REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

A work horse

For many North Americans, Daewoo is the name of a new Korean car-builder looking to penetrate our market with its Lanos, Nubira and Leganza models.

Some consumers have also discovered that Daewoo manufactures electronic equipment, but few know that the corporation, created in 1967, is an international company that continues to grow. In fact, according to Fortune magazine it’s the world’s 18th largest multinational!Daewoo’s marketing plan rely heavily on the Nubira. In the same niche as its South Korean rival, Hyundai’s Elantra, the Nubira should find it easy to attract consumers who regard the quality/price ratio as their top priority.

The passenger compartment is practical and functional and provides enough room for four adults. The trunk is fairly big and the 40/60 split folddown rear seat adds more cargo room when needed. The wagon’s cargo area is very roomy and easily accessible. Although it doesn’t kick in very quickly, the heating system proved that it could take on even the very cold weather typical of northern climes.My first impression of this car was very positive. First of all, it starts up problem-free. Secondly, on the highway its rigid body is a definite asset. Perched on a solid subchassis, the independent suspension provides consistent and predictable handling ease. The 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine (manufactured by GM Australia) has a 129-hp output and shows fairly strong acceleration and good pick-up; however, as it climbs the rpm range it gets rougher and rougher. The automatic transmission is smooth and precise. Four disc brakes and an ABS system ensure reliable straight-line stopping. Lastly, the steering system is responsive and barely assisted - though a bit heavy - and it could provide more feedback on road conditions.

PROS
Functional passenger compartment
Detailed equipment Good handling

CONS
Sluggish engine
Some finish details
Less than perfect driving position

REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

A work horse

For many North Americans, Daewoo is the name of a new Korean car-builder looking to penetrate our market with its Lanos, Nubira and Leganza models.

Some consumers have also discovered that Daewoo manufactures electronic equipment, but few know that the corporation, created in 1967, is an international company that continues to grow. In fact, according to Fortune magazine it’s the world’s 18th largest multinational!Daewoo’s marketing plan rely heavily on the Nubira. In the same niche as its South Korean rival, Hyundai’s Elantra, the Nubira should find it easy to attract consumers who regard the quality/price ratio as their top priority.

The passenger compartment is practical and functional and provides enough room for four adults. The trunk is fairly big and the 40/60 split folddown rear seat adds more cargo room when needed. The wagon’s cargo area is very roomy and easily accessible. Although it doesn’t kick in very quickly, the heating system proved that it could take on even the very cold weather typical of northern climes.My first impression of this car was very positive. First of all, it starts up problem-free. Secondly, on the highway its rigid body is a definite asset. Perched on a solid subchassis, the independent suspension provides consistent and predictable handling ease. The 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine (manufactured by GM Australia) has a 129-hp output and shows fairly strong acceleration and good pick-up; however, as it climbs the rpm range it gets rougher and rougher. The automatic transmission is smooth and precise. Four disc brakes and an ABS system ensure reliable straight-line stopping. Lastly, the steering system is responsive and barely assisted - though a bit heavy - and it could provide more feedback on road conditions.

PROS
Functional passenger compartment
Detailed equipment
Good handling

CONS
Sluggish engine
Some finish details
Less than perfect driving position

REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

Luxury according to Daewoo

The Leganza, Daewoo’s top-of-the-line model, is an astonishing sedan. Its name comes from two italian words: "elegante" (elegant) and "forza" (power). Giorgetto Guigiaro, grand master with Ital Design of Italy, was chosen to style this attractive Asian automobile.The passenger compartment of the Leganza is both luxurious and user- friendly. The car boasts a long list of equipment, enough to make it the envy of its competitors. It features power windows and door locks, automatic air conditioning, an AM-FM stereo with a graphic equalizer (a little too flashy) and an optional CD changer positioned in the trunk, not to mention a sunroof with a ventilated screen to keep heads cool. The 8-position adjustable driver’s seat ensures an excellent driving position along with good comfort during long rides.

