The Sleeper That Cornered Faster Than A Ferrari - Citroen Xantia Activa

A less unassuming car you are unlikely to find.. and yet the Activa cornered faster than a Honda NSX and a Ferrari 512 TR!! It was all down to an incredible new suspension system that should have revolutionised cars.. Today I find out why despite it being so good it was a still a commercial failure.
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Thumbnail Picture taken from L'argus. French car magazine. Full article here: www.largus.fr/...
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[@Rapscallion2009]

So funny: Car companies in the 1990s: "We've managed to make a family car with F1 technology so it corners like a sports car and rides like a limo". Car companies in 2024: "You can't use the heated seats or sports suspension until you pay a monthly subscription to use the features you just paid for"

[@djdrastic1]

Suspension as a service ( SAAS)

[@gplusgplus2286]

...but it also has a crap engine.

[@cuscoothriyas5163]

​@@gplusgplus2286 Japan would like a talk with you

[@kavinskysmith4094]

what car companies are doing that and why havent you bankrupted them yet, as it sounds like some idiots from the video game industry got into the car one and just like gaming their trying to turn it into gta online with that stupid plus service they got going, which isnt working out so well for ubisoft nor ea but sadly EA's got the sportgames and those people buy anything with a football logo on it

[@sebastianfernandez3974]

@@gplusgplus2286 The V6 ES9 is not a sports engine, but that doesn't make it crap. It's actually very good: loads of torque at low revs, relatively frugal, smooth, and very reliable.

[@kourloulinos]

Car development back then: "Let's try to improve performance, handling and safety by incorporating rallying and F1 technology to everyday cars". Car development today "let's try to fit a 60" smart tv in the dashboard"

[@KingCast65]

EXACTLY.

[@davidyoung9561]

Cars of today bore me to death.

[@petrousiliousthezwackel]

the reason is the chinese market which is the most important also for european car companies

[@sometimesidreamaboutcheese]

we have some modern russian proverb about same situations which sounds in english like: "- Yura*, we're f-cked up everything" (*Yuri Gagarin)

[@KPAP31]

@ you are completely right, and the car journalists when the make a review of a new car, it is like making a review of a smartphone... only a few lines for handling, dynamics, without any analysis at all!!!

[@cologne2792]

I love the old French approach: "How is everyone else doing something? Right, well we're not doing like it then." TVR seems to have the same philosophy. Love them both.

[@laakeri84]

It's the approach Renault has been using. Citroën anyway has examined the needs, decided what the requirements are and made it fulfill them while being as simple as possible. For example BX and Xantia were very simple cars. And reliable.

[@davidyoung9561]

I love the French for being different.

[@coudaman4342]

@@davidyoung9561 thanks man !

[@elriv76]

Looking nice and driving smooth untill you need to do service or change some suspension. Then you will see the French philosophy ;)

[@laakeri84]

@@elriv76 At least basic (and Hydractive II) Xantias are very easy to service.

[@maranhello69]

In France there was a commercial on TV which explain that the Xantia Activa can manage turns without the slightest rolling, perfectly vertical just like Carl Lewis during athletics competitions. In the video, Carl Lewis answer "If a car can do that, then I become a monk". And at the end of the video, of course he wear a monk suit...

[@dreisteiner1203]

🤣

[@KuzanBF3]

Lol i remember this legendary tv advertising i was very young. TV advertising from 90's in France was almost all bangers.

[@granturismoslotcars]

The "moose test" was invented by swedish car magazine Teknikens värld. It became world famous when they flipped the Mercedes A class late 90'.s

[@peanuts2105]

And that wheelbarrow, a Toyota Hilux

[@motoboy6666]

Wasnt it ”Vi bilägare” and test driver Marianne Sterner.

[@alessioschiavone3898]

darn you sweden, that made us loose the extreme comfort of older designed suspensions

[@sinashishehgarha3023]

You believe it or not, this has been my only car for the last twenty years, and even now, after about 500k miles, I still can't even think about changing it 😊. My love forever ❤️

[@pictlandpickers1171]

Kilometres?

[@ivanmatusic5540]

800k.

[@sinashishehgarha3023]

@@ivanmatusic5540 That should be it👍

[@GB-vn1tf]

That's impressive! The only French cars that do that many miles are always Citroëns! Amazing when they're made from sput and tissue paper! I had a dyanne 6 (2CV) that had holes everywhere but still drove as well as it did new, mechanically they're incredible.

[@sinashishehgarha3023]

@GB-vn1tf Oh... Dyanne6 actually was quite impressive peculiar suspension and low maintenance cost, quite impressive car. But citroën xantia is a quite different story, hydro pnomatic active suspension, carpet like ride, impressive handling, spacious cabin, 16 valve 2000cc injection with about 150 horsepower with quite impressive low fuel mileage and plenty others made it a perfect everyday drive car. You just need to do regular maintenance for suspension, preventing leakage, and you're good to go 🥰

[@JurgenLahey]

I had an Xantia Activa as my first car after having learned how to drive with my dad's "normal' Xantia. A few more things the "Activa" could do better than the normal one...its system would also use inputs from the steering angle, as well as acceleration or deacceleration values from the ECU and suspension sensors to compensate through the suspension. Meaning it would beef up the rear suspension under heavy acceleration to avoid a squatting rear end beef up the front suspension under braking. So it was also relatively flat in those directions. Ironically "beefing up" means cutting out the pressurized spheres to have "no suspension", that's why it had so many extra spheres in comparison of the normal hydraulic suspension to be able to quickly compensate if "suspension" was needed. Original are also grey and a bit more oval than the standard green ones. It's was a great car to drive, very easy to fly through long sweepers with speeds you didn't think any car could do. But dangerous when you went over the top, because it was prone to "snap" oversteer instead of understeer like the "normal" Xantia....grip, grip, grip and then 4 wheel drift with the back-end out 😀. I think the overall production cost and high maintenance cost was the reason for Citroën to kill it off (try finding the original grey flat sphere for an Activa now ;-) )

[@belindathorne9784]

I wonder how much faster it could be with an LSD and track tyres.

