Citroen Xsara — MPG & Fuel Costs 2025
A comfortable, simple 90s hatchback. Light weight and reliable mechanicals make for very low running costs.
The Citroen Xsara was a popular compact family car that offered a comfortable ride and practical cabin. It is famous for its rally heritage in WRC form.
Under the bonnet was Peugeot-Citroen's legendary 2.0-litre HDi diesel engine, which is famed for its reliability and excellent fuel economy.
Because the Xsara is relatively lightweight, the HDi diesel models regularly return 50+ MPG real-world, while the petrol versions average a decent 35 MPG.
TL;DR
33 MPG
Real-world petrol
47 MPG
Real-world diesel
54L
Tank capacity
£73.87
Full tank (petrol)
18.8p
Per mile (petrol)
Real-World Fuel Economy: The Citroen Xsara achieves an estimated 33 MPG (petrol) and 47 MPG (diesel) in real-world UK driving conditions, accounting for a 12% WLTP real-world penalty.
Forecourt Fuel Cost: Refueling the 54-litre tank completely costs approximately £73.87 (petrol) or £76.73 (diesel) at average UK fuel price rates.
Fuel economy at a glance
33
Real-world MPG
Petrol
39.2
Official WLTP
Petrol
47
Real-world MPG
Diesel
55.4
Official WLTP
Diesel
Annual fuel costs by mileage
| Annual mileage | Petrol | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| 5,000 miles/yr | £942 | £687 |
| 7,400 miles/yr(UK average) | £1395 | £1017 |
| 10,000 miles/yr | £1885 | £1374 |
| 15,000 miles/yr | £2827 | £2062 |
| 20,000 miles/yr | £3769 | £2749 |
| Full tank (54L) | £73.87 | £76.73 |
| Cost per mile | 18.8p | 13.7p |
Based on UK average fuel prices: petrol 136.8p/L · diesel 142.1p/L. Prices updated regularly.
How does the Xsara compare?
Tips to get better MPG from your Xsara
The 2.0 HDi engine is incredibly reliable; keep it serviced to maintain its high efficiency.
Avoid accelerating aggressively as older naturally aspirated petrol engines waste fuel under load.
Remove roof rails when not in use to maintain the hatchback's aerodynamics.
Is the cheaper petrol station worth it?
In a Citroen Xsara achieving ~33 MPG real-world, if you fill 43 litres and the alternative station is 10p/litre cheaper:
£4.30
Gross saving on fuel
£0.57
Cost of 3-mile detour
£3.73
Net saving ✓
You could drive up to 23 miles round-trip before the saving disappears entirely.
Calculate for your exact situationPopular variants
Frequently asked questions
What is the real-world MPG of the Citroen Xsara?
The Citroen Xsara achieves approximately 33 MPG in real-world petrol driving — around 12% lower than the official WLTP figure of 39.2 MPG due to real driving conditions. Diesel variants achieve around 47 MPG real-world.
How much does it cost to fill a Citroen Xsara?
The Citroen Xsara has a fuel tank of 54 litres. At the UK average of 136.8p/litre for petrol, a full tank costs approximately £73.87. Diesel costs approximately £76.73 for a full tank.
What is the annual fuel cost for a Citroen Xsara?
At the UK average annual mileage of 7,400 miles and current petrol price of 136.8p/litre, a Citroen Xsara costs approximately £1395 per year in fuel. At 10,000 miles/year the cost rises to £1885. Actual costs vary with your driving style and mileage.
Is it worth driving to a cheaper petrol station in a Citroen Xsara?
In a Citroen Xsara doing ~33 MPG real-world, driving 3 miles round-trip to save 10p/litre on a 43-litre fill nets approximately £3.73 after the extra fuel cost. You could drive up to 23 miles before the saving is eaten up. Use the WorthThePump calculator for your exact situation.
How much does the Citroen Xsara cost per mile in fuel?
The Citroen Xsara costs approximately 18.8p per mile in petrol at current UK prices. Over a typical commute of 30 miles per day, that is approximately £5.64 per day in fuel.
What is the WLTP MPG figure for the Citroen Xsara?
The official WLTP fuel economy figure for the Citroen Xsara is 39.2 MPG. However, real-world MPG is typically 10–15% lower than WLTP due to cold starts, air conditioning, motorway speeds, and varying loads. WorthThePump uses a 12% real-world penalty to give a more accurate estimate.
Related guides
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