Citroen Xantia - for those who want to try hydraulic suspension inexpensively

Citroen cars are not in great demand in Russia. But those who have tried them once often return to the brand. After all, French cars have charm and are not similar to what their competitors produce.


As for the notoriety, if you look at it, it came from the service station workers. And they have already spread it among relatives, friends and acquaintances.

It’s just that people often don’t want to improve their skills, including repair skills. It's easier for them to fix similar cars. And Citroen models have always been distinguished by their own engineering features.


But those who have mastered the repair of French equipment feel great. They work in garages, often illegally, and often have appointments months in advance.


The cost of cars is quite affordable. We offer cars in more or less decent condition from 180 thousand rubles. In Belarus you can find from 100 thousand. You will only have to pay a recycling fee.

Short story

Citroen Xantia debuted in 1992. It was a rather specific five-door hatchback in appearance. However, the design turned out to be quite in the spirit of the French manufacturer.


The cars were equipped with gasoline engines with volumes of 1,8 and 2,0 liters. The latter were eight and sixteen valves. Motor power in horsepower:

✅ 101
✅ 121
✅ 153

The latest power unit is a sixteen-valve 2,0. The first, respectively, is 1,8 liters.

There were also two diesel engines with a volume of 1,9 liters - naturally aspirated and turbocharged. Power – 69 and 90 “horses”, respectively.

Gearboxes are five-speed mechanical. The drive is front-wheel drive.


In 1994, a new engine appeared - 1,6 gasoline with 89 liters. With. The car gets an automatic transmission in the most expensive versions. The Activa package is being offered to customers.

In 1995, the Citroen Xantia debuted as a station wagon. This version, according to many Russian drivers, looks more harmonious. A year later, a V6 engine with a volume of 2,9 liters and a power of 190 hp appears in the model range. With. Diesel engines have been replenished with a 2,1 power unit with 109 horsepower.

In 1998, the model was restyled. A number of external changes appeared, the car began to look more modern, although a piece of the French charm was lost. In 2002, the model was discontinued.

Who needs an old Citroen?

Buying a foreign car of any age is not an easy task. It is recommended to calculate all risks and possible costs. For example, premium, even when aged, it is advisable to maintain and repair it with expensive parts. And the more options, the higher the chances that they will fail.


On the other hand, expensive cars have a greater safety margin than budget cars. Plus, rare models are simply capable of delivering aesthetic pleasure to their owners.

As for the Citroen Xantia, this car will definitely be more expensive to maintain than its German classmates. Of course, you can repair the car yourself, but you will have to study the design features.

But the car will do:

✅ For lovers of outdoor recreation
✅ For hunters
✅ For fishermen
✅ Mushroom pickers

Thanks to the hydropneumatic suspension, the vehicle's ride height can be adjusted in several positions.

But this does not mean that the model has the makings of an SUV. The adjustable suspension is designed primarily to ensure that the car remains at the same height regardless of the load. Although, if necessary, the ground clearance can be increased from 163 to 240 mm.


Those who like to move around in comfort will also appreciate the Citroen Xantia. After all, this model was aimed precisely at such “gourmets” in its time. It is here in Russia that cars have begun to be used for other purposes.

Suspension features

Citroen comfort has already become the talk of the town. The car owes it to its proprietary hydropneumatic suspension. It differs in the specifics of its work. There are no springs or leaf springs - the struts are connected to the spheres. Inside the latter there is a membrane dividing them into two parts. One contains hydraulic fluid, proprietary, of course. The other half contains nitrogen under pressure.


The Citroen Xantia usually has six spheres - before 1993 there were one less. If you come across the “hydroactive” version, then a couple of additional cylinders will be added there to adjust the stiffness of the suspension. This is necessary so that the car behaves more sportily on the track.


Despite all the complaints about these unreliable hydraulic and air suspensions, there are minimal problems with the Citroen system. Everything here has been worked out for decades. The main thing is that the spheres do not allow gas and liquid to pass through. As a rule, they last for five years on average.

Replacing spheres is not difficult. The main thing is to install the original, otherwise you will have to change the “pears” every one and a half or two years. If you set a goal, factory spheres can be restored. As a rule, this lasts for two years, no more.

The ride height adjustment mechanism must be checked before purchase - raise and lower the car in all positions. Everything there may turn sour or be bent. To avoid problems in the future, you need to “drive” the suspension a couple of times a month.


Only this is done sequentially, waiting until the car takes the next position. Otherwise, the “rocker arms” in the suspension adjustment mechanism may bend.

The main problems

When buying a Citroen Xantia, first of all you need to look at the condition of the body. Like any old car, the car can be rotten - restoring it will cost more than it was purchased for.

However, Citroen is famous for its galvanized bodies, so if you want, you can find a copy without corrosion. But it is unlikely that such a car can be purchased at the bottom of the market.


As for the engines, they have no proprietary “sores”. The main thing is to initially look at the condition of the power unit. If he was followed, you can hardly expect problems in the future.

The only thing that can be mentioned separately is the 2,9 V6 engine. It is very rare. The Citroen Xantia drives decently with this power unit, and the equipment is usually rich. But engine repair is a headache. Spare parts are difficult to obtain, and there are practically no such parts on the used market. On the other hand, nowadays everything can be ordered via the Internet, the only question is the cost.


Manual gearboxes are reliable - they have no proprietary “sores”. Unless the aluminum synchronizers fail if you shift in a sporty manner. By the way, with 2,9 gasoline and 2,1 diesel engines, manual transmissions were installed without this design feature.


The power steering and brake system of the Citroen Xantia are connected to the suspension hydraulics. If there is a fluid leak somewhere, everything will suffer. Moreover, the engineers foresaw this. Therefore, first of all, the suspension fails, then the steering. Only at the very end of the brake.

By the way, if half of the hydraulic fluid is missing in the system, the car will stop. As a last resort, you can use the handbrake. He's the front one here.

To summarize, it is worth noting that the Citroen Xantia is not a car for everyone, especially considering its age. But for those who love comfort and non-standard design solutions, it will suit. It definitely won’t be boring with “Ksenia”!