Citroen refreshed the Xantia lineup in 1998 for the entire range, including the sedan and the station wagon.
In the full era of bio-design, Citroen dared more with the angular shapes of the Xantia, but it softened its edges when it launched in 1992, and that process continued during the 1998 facelift. The station wagon, launched in 1994, was an excellent choice for families. Thanks to its fuel-efficient diesel engines and comfortable suspensions, it was forgiven for its unusual interior.
On the outside, the front fascia received new headlights and a modified grille that solved the main cooling issues for the gasoline engines. Another important upgrade was for the doors and body panels cladding, which were body-colored, not black as before. Still, the only way to have the door handles in the same color as the rest of the vehicle was to order it black.
Inside, the carmaker changed the interior materials, improving them. The instrument cluster featured the same dials and gauges but with a different layout that allowed the driver to focus on the speedometer and tachometer. Moreover, the coolant temperature and the fuel level were pushed in less visible areas. The trunk space offered 618 liters (21.8 cu-ft), which could have been expanded to 1,690 liters (59.7 cu-ft) by folding down the rear seats.
Under the hood, the French carmaker dropped the sluggish 1.6-liter powerplant and left the 1.8-liter unit for the entry-level. A turbocharged gasoline version that provided 150 hp was the range-topper. In addition, a wider range of turbodiesel engines was now available.