Citroen Saxo

Now only available in one specification and a choice of 3- or 5-doors, as the Saxo is on runout to be replaced by the C2 early next year. Though now basic motoring, it is quite a strong seller in the Irish market, running third behind the Fiat Seicento and Ford Ka in what is admittedly a small segment here. The car also has good room for four, a decent boot, plastics inside that don't offend, and a radio set high and easy to use. The side profile reflects a designer's wish to give those inside as full a view as possible of the world beyond. The curvy dashboard styling works well in terms of Instruments view, and there's good provision of places to park knicknacks. The wheel is satisfyingly chunky. My biggest gripe is about the ergonomics of the control pedals, which are rather too tight together for a bigfoot like me. Just a 1.1-litre engine. Stars: 3/10

Citroen C3

The newest Citroen Supermini is for those who don’t particularly care for the boxy look of most of the competition, and its curves will invariably raise a smile of even a dull morning. It’s got a funky interior too, and an interesting take on digital instrumentation that I quite like. I disagree with cribs voiced about the plastics used in the trim, I think it’s all of high quality and bright and cheerful. I’m also impressed by the engine range, with the 1.1-litre well capable of coping with average motoring needs as long as the 0-60 doesn’t concern you too much, a 1.4-litre that’s more nicely peppy, a 1.6-litre with an automatic trans, and the piece de resistance is the 1.4-litre turbodiesel developed jointly with Ford that is a real eco-engine. A full year of sales in 2003 should show its real place in the Irish scheme. Stars: 8/10


Citroen Pluriel

Not here yet, but worth mentioning because it is destined to make its own impact in Ireland in the ‘fun’ car area. The Plurielwas the star of Citroen’s stand at the Paris Motor Show and is a lifestyle derivative of the C3 supermini, which has the potential to be used as a saloon, convertible, or 'spider' sports pickup, just by placing or remiving a couple of roof struts and fiddling around with seats and a roll-up panoramic window roof. Thing is, the Pluriel is a real car, and in its French specification, it comes with a 1.6-litre engine and automatic transmission. Look on it as a direct competitor to Ford's new Streetka, with attitude and a couple of extra seats. Provisional Stars: 7/10

Citroen Xsara

Due for change in 2003 to a car on the same underpinnings as the Peugeot 307, the Xsara is still performing very respectably here and is generally well considered for being a good drive and very reliable. Available in coupe, 5-door and estate still, and is certainly a car whose looks have lasted well throughout its life, at the start of which it won the Semperit Irish Car of the Year award. The engine options are 1.4- and 2-litre petrol and Citroen’s excellent 2-litre HDi engine which is to suffer cruelly from January 1 under Charlie McCreevy’s very unfair milking of the 1901cc-2001cc segment in VRT terms. The HDi Coupe is actually one of the fun cars around, with its low-down torque contributing to a really good driving experience in the right places. Stars: 7/10

Citroen Picasso

This is as close as you’ll get to the size and style of the outgoing Renault Scenic andit is itself an outgoer in 2003 as the Xsara on which it is based is due for replacement. The kinky advertisements using the car-building robots with minds (and a sense of humour) all of their own make it more memorable than perhaps it might otherwise have been. It always proved comfortable and stable to drive, and I rather liked the dashboard treatment and its centralised instrumentation, which kind of showed the way to some other more recent cars. Just a choice of 1.6-litre petrol or 2-litre HDi turbodiesel, the latter which is well worth the extra money for its better drivability and excellent fuel economy. There are some deals agoing just now which you should take advantage of before January 1. Stars: 7/10

Citroen C5

We’ve now got well used to this sleek replacement for the old Xantia and the XM, but it still sets a poiseful style on the road or in one’s driveway. And as a driver it is a most accomplished performer, on the proprietory Citroen suspension system that has been around sice I was a boy in shortish trousers, but is now grown, just like me, in sophistication and ability. It still has a downside for rear tall passengers, relating to the height to which the head restraint will travel. But for everything else, it deserves the decent and growing success it has achieved. If you have already ordered and paid for your 2-litre HDi one, you;ve saved yourself a couple of grand over those sold after January one (ref the McCreevy VRT Mullocking above). The 110bhp HDi is the best option, but you can also choose between 1.8-, 2- and 3-litre petrol. Stars: 7/10

Citroen Berlingo Multispace

Though very popular on mainland Europe, we’ve not got a real handle on van-derived MPVs here. But they make a great deal of practical sense if you’re prepared to be a little different and have no concern for stylistic snobs. Great headroom and storage areas, and you feel you’re riding nice and high as well. The suspension gives a surprisingly comfortable ride and the handling is well up to anything the easygoing engines will allow you to throw it at. The Berlingo Multispace is a 5-door here, and has engine options of 1.4-litre petrol or 1.9-litre normally-aspirated diesel. I recommend the latter, which - if you keep it as long as the typical Multispace buyer is likely to do - will reward with reasonable economy and a very long life. Stars: 5/10

Citroen C8

It’s a-coming soon and depending on how the Irish specification unwraps, the replacement for the little-loved Synergie MPV could be a nice people-carrier indeed. The centralised instrumentation, and the almost-horizontal layout of the controls and screen on the centre stack looked very practical on the versions seen at the recent Paris Motor Show. There’s also a nice airy ambience inside, and if the seats work out to be as comfortable as they look, this could set a new standard for a long-distance drive. There are 2-litre petrol and diesel engines. Provisional Stars: 8/10