[@stefankarlsson8215]

It did not cut the out the spheres! I cut out the middle/comfort sphere (3spheres per axle, when accelerating, braking, turning the steering wheel hard. You still had suspension but with "harder" settings for dampening and suspension. This was contolled electrically on all Hydractive cars , Xantia and XM. The anti roolbars was controlled by a mechanical system. Pressing the "Sport button", the green button in the video in front of the gear lever, made the Hydractive system "jump" to the harder setting earlier, with less provocation from the gas/brake pedal, steering wheel input so it was a very comfortable car "sunday" driving the car. Btw it's not the facelifted version that is being driven in this video. I had an "atmospheric" 2 l 16V, 135 "horses for almost 10 years. I sold the car when it had done 350 000 km. I used the car on the trackdays having people, driving Lotus Elans, Volvos with over 300hp, coming up to me how hard the engine was tuned, it was stock. On a twisty track I caught up to/ or drove away from these cars on the wtisty bits - on the strights I had no chance. Well, the Lotus, having 135hp according to the owner, didn't stand a chance.

[@PassiveMatrix]

My dad had a black Xantia, was by far my favourite car he's ever owned.

[@iannolan-f4g]

I was assistant to a photographer shooting a still image of this car cornering on the Kyalami racing circuit in South Africa. Dream job - we could only shoot at sunrise & sunset, so about 30 minutes a day in that part of the world! The rest of the day was spent sitting round the hotel pool or shopping in johannesburg. We were driven round the circuit by a racing driver who's name I can't recall, which was entertaining. Actor Bryan Brown was there also, shooting the TV advert.

[@vladislavstanimirovic9650]

Do you remember which camera/lens/film he used? Presumably something with a fast continuous shooting mode and autofocus like the Nikon F5 or Canon EOS1

[@malcolmjcullen]

Brine Brahn. There's a blast from the past.

[@iannolan-f4g]

@@vladislavstanimirovic9650 LOL - we used a 5x4" Deardorff camera! Totally unsuitable for the brief, but this was the crazy 90's when Ad agencies might throw serious money around in the hope of a quirky image.

[@yonmusak]

@@iannolan-f4g I bet that negative was a stunner! Love large format cameras!

[@iannolan-f4g]

@@yonmusak would have been a positive - a transparency.

[@darrenlucas2768]

I had one of these back in 2008. I took it to the Nurburgring and lapped under 10 minutes without trying hard. The chassis was, incredible....but when it did let go,the narrow semi sport tyres gave little warning because it felt like it was on rails almost everywhere.... It was a beautiful balanced machine, effortless. The engine gave a whisker under 180 bhp with a simple turbo bleed valve and a K&N panel filter on the Dyno, but the torque was the same as an original 3 door Cosworth Sierra after these simple mods,and it made a huge difference on the road making it far more sporty performance wise to match the chassis.The small turbo boosted quickly with this upgrade,on back roads it was very strong...i had no complaints atal.On the way back from Germany it clocked 147mph on 55 series tyres, must have been close to a genuine 140.....it was no slug. But alas, tech wise.....fragile. One of the rams started leaks and the computer that sorted the whole balancing of the car started to play up.....there were more spheres too to upkeep over a standard Xantia....15 if I remember, tech wise it was too complex for it's value at the time. Only ever owned one car that cornered better,a Mark 1 MR2..... but I don't think there was much to choose between them- enough said!

[@user-xu5vl5th9n]

What has changed is modern cars became insanely more complex, fine when they work but huge potential money pits when they don't. So in retrospect this looks like relatively simple engineering. This proved that cornering ability does not need suspension that feels like something from the Flintstones.

[@gerarduspoppel2831]

And too heavy. Way to heavy.

[@s2000.]

The standard hydropneumatic 6 sphere cars are super reliable, a purely mechanical system, all they want is good spheres, fresh oil and an very occasional greasing at the linkages. Now the activas and hydractives do deserve a bit of their reputation, only buy if you have an expert at hand or you're yourself an expert. There is a lot of points which ideally need looking over, like electrovalves and their diodes, which may fail. System pressures will be out of spec on old cars obviously, causing weird stiffness issues due to the suspension circuit pressure exceeding the main pressure on demanding roads, causing the electrovalve to shut into hard mode suddenly (I think this was fixed later on in production) or just plain up delays in its function. But still awesome cars.

[@module79l28]

@@gerarduspoppel2831 - *too heavy. 😉

[@gerarduspoppel2831]

@@module79l28 . Too* much information 😂

[@thiscocks]

@@s2000. I'd like one but yeah only if I had a decent Citroen specialist nearby!

[@oriusnex]

My dad had one of these, they're severely underrated.

[@noidontthinksolol]

they are really not lol. ive driven plenty (i`m a mechanic) and they are far from special

[@h533feg]

Nerd warning alert: it actually uses a hydro-pneumatic system not "hydraulic" suspension. It's a difference in the compressible material within the suspension. The Citroen unit uses a combination of a compressible gas AND a fluid, whereas hydraulic systems only use a compressible fluid. Sorry, had to be said 😉

[@andrewmcewan8081]

actually citreon called it hydrolic they had a number of different systems under that title . they were , 5 sphere hydropnematic,hydractive 2 suspension 7 sphere, hydropneumatic (antisink)suspension 6 spheres there may be more that i don't know.

