CITROEN'S Xsara is the sort of car you could safely recommend to your father. Spacious, with a high level of standard equipment, the Xsara is a quality performer from the ground up, with a long list of innovative features and user-friendly touches.

Better built, bigger and altogether more refined than the car it replaced, the ZX, its family resemblance to its bigger brother, the much-acclaimed Xantia, is no bad thing either.

Citroen has boosted the interior space to create a big car feel in a medium-sized bodyshell, with more elbow, leg and headroom for its passengers, and a usefully practical boot.

It may not be the most exciting car on earth, but it is a comprehensively commendable.

With the longest cabin in its class, it lays claim to being the most spacious among its many rivals, thanks to specially-designed front seats with hollowed-out backs to give rear seat passengers more legroom, not to mention extended front seat slide runners and height-adjustable seatbelts to benefit taller drivers.

In its 2.0-litre turbodiesel form, it is eager and responsive and engine choice extends to a normally aspirated diesel and fuel-injected 1.4. 1.6 and 1.8-litre models.

A comprehensive list of equipment aims to entice family car buyers who might otherwise steer towards models like the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra and Volkswagen Golf.

For those looking for a sportier edge there is a coup version, and those who want more carrying capacity can opt for an estate.

Rake-and-reach steering wheel adjustment complements power steering - not to mention steering wheel-mounted stereo controls - pollen filter, and even a six-disc CD autochanger and automatic rain-sensitive wipers on the top-of-the range Exclusive models.

Just to push the point further home, Citroen included air conditioning as standard on half the range when it was launched, along with features such as a digital maintenance indicator, gas support struts for the bonnet, doors which open to three positions, visible child lock warning indicators, and a unique height-and-tilt adjustable rearview mirror.

There are no fewer than ten storage spaces dotted around the front half of the cabin with scooped door bins, twin gloveboxes and deep boxes concealed within the front door armrests.

The Xsara's rear shelf stacks vertically against the back of the front seats, and any loose items in the boot can be secured with elastic straps.

The cargo area itself is claimed to be the largest in its class, aided to a large extent by Citroen's innovative suspension design, which keeps bumpy wheel arch intrusions out of the boot, providing a wide, flat loading space.

The rumble of the diesel engine at standstill quickly disappears on the move.

The lack of unwanted cabin noise is largely thanks to the Xsara's comprehensive soundproofing and careful design.

With a long list of key equipment, such as six-speaker stereo radio-cassette, with steering wheel-mounted controls, pollen filter, front fog lights and third brake light - the list goes on and on - it is difficult not to be impressed with Citroen's latest offering.

In my case I didn't need to recommend it to my father. He has bought one already.

Auto Facts

Model: Citroen Xsara HDi Exclusive

Price: £15,760

Insurance group: 9

Top speed: 111 mph

Fuel consumption:

Urban 32.1mpg

Extra urban 54.3mpg

Combined 42.8mpg

Fuel tank capacity:

11.9 gallons

Comfort: Excellent

Luggage space:

14.4/42 cu ft

Length: 164in

Width: 67in

Story date: Wednesday 15 December

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