##citxsar.jpg --Right##AT the risk of anthropomorphosising an inanimate object - and coining and catchy down-the-pub phrase - our long-term Xsara appears to have taken offence at the criticisms made in the last review in September. The niggles then were that the driver's side window had a habit of sticking shut and one of the radio speakers had developed a rattle and I'd had to top up the oil. All three of these were not only annoying then, but disappointing for a car that was just a few months old and achieving so much in all other respects.

Well, this time round, the problems have disappeared. The window functions normally and the rattles have disappeared. The engine is also running sweetly and after six weeks in my hands still impresses with its pulling power and turn of speed, matched by excellent fuel economy. Miles per gallon figures between fill-ups varied from 49.9mpg to a massive 57mpg and averaged 53.1mpg - a highly impressive figure.

This is good news for Citroen at a time when good news is hard to find. The Xsara did not appear in the top 25 best-selling models for September and in the year to date Citroen slipped one place to 10th in the manufacturers' league table, below Toyota. Diesel sales continue to tumble and the Xsara didn't make it into the top-10 selling diesel models for September or the year-to-date.

This is surprising considering how good the HDI Xsara is - a view shared by all those who have been in the car and who have been impressed by its equipment and comfort. But at least Citroen is attempting to do something about it. It has just announced that buyers of all V-reg Xsara models will get ú2,500 cashback if registered before the end of October. That kind of money off this car makes it incredible value.

Jeremy Bennett