[@thehound5794]

There were hydraulic lifts that were hydraulic and auto repair garages and there were some that were called airdraulic.

[@nad4yt]

"only use a compressible fluid" ??? fluids are not compressible ! It is by definition.

[@andrewmcewan8081]

@nad4yt I think he's comparing 2 different systems 1 uses fluid, one uses air hence they are differently compressible materials or whatever he says .he's not wrong you are.

[@nad4yt]

@@andrewmcewan8081 Am I ? Anyway, I'm not here to teach simple physics principles. You can believe that fluids are compressible if you like.

[@130rapid]

Little known fact: Xantia also has unique shape rear window (on tailgate) which removes a water by air flow over 40 mph.

[@IwillBwaiting]

Never knew that about the Xantia and I've owned one. Also Owned 2 CX's (which do have that weird styled window). I might be wrong but I think the Xantia's came with a wiper on the rear window so why have that if the car already removes the rain itself? The CX doesn't have a wiper. Nor does the newer C6 which has an even more sculpted rear window for same purpose. You might be mistaken about the car in my opinion.

[@130rapid]

@@IwillBwaiting Rear window is cleaned by airflow with no doubt, the rear wiper isn't needed. I have noticed it joining to expressway traffic, where the waterdrops' escape was best noticable. However, before I was using glass cleaner with some water repellent effect.

[@JoriDiculous]

That is one thing car manufacturer really need to think more about. It was the same on the 1994 Mazda 323F (BA i think it was called in UK). Why on earth that one had a rear window wiper i cant quite understand. I'm in Norway so drove that thing in snow and of course rain, and the rear window stayed clean all the time. Looks like that rear wiper was there just because "everyone one else have one".

[@6ettinold]

My ex's Dad was sent off by his bosses to find himself a company car. Our local Citroen dealer had registered a metallic red Activa ( on a R plate ) but the buyer who's placed a hefty deposit never collected the car. So it was sold to my ex's Dad for £13k. It was a fantastic thing & very underrated - only those in the know, knew. The subtle looks never helped with sales.

[@Yogi5D]

My dad has a 2005 Citroen C5 Diesel with hydraulic suspension and after 19 years it has never missed a beat. Incredible engineering.

[@MP-po6fj]

19 years hasn't missed a beat powerul that mate. Many more years driving

[@James-cs2wi]

A car many years ahead of its time😊

[@Bumper3D]

Xantia in general is an underrated car. I've had a few over the years, and even whenever I switch to something more modern or just different, I always find myself yearning for yet another Xantia after a while. They just got most everything right: They're great to drive, comfortable, reliable, still feel sturdy and rattle-free after almost 3 decades and even look pretty timeless. It's one of those cars where I always feel right at home, and even the bog-standard non-hydractive ones are fantastic to drive on any kind of road.

[@steveboatronics]

I’ve been privileged to have owned no less than three C6s; all DERVs: two 2.7s and a 3.0HDi. These 1.9-tonne land yachts possess Hydractive III active oleopneumatic suspension, being a mild-but-advanced (and reliable) version of Activa. On many an occasion I have “taken out” lairy boys on roundabouts - M3/Audi TTS/205(yes, 205!) GTI/Audi RS3/Golf R. The TTS quattro driver was stunned when this huge lump of Frenchness yomped past on the outer-circumference lane. On Falken 245/45-18 midrange rubber. In the wet…

[@khalidacosta7133]

The top C6's had the adaptive dampers from the pug 407. Which made it the best suspension you could get, on any car. At any time.

[@theoriginalghostmanghostma2385]

The French knew a thing or two about handling ❤

[@urievankerr3933]

FYI, the C6 does NOT have a version of the SC.CAR system on the Activa...........HA3+ is a development of the HA.2 system on the Xantia/XM. The SC.CAR (roll-control) is additional to that "standard" system, it was never fitted to any other car, the Xantia ACTIVA was the only one.

[@alfamonk]

@@khalidacosta7133 errr...that's quite a bold claim.

[@stefankarlsson8215]

@@khalidacosta7133 Wrong!

[@glynroberts4006]

A true drivers car, well before it’s time and a joy to look at. I was lucky enough to buy one 2 years back as it was always a dream of mine to own, allways puts a smile on my face

[@jagracershoestring609]

The Citroen BX, and XM were pretty good too. The XM had computer controlled suspension, and would drive flat out over pretty rough roads, I did 30k miles in until it dropped a valve. The BX was fragile, but far more comfortable than most of today's cars. I was doing 40k a year in my high mileage 1.9 Diesel with the XUD engine. The achillies heel of the Xantia diesel was the injection system, but you are right about the handling. Prone to burst hydraulic pipes, no brakes or suspension then.

[@DenUitvreter]

The BX was very light too, it rolled a lot but if you just let it it was pretty quick.

[@france4me117]

I drove the Citroën Xantia V6 for 7 years and I absolutely loved it ... Brilliant car indeed and I absolutely love Citroën xoxo

[@valentinexristov8915]

My dad started my love for Citroens. When I was born, he came in to the hospital with a bright red BX 1.9. After the BX he had also bought a XM which was very very decent car. He sold the XM, bought one Activa which he crashed and then a normal Xantia which I remember to this day. Sold them, and few years after that he bought a C5 (2007). And in recent times, 4 months ago I managed to visit Spain and buy myself a Petrol V6 C6. And sadly, this is the last true Citroen. There will be no like it ever.

[@martinchovrum]

My dad has 2 Xantias, one of which is an Activa. They don't drive on the road, they glide over it. The most comfortable driving car I've been in. We live close to some mountain roads and he loves to rip trough the corners without spilling his coffee. Truly a great car. When I get my license I really want to buy a C6 or a newer C5 with the hydropneumatic suspension.

