodies carries that engine.