THE Xsara has almost been a microcosm of French company Citroen's fortunes in Australia in recent years. Nice idea, shame that no-one knows about it. First launched here in 1998 purely as a five-door hatch with 1.8 and 2.0-litre engines, the range went through a reshuffle at the beginning of 2001 with the arrival of a facelift which saw the engine range updated, equipment adjusted and the two coupe models added. Coupe is a bit of a misnomer, by the way, as they are both definitely three-door hatchbacks. The VTR tested here is the plain-jane 1.6-litre version, while the 2.0-litre VTS is the grungier of the two. Both add a real touch of panache to the Xsara and the Citroen range as a whole.