[@valentinexristov8915]

@@martinchovrum Sadly, The C6's are very very rare to come by. They are getting older, with the newest one being already 12 years old (Stopped prod in 2012). Next issue - Parts availability when something goes wrong(Because it will). It's terrible, crazy expensive and crazy rare to buy. Third Issue - Engine choices- Diesels are crazy bad. V6 HDi's are with poor reliability, only good choice is 2.2HDi, but it's a 4 cyl. engine with twin turbos. Last choice - Petrol V6, incredibly rare (About 2500 ever produced), thirsty, not very fast, and also has some reliability issues. But far better than V6 hdi. I think you would be better with C5 X7. The C6 is beautiful and hard to keep.

[@timwhelan4432]

Thanks for sharing! Also grew up in Citroens - BXs and a xantia

[@leftmono1016]

I had a bright red BX as my first company car. It was only a stopgap, so only had it 6 months or so. But it firmly put me off Citroens for life! Easily the worst car I’ve ever driven. Next car was a Cavalier, it felt like a luxury car after the BX.

[@martinchovrum]

@@valentinexristov8915 sorry for the late response. Thanks for sharing those tips, I'll definitely look into them. Both Xantias have a 2.0 HDi and so far we've never had really big problems with them. Only special maintenance is for the suspension where we fill the spheres with nitrogen every 1-2 years, instead of getting a new set of spheres which would cost a lot compared to the price of the car.

[@genzigzag]

Love your content, not unlike the Big Car channel. You have the leg up as you drive an example and provide a history lesson!

[@Number27]

I appreciate that! Thanks 🙏

[@markcowell8096]

Had an M reg Xantia 1.9 Turbo D. It was one of the best cars I've ever owned. Effortless cruising, but ridiculous fun around the Essex county lanes. And those 4 doors and massive tailgate could take a huge amount of cargo. Great memories of Citroen when they were still a bit bonkers

[@tobymcnicol922]

@markcowell8096 I had one too... can confirm the above!

[@RichieRouge206]

I ha e loved these from day one, my neighbour had a 1995 1.8 16v and it was the comfiest car I've ever travelled in. The thing that's very ironic is that maybe people were scared off with the technology where today cars are far more complex and huge money pits and I'd have more faith in a 25yo Citroën than a wheeled modern laptop. Great review - also the V6 was actually sold in the UK albeit for a short time.

[@s2000.]

I guess people are not scared of the tech they don't see. Citroen is pretty obvious with its suspension, I mean it goes up and down every day and has green grenades under the bonnet. I agree its very much dependable, nearly purely mechanical and will outlast todays laptop-cars. Oh yeah V6 auto exclusives were sold in the UK, but not in activa form ever. But conversions have been done, requiring an 406 coupe transmission and a V6 exclusive for the engine and supporting systems.

[@nearlythere9443]

I owned a Xantia, not the Activa it was an earlier car. It was fantastic and 100% reliable. After I finished with it, I sold it to a friend for his daughter, before she crunched it, it had covered 180k miles.

[@willp2936]

The most stylish slick looking car of the last 50 years (I put the Citroen SM as 2nd because it's not as "elegant"), no one has ever produced a rectangular shape creating that impact. When you see one in the flesh it is "wow!". Thank you Jack! It's a really important car.

[@SamSzulman]

I owned an Activa for 8 years and it was a supreme family car. Versatile enough to fit all the equipment needed for 3 young children, beautifully calm when cruising on road trips and would embarss almost everything on winding roads. Surprisingly, we had zero faults in the first 5 years and only minor issues towards the end. Oh and I loved the looks compared to all the competition. I still miss it.

[@wouterkolkman]

My dad had a standard one as his last car for almost 20 years! I owned one of the first U.K. 2L ones on a K reg and covered many comfortable miles with its built-in 6 speaker sound system and fully opening sun roof. Many fond memories.

[@alunhoskins4513]

I’ve had a few Citroën’s in my time - a Dyane back in the mid 70’s was my first. They were all special cars, not necessarily the best screwed together, but they were always special. And different, not a car for sheeple. Frustrating at times certainly but usually very clever vehicles.

[@murrieteacher]

I tried to keep up with one of these through some Northern New South Wales (Australia) country roads very late in the evening on a derestricted road. The drivier just walked away from me. Thanks Jack for the video, I had forgotten about that evening.

[@divad23]

The proportions of this Xantia are just perfect.

[@ryanmccormick2150]

My dad had one! Would of been around 1998.....I absolutely loved it as a young lad! Great memories in the Activa!

[@130rapid]

I'm owning one since 15 years, now for long journeys only, called her DuchXess. ;) My daily vehicle is Toyota hybrid, which is actually reliable LESS (!) and tends to rust-in-peace. ;) The weakest point of Xantia suspension is previous owner (who didn't service items correctly).

[@3anpaul]

Great review Jack, I think you sum it up very well. I had one of these back in the day and the Activa driving experience was noticeably different to the regular Xantia -actually a bit stiffer and less light footed (and considerably so from the previous nimble BX). The 2.0t UK engine was turbine smooth but very flat in power delivery and with limited ultimate oomph. It also guzzled petrol at around 25mpg (even with the lightest of feet I never managed to stretch it to 30). But it was never (or supposed to be) a sports car - instead it felt more like travelling in a TGV train - smooth, remarkably solid, quiet and - always level. It's forte was 'A' roads with multiple roundabouts (the ones where you just want to go straight on but have to slow right down to get round) - in the Activa you could almost take the roundabout without slowing at all, easily outpacing the other traffic (unless you had to slam on the superb brakes to give way of course). In fact it was a car that made you feel like you were going much slower than you actually were - quite the opposite of 'excitement', but you were superbly comfortable.

