XM Series 1

A BIG hatchback defined by lots of angles and horizontal lines, the XM never fulfilled its promise as a worthy replacement for Citroen’s gloriously erratic CX – itself the direct successor to the legendary DS.

Dodgy build quality combined with advanced compute-controlled hydropneumatic (fluid) suspension, bitsy cabin trim and a cornucopia of electronic gadgets and gizmos were guaranteed to keep the warranty claims busy and owners of older XMs on constant edge.

But at least the big Citroen was practical, spacious, a great highway tourer and extremely comfortable.

Peugeot’s evergreen 3.0-litre V6 mated to a four-speed automatic gearbox provided motivation, although the 123kW of power and 235Nm of torque were hardly enough to keep this heavyweight’s keener drivers excited.