At most of the auto shows I attended, I noticed many people closely examining the Leganza and everyone seemed impressed with its overall quality. However, if you’re an automotive industry connoisseur and you take a particularly close look at the finish you’ll soon see that some details need rethinking. The leather upholstery, for example, isn’t as smooth as it is some rival models; the small air ducts are hard to adjust and the horn assembly and other controls show inconsistent quality. The graphic equalizer is almost illegible in full daylight. Except for these few drawbacks, other instruments are clear and easy to read, rear-seat passengers enjoy a decent amount of space and the split folding rear seat adds cargo room, already very respectable at 400 litres, enough to take on the baggage lugged around by four adults. As a bonus, it even offers easy access.With its European look, the Leganza is aimed at the same buyers as the Sonata, its direct rival in South Korea. Still, the latest generation Sonata, equipped with a V6 engine, appears to be more refined. The Leganza has simple and elegant exterior lines along with a short rear fascia. Its chrome front grille is flanked by fog lamps and exclusive projector-type headlights. When you get right down to it, the Leganza boasts many features usually found in more expensive vehicles.

Under the hood is a 2.2-litre DOHC engine with a 131-hp output at 5,400 rpm and 148 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. While its fuel economy is remarkable, the Leganza runs out of breath when asked to climb uphill. The four-speed automatic transmission has a good gear ratio that makes optimal use of the mechanical system and shifting is precise and smooth. At cruising speed, the Leganza is completely quiet and its big four-cylinder engine purrs. But as soon as it’s pushed a bit hard, the very same feline growls with the same sound typical of much rougher and gruffer high-performance sport models.

Four disc brakes are backed by an ABS system. On the preproduction model we tested, the pedal was firm at times but stopping was always progressive and linear. The Hankook 205/60R15 tires provide outstanding grip, even on snow, and the optional traction control system is crucial only in extreme circumstances. The Leganza is fitted with an independent suspension featuring MacPherson struts, which ensures satisfactory road stability and the kind of smooth ride usually seen only on more expensive midsize sedans.

The Leganza’s rigid chassis is superbly quiet. But strangely, when the cruise control system is activated the car downshifts, accelerates beyond the desired speed, then settles down. This was a test drive on a preproduction model: so does the explanation lie in the cold weather conditions, the snowy roads or the fact that the model still needed some reworking? It’s hard to say. In my humble opinion, if Daewoo takes the time to rectify some finish details, the Leganza will have all it needs to take its rightful place in the four-cylinder midsize car category. And if it’s at all committed to achieving success, the next step will be better reliability and prime quality after-sales service.

 PROS
Nice styling
Smooth transmission
Detailed equipment

CONS
Questionable reliability
Limited dealer network
Sluggish engine

CRASH TEST (five stars indicate the best protection)
Driver: * * *
Passenger: * * *

REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

Small but fiesty

Have you heard of Daewoo (DAY-ooh)? Maybe you own a microwave or a VCR featuring the shell-shaped logo that symbolizes the make. Did you know that the Korean firm manufactures cars as well?

Memories tend to fade - you may have crossed paths with a Daewoo in the days when the company was licensed to manufacture the Opel Kadett, which was imported by General Motors and marketed as the Pontiac Le Mans or the Passport Optima. Don’t remember? Today, Daewoo markets its products in Canada via its own distribution network that now includes 37 dealers. Ontario and Quebec (important markets, since they represent 31 of these dealers) were the first Canadian provinces with access to one of the three models that Daewoo has destined for the North American market, including the Lanos, the first 100% Korean Daewoo and the company’s market-entry model. The Korean manufacturer also offers two other models, the Nubira and the Leganza.The most economical car in its class (in terms of selling price and at the gas pump), as well as the most popular and according to some, the most attractive. And not without reason! Italian designer Giugiaro is responsible for the Lanos’s attractive styling, inciting Daewoo to introduce and refer to it as "a beautiful subcompact." It comes in two versions, a hatchback coupe or sedan.