[@blarkdexture8899]

Cars of today are just pathetic compared to this.

[@Bsc8]

Expecially Cars from France, now were in the Stellantis dark age.

[@lynby6231]

I used to work on these as a Citroën technician, when they were on a four poster lift you could move the body roll sensor and the whole vehicle would jerk from side to side as the dummy anti roll bars (hydraulic rams) extended and contracted, it was startling to watch.

[@GTE_Channel]

Modern cars have no souls

[@towermoss]

Dunno about that

[@nickvledder]

Yes, of course they are. Everyone wants a crossover or SUV! Normal cars are rare these days.

[@petayV8]

This is a classic example of why people should see cars for what they are and not for how everyone perseives them

[@MiletaStijovic_ActivaV6]

Finally a nice review of the Xantia Activa. A lot of people misunderstand the Sport button. It does not automatically stiffen the suspension. The suspension ECU switches between stiff and comfort all the time, with the press of that button it just does it more quick / often or better said, it's more rigorous. Never the less, I consider myself lucky to have one of those, especially with a V6 engine as they are almost impossible to find today.

[@HerrSchmitti]

Hey my friend! V6 owner here, too! Just for your interest, mine got valued at about 25000€ here in Germany in 2+ condition. So you're sitting potentially on a lot of value!

[@MiletaStijovic_ActivaV6]

@@HerrSchmitti Thanks for the heads up. That's a nice sum but I don't think I'd ever have the heart to sell it.

[@russhumphreys8109]

I got to drive one around Silverstone, probably in the early 90's. It was just freaky😮 your brain just couldn't accept what it was doing. A professional driver also took me through a slalom, again just freaky. On the same day a professional driver took me around the track in an NSX. By lap 3 I was searching for the sick bag😂

[@VisorView]

I had Xantia 2.0. I loved it. Had a house I was renovating in France and used to load it up with all sorts and haul it down there. The suspension was amazing. Keypad security. I left it too late for the ferry and ended up cruising at 100mph for 100 miles on the way back (no cameras in those days). Amazing all round car.

[@steve1962]

I knew someone who had one of these - we went for a spin and I was gobsmacked at the handling!!!

[@matthewlewis2072]

I used one of these, possibly the same model. Wonderful car, actually quite well built, pretty, easy to drive. Loved it.

[@hartoz]

Couple of extra things, the Xantia in the UK also came with the Peugeot 2.0 16v engine (from the MI-16) which was faster than the turbo. It also had passive rear wheel steering. The boot lid on the Xantia was made of composite material to keep the weight of the tailgate down. I had one, and they were amazing cars (and surprisingly reliable for a French car).

[@theoriginalghostmanghostma2385]

Amazing that Citroën got there first, a *lot* of modern range rover product has the fibreglass (sorry, composite 😂) tailgate. Bunch of warranty issues though as they cracked up round the hinges ❤

[@Raptor3388]

@@theoriginalghostmanghostma2385 The Citroen AX had a composite tail gate. This car was too light for its own right though.

[@DenUitvreter]

Lots of Citroens were reliable, old Peugeots too.

[@huwprice881]

@@Raptor3388I had two AX GT's and they were fabulous. And yes, very light. Mine were called Yog, and Yog II (imaginatively!). I wish I had the mk1 still now.

[@Raptor3388]

@@huwprice881 I only had a "Tonic" 1.1L 60hp my parents bought new in 1996. Even with such a small engine, it was a lot of fun and enough to scare myself on small roads. I can't imagine with 25 more power...I guess that's why most of them are gone. I have a project in the back of my mind to make a replica of the Xanthia concept car with an AX.

[@DavidHallworth]

I've got one of these in the UK with the 3.0 V6 engine in it. It's a massive upgrade over the 2.0 TCT engine. Mine's only covered 53k miles and it makes you smile every time you approach a bend.

[@kpsig]

Isn’t it very nose heavy?

[@DavidHallworth]

@@kpsig No. The 2.0 turbo was an iron block whereas the V6 is aluminium so there’s not much difference in it. It actually feels more planted than the 2.0 when cornering. The V6 is smoother, more refined, sounds better, uses less fuel and goes better than the 2.0, it’s the perfect package in the Activa.

[@stickfingersRoF]

@@DavidHallworth As the owner of a V6 ACTIVA I 100% agree with David. A fast A/B road car does not need revs (as you have to use with the 2ltr) it is best when using the torque of the ES9 V6. It allows for VERY smooth driving technique that suits the car/suspensions massive advantage allowing you to maintain fast progress over extended periods without getting worn out physically. In the 2ltr cars you just have to work hard all the time to maintain the same progress. In a "normal" car, well not need to comment. Some say the 2ltrs are a bit quicker on the track (I am sure for some that is correct).....but the Xantia is not and never will be a good track car, that is not the point of such a car or the suspension.

[@Paul-67]

I enjoyed this review. I’ve had BX’s and Xantias, I now own a 2009 C5 2.2hdi exclusive. Great cars.

[@oploupe]

My own car was reg. no. R142 HKV all those years ago. Recall keeping up with a Focus RS owner on my b-road commute, who then followed me into the office car park, got out and asked, "What, in the name of all that's holy, is THAT!?" Also, best snow car ever. EDIT: just checked, my car is now SORNd and was last MOT'd 28 September 2009. Knowing Citroens as I do, poor thing will be rusting gently somewhere in a back garden, with nobody aware of just how truly astonishing it was.

[@makkapacca]

I had R249 HKV Great fun car!

