1981 Citroen GSA

Citroën GSA (Hatchback/Estate), 1979-1986

The Citroën GSA was in production from 1979-1986. Styled in house by Robert Opron, it is a front-engine, front wheel drive hatchback range seating up to 4 adults.

The GSA was Citroen's replacement for the GS, which had been launched in 1970. Essentially it was the same car, albeit subjected to the same sort of heavy facelifting process that had turned the Leyland Princess into the Austin Ambassador. The chrome bumpers were gone, replaced by plastic, while there were also new door handles and a hatchback boot at the rear - something many critics had felt that the GS had been in need of for several years. The GSA also sported new wheel trims, while inside everything was new. All the minor controls were now grouped together on pods for the driver which sat in place of column stalks - in a similar manner to those used on the CX, but rather more complicated in appearance. The estate model carried over from the GS with only cosmetic changes - new bumpers, door handles, rear light units etc - but no considerable body redesign of the same type as the saloon's metamorphosis into a hatchback.

All models now used a larger 1299cc version of the flat four that had been seen in the GS, linked either to a manual or a semi-automatic gearbox with an automated clutch pedal. Citroen replaced the GS in 1982 with the larger BX, but GS production continued to 1986. When it was discontinued there was no immediate replacement, but the Citroen ZX of 1990 went some way to filling the gap below the BX in the range.

By the end of the 1970s the Alfasud too had gained a hatchback, making it an obvious candidate as a GSA alternative. The Austin Allegro would never gain the hatchback it needed, but in Allegro 3 form it mounted a very British defence of this market position. But the competition was now wider than before courtesy of cars such as the Volkswagen Golf and the Renault 14, and these should also be considered as rivals today. If nothing but a Citroen will do, then either consider the original GS or the more angular and more modern BX.