[@oploupe]

@@makkapacca Your car is SORNd too! Someone, somewhere, knows how amazing it is. Even if they aren't driving it.

[@V8Operator]

At the time I was a Citroen dealer and was convinced of the fantastic Activa System.I drove all versions incl. the 2.1 Diesel. You could drive circles around all "Premium" Mercedes, BMW and Audi cars, no matter if it was an AMG, M or RS. Suspension and chassis wise there was no enemy at all. Best engine was the fantastic V6.24. Top speed around 240-250 km/h. The speedo needle nearly went back to the zero position. Problem: the doors "opened" at topspeed around the A-Pillars as the body was not designed for speeds like that!

[@stickfingersRoF]

eRRR......The doors DO NOT open at top speed in a Activa.........this information is total rubbish.

[@Chr.Monika6469]

Citroën is incredibly underrated, even though their finances were never good ever since the 80's. they always tried their best with innovations and technologies

[@francis2811]

I had that car! I really miss it and the comfort. Shame they no longer make that fabulous suspension system.

[@kkx8268]

I had a Xantia Break Exclusive for around 5 years. It had it's flaws but it was the car i loved the most, the sitting position, cockpit, driving long distances, the feeling inside it, the engine 120 hp was really powerful and easy to reach 180 kmh. Still thinking of my old Xantia sometimes. My girlfriend at these time hated my Xantia Break... still dont know why but sometimes she asked me if she can go shopping with my Xantia (probably she liked the Xantia too but didn't want to name it :))

[@robertp.wainman4094]

When Citroen still made 'different' cars - they're running scared nowadays!

[@RouandSido]

Loved you review, and specially this, especially that these cars could be found where I live since we're short on new imports. Your comment on the complexity of maintenance is also quite realistic, without trained technicians by the manufacturer it is a nightmare

[@IwillBwaiting]

When we were living in the UK we bought a second hand (or fifth hand) Xantia 1.8 for about 900 quid. Was the facelift model like with the bumpers in body colour which was burgundy. The day of the purchase I booked an appointment at the nearest dealership to have the fluids checked of the suspension and some bits and bobs. Spent about 400 quid on that and after that we drove many many miles going back and forth to the Netherlands. Smoothest miles possible I might add, Road bumps are non existing at any speed, nor are the potholes. I think theres a collector somewhere in the Netherlands who has quite a few of these activas including the V6 models. Very decent car with no faults ever. Good attempt to attack the German competitors back in the day although I'm not sure they succeeded in that.

[@brianelstob9051]

Hi all . I had a v6 in the same colour and R plate. It was the V6 24 valve 3ltr exclusive it was my very much best car ive owned. I've had the face-lift model in red with cream leather on an S plate if I remember correctly. And my first xantia was a 1.9 td basic model . Many thanks for bringing back great memories of regular trips through some of Yorkshire and the crazy twistys ..

[@ronaldderooij1774]

I had an "ordinary" 2.0 16v automatic for four years. It was utterly reliable and no rust at all. But take the manual. The computerised "self learning" automatic gearbox was, well, learning wrong things mostly.

[@s2000.]

Ours was great while it worked, but then that electronic AL4 auto bricked itself right at 240k km and that was it. I agree take the manual for long term ownership plans, although it's a bit notchy and slow. Rust situation also really good when cared for.

[@theeeway7]

You are right. I recall a drive in 1984. The vehicle- Citroen Pallas 1.4. Astounding.

[@Tacko14]

Yep. Mine's also the story of the Failing Hydraulic Components. Like leaves in fall, every bit went one by one. It wasn't even an active one, just very neglected by a previous owner. Without that, I might still have it. I forgot that speedbumps even existed.

[@bjrnskjrup7961]

My mon and dad bought a Xantia from new in 1993. One of my clearest childhood memories is the one of my dad fixing the suspension with profanity, or a least that's what it sounded like. 11 years later my mom and dad, who was getting divorced, gave the car to my uncle as his wedding present. A short while later my uncle ran the car without oil on a holiday in Sweden and totaled the hole thing. I remember being as pissed as my dad fixing the suspension. Thank you for the video and the trip down memory lane

[@jo05dk]

A V6 Activa would be a VERY cool car to own.

[@mgnet]

Nope, the prv v6 was crap. The 2.0 16v was the one to get.

[@jo05dk]

@@mgnet Buy an old car with a hugely complicate suspension setup, and get sensible about the engine? No way. I'm 54 years old. I remember when these cars launched. I remember the issues with at least the 24V version of the V6. Never experienced a V6 in a Xantia sadly, but I had the joy of experiencing it in a few XMs. The V6 is wonderful, imho. You have to understand that we don't all like the same thing.

[@sebastianfernandez3974]

@@mgnet What PRV V6? That one was never mounted on the Xantia!

[@mgnet]

@@jo05dk OK esl not prv but none of these 3.0 v6 were astonishing...

[@jo05dk]

@@mgnet There you go again with “my opinion is facts”. Grow up please.

[@AmbroseB1900]

Wot no touch screen? Brilliant! Wot, velour seats? Brilliant again! I missed owning a Xantia, went straight from BX to a Mk1 C5 2.2HDi with Hydractive 3+ suspension with Sport mode (and velour seats); brilliant ride and I still miss them both. Current cars are a Cactus and a C4 Picasso; love 'em both, the Cactus is so nippy and handles bends well, but the Picasso is the ultimate in comfort, insanely quiet, roomy and just eats up the miles, not to mention massage seats and aircraft style recliner for the front passenger. Citroën owner for over 36 years. P S really enjoyed your video.

[@stephenboitoult8774]

Had a few Xantias on my books in the 90s and always loved the ride comfort and surprisingly good roadholding, even on the more basic and even diesel models. But my abiding memory is another piece of Citroens insistence on weirdness for it's own sake. In that the Handbrake operated on the FRONT brake pads. You'd come home with hot brakes and park on your sloping drive, applying the handbrake as you did so. Then, as the brakes cooled and the suspension dropped, the handbrake would lose it's grip and sometime later you'd find your beloved Xantia in your neighbours hedge over the road! My advice was simple, always park it in gear!

[@berth1740]

The reason for this is that when the hydraulic oil pressure drops, brakes stop to work. To be able to stop more or less safely, front brakes will do a far better job than the rear brakes. That is why the emergency break (handbrake) will function on the front wheels. I know this from experience.

[@zedbou5040]

The Xantia is a handsome car, and was the one that got away, for me. I really wanted one, as it was the close of the fantastic suspension. Having had a CX familliale, I tried an XM estate, but couldn't get on with it. When I was 21, I had an '84 launch model BX 16RS, then an '89 16RS, which I moved house with, still riding level, despite being fully packed, and enough momentum to test any other car braking system! Some years later, an '90 14RE. They were all great cars, they'd cruise all day, and surprisingly for me, last one was, the one I had the most affection for. It cost me next to nothing, navy blue, the smallest engine, but what a totally reliable slogger it was. I so love the Citroens that were. Thanks for the Xantia review. Maybe if I ever move back to GB, I'll try one.

[@tchemmer]

Lotus was taking journalists around their test track in a test mule with full active suspension to show what it could do, and there was some public interest in this Formula 1 derived suspension. Big car companies were quietly inquiring about licensing arrangements with Lotus. And then the FIA banned it from racing and all interest stopped. Why was it banned from F1? The story is that Ferrari couldn't match the technology and were being beaten on the track, so they got the powers that be to outlaw it. All cars should have this, modern automotive computer systems wouldn't break a sweat running it. Expensive cars would be where to start, imagine a Rolls Royce Phantom running this tuned for smoothness, or Lamborghini's with it tuned for performance. What's needed is for someone like Aston Martin to put it on a car and then trash production car lap records at the Nurburgring. People with Rolls and Aston type money would camp out to get one, and the technology would trickle down from there to cars like the Xantia.

[@secretsquirrel3793]

Thanks for this episode. The Xantia test is one of your best. I appreciate the wide variety of cars on your channel but this rare, idiosyncratic, affordable stuff is the best - more please!

[@mikegibbs210]

Try a Citroen BX GTI 16v if you can find one , absolute gem .

[@TheSimonhammond]

Already has. 😉

[@markpitts5194]

I'll go one better BX GTI 16v 4x4 !

[@philiptidmarsh]

I think Jack used to own one.

[@markpitts5194]

@@philiptidmarsh Greedy I know, I have two. neither road legal, one never to be again, but the red one.. next couple of years and shes back.

[@TheSimonhammond]

@@philiptidmarsh He did, sold it to JayEmm.

[@anthonydonnelly8419]

My first new car was a 1994 Xantia 1.9TD. Company car, I loved it. The Activa was the holy grail! Fabulous to see one still out there

[@DaleSteel]

Wow. I've never seen someone get excited by a xantia before. I remember my dad buy a new one and turning up at home with it for my mum as she'd just past her test. She drove it once. I never saw the car again after that.

[@howardmckenna]

That makes me think... Did you.see your mum again?

[@DaleSteel]

@@howardmckenna yes unfortunately 🤔😜😜😜

[@howardmckenna]

@@DaleSteel... 🤣🤣🤣

[@MotoMarios]

Hydraulic suspension has so many benefits it's amazing. cornering without rolling, ability to raise its driving level to off-road height, unsurpassed riding quality it's a multi-set of advantages. The hydraulic's eventual demise is a testament to drivers' either indifference or monolithic interest in power and power alone.

[@mikekoernich7372]

I've loved my hydropneumatic Citroens over the years but I never owned a Xantia. It's a shame that Citroen have stopped using the system.

[@pertbum1]

I had a cantina back in the day and i can honestly say it was a really good car, it was the most comfortable car i have ever had, i could drive from Kent to Manchester without feeling the need to stretch or give my bum a rest….true comfort

[@pertbum1]

Xantia not cantina 😂

[@robinhughes8822]

I miss the old French attitude of we don’t care we want to be different that Citroen used to have apart from the c4 cactus and the ami everything now is so bland and not quirky. I always wanted to import the v6 activa ,it would be a great sleeper

[@bwoo6223]

I had one in red, no badge on the boot, loved it.

[@daddyandy9591]

About a year ago, during tests in Moscow, on the "moose test", only the 911 GT3RS drove a little faster, but... with the ЕSС system, which the Xantia does not have.

[@matsfredsson9445]

We just loved our Xantias (Ok, 2-litre estates, but...), the comfort, the superb winter driving, the looks. So, I still want an Activa, I never forget the first test drive when it was launched. Amazing experience, when the car was absolutely flat on the road in sharp turns.

[@john1703]

Big brother XM had active roll control, which was fully automatic from 1994 onwards. Also scarily quick on open sweeping bends. In 1983, Lotus put active suspension on an Esprit. It could even be made to lean into corners, which was found to be very disconcerting. Ask test and F1 driver John Miles.

[@citroen_lukas4514]

XM had no active roll control. You mean Hydractive, it can stiffen the suspension by disconnecting the third sphere on each axis. This was also available at Xantias. Xantia Activa shown in the video has an active suspension which allows the car to stay leveled in corners and stop the body roll.

[@Rapscallion2009]

This thing, you mean? kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4G0Z2mcjJ6Fd68 that's Top Gear from the 80's. Very different from the Clarkson, Hammond and May era.

[@Nakkilauta]

@@citroen_lukas4514 Addition to disabling the 3rd sphere, It also blocks fluid flow from side to side, effectively making the anti roll bar stiffer. Obviously not at the same level as Activa, but there still was more than just making the spring rates higher when cornering.

[@sfjoos]

We are talking about an affordable mass-production car. The Lotus simply isn't

[@adrianflower3230]

Aahhh nostalgia! Thanks Jack 👍 I loved having 2 standard cars back to back in the noughties. Great cars. My family passengers hated them and always got queasy in the rear seats. Not happened in other cars of the day.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

Fantastic car loved the Xantia

[@martentrudeau6948]

Thanks Jack, what a great review on this French sleeper. Cool family car!!!

[@dusandestanovic5884]

CITROËN, LANCIA and BENTLEY - The Greatest Engineering Companies that Ever Existed.

[@AntJoseph_]

I dare add Lexus/Toyota in the equation

[@theoteddy9665]

why bentley?

[@Technobitsarchive]

Mercedes?

[@thierrymitchell5977]

Hi Jack! Thank you for reminding how ahead of it time this car was. Still have my grandpa's 99 2.0 16 V Exclusive, always a great pleasure to ride once in a while!

[@paulrobinson3649]

Bias against Citroen: 1. The suspension unreliable - fixed on the DS a long time ago. 2. It's complicated - only if you take it to a Ford dealer or other unsophisticated back street garage.

[@seanmohamad5701]

I like the handling of Citroen cars The only upside down to own is the cost of maintaining in my countries.

[@ackraux1010]

So many bots in the comments section 😭

[@joseadriancor]

I owned 2 1994 Xantias, I really love that car. How it drives, comfort, how it looks, it is a real marvel . Unfortunately here in Colombia there is no skilled mechanics to keep the proper maintenance

[@damieg82]

1:03 never ever say the numbers after a decimal point like you say them before a decimal point. It's "nought point nine four" not "nought point ninety four". There are no tens, hundreds etc after a decimal. There are tenths (a fraction), hundredths (a fraction) etc, hence it why it cannot be ninety four

[@albertduncan6365]

Yeah literally stood out for me was so weird to hear it mentioned that way

[@gheorghiualex]

@@albertduncan6365for non native it makes sense either way but won't argue with what is correct

[@julienboucaron9780]

Even without the Activa this is a car that drives nicely on the highway and you are not tired after a long trip

[@chrisoncars4879]

I owned one of these for 5 years, sold it in 2016. They're awesome, cover real world roads like nothing else I've been in. I had the boost turned up on mine, went pretty well!

[@GB-vn1tf]

I drove a Xantisla once and was amazed how well it handled. It's probably the best handling car I've ever driven, it definitely was at the time I drove it around the mid 90s.

[@StuartPeacock-e2t]

Drive one from Birmingham to London around ‘97- ‘98 and was pleasantly surprised with its handling on winding roads at night. Very impressed

[@hungrysurfer9471]

I had an Activa HDi remaped to about 136hp and 220 lbs torque. Superb to drive. Weighed about 1400kg so lighter than modern cars. Dont know why they complain about reliability mine did 283,000 miles in 14 years. That snap oversteer was if you lifted off mid corner on a bumpy road. But it was catchable. Another quality it had was amazing traction mid corner even in the wet despite being tuned. With those 1990s tyres it was quick mid corner.

[@jparker1901]

I recall a demo at Motorshow Italy early 90s where a Xantia on 3 wheels (one wheel removed) did a tour of a kart track with a wine glass on the roof and it completed the lap with no spill

[@SuperScreamerBand]

I had the V6 version and can't understand why I ever sold it. It was a fantastic car. And the V6 has a wonderful characteer.

[@mbj__]

Excellent video! Thanks. And I love videos focusing on cars that most of us could afford if we wanted to. Much more fun than reviews of recent supercars. Keep up the good work 👏👌

[@gileshalliwell3591]

I remember reading in Car Magazine that suspension designers really hated low profile tyres as, for the most part they were too focussed on “looks” rather than complimenting the actual suspension system… Citroen and Peugeot always understood this.

[@SLAmey-mu9hd]

Great cars and, fairly well built. So comfortable and distinctive looking. I owned a 1999 Series 2 2.0 Hdi 110 Exclusive and it was a perfect midrange car. Refined and very well equipped for the day. Great video Jack. Love some Citroën trivia. 😎👍🏼

[@jimo680]

Great vid and narrative. Thank You. Well done. I'm in the states, and always loved the 'look' of Citroens especially the classics. Wish I could get a Xantia and parts over here. I'd be driving it today.

[@paulpisters668]

A real dashboard ❤ No ugly screens.

[@alexj8947]

Thanks for the video Jack - great to see it being put through it's paces 😁👍

[@christiankapp2115]

I had one in Germany. A V6 3.0 litres. On the last day before I sold em I battled with a Jaguar. He cant believe what is possible with such an amazing sleeper car. And the Sound of the V6 is roaring..boy

[@stephenberry1205]

In Australia we got the V6 Xantia in RHD - a fabulous motor - making the Activa amazing in Europe. I had a Xantia 1.9 turbo diesel. Just amazing vehicle. We had a wonderful trip way outback through Broken Hill, Flinders Ranges and up the Oodnadatta Track past Lake Eyre in South Australia. One of the few two wheel drive vehicles on The Track in 2013. Superb comfort, space, dust sealing and big trunk. Cruised on dirt at 110-125 kph, best we got was 5.4 litres/100 km. Well over 1,000 kms per tank... no range anxiety with a 65 litre tank. The Activa had modest sales but the rest of the Xantia range sold very well and was reliable.