Interior styling is appealing and modern. Not surprisingly, the quality of some plastics is a bit disappointing and assembly could show more attention to detail, at least on our test drive model. However, storage spaces are plentiful and instrumentation is detailed.

Main controls are positioned within easy reach for the driver and are easy to use. Are they all equally efficient? The question is legitimate - in cold weather we found the heating and defrosting systems to be barely adequate. Could we have been coming down with the flu?

Visibility is excellent and the ideal driving position is relatively easy to find, but the bucket and bench seats are still poorly padded. As is the case with most coupes, access to the rear calls for acrobatic skills, but at least you’ll be able to get a breath of fresh air thanks to rear windows that roll all the way down - a rare commodity.

Contrary to the sedan, the hatchback opens solely from the outside and has no remote latch; its trunk is minuscule (250 litres) but with the rear seat folded down, its volume increases to 866 litres.What to go for - the sedan or the hatchback? Beyond accessories, the main difference is under the hood. The hatch is powered by a 1.5-litre four- cylinder (86 horses, three valves per cylinder) and the sedan features a DOHC 1.6-litre (105 horses, four valves per cylinder). It is important to know that it would run with much more ease (but undoubtedly still howl strongly under strong acceleration) if it had been assembled on a vehicle lighter than the Lanos. Performance, such as acceleration and pick-up, is sacrificed as a result.

Standard equipment on the Lanos includes a five-speed manual transmission (a four-speed automatic is available as an option) and while it not may be the very best, it’s significantly less inconsistent than the Kia Sephia’s unit, for example.
On the road, the Lanos’s chassis behaves very well and has no unpleasant surprises in store for drivers. But nothing to write home about. It doesn’t take the Lanos very long to reach its limits thanks to its small and poorly performing tires. The suspensions seem to have been designed to maximize comfort to the detriment of road stability - not necessarily a defect given the often lamentable state of our road system. Assisted steering is well balanced and the surprisingly short turning radius makes this Daewoo particularly nimble in an urban environment. The disc-drum brake duo ensures that the Lanos comes to a full stop over a reasonable distance, but no more. And no one would argue that an anti-lock system is sorely lacking.

Lanos is better equipped than the subcompacts it intends to rub doors with, but it still can’t lay claim to the reputation for reliability and durability that its rivals, such as the Ford Focus or the Hyundai Accent (to name by only two), enjoy on our continent - and often at a better price.

PROS
Attractive styling
Appealing price
Neutral handling

CONS
Mediocre heating and defrosting
Poor power-to-weight ratio
Embryonic dealership network

REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

Small but fiesty

Have you heard of Daewoo (DAY-ooh)? Maybe you own a microwave or a VCR featuring the shell-shaped logo that symbolizes the make. Did you know that the Korean firm manufactures cars as well?

Memories tend to fade - you may have crossed paths with a Daewoo in the days when the company was licensed to manufacture the Opel Kadett, which was imported by General Motors and marketed as the Pontiac Le Mans or the Passport Optima. Don’t remember? Today, Daewoo markets its products in Canada via its own distribution network that now includes 37 dealers. Ontario and Quebec (important markets, since they represent 31 of these dealers) were the first Canadian provinces with access to one of the three models that Daewoo has destined for the North American market, including the Lanos, the first 100% Korean Daewoo and the company’s market-entry model. The Korean manufacturer also offers two other models, the Nubira and the Leganza.The most economical car in its class (in terms of selling price and at the gas pump), as well as the most popular and according to some, the most attractive. And not without reason! Italian designer Giugiaro is responsible for the Lanos’s attractive styling, inciting Daewoo to introduce and refer to it as "a beautiful subcompact." It comes in two versions, a hatchback coupe or sedan.

Interior styling is appealing and modern. Not surprisingly, the quality of some plastics is a bit disappointing and assembly could show more attention to detail, at least on our test drive model. However, storage spaces are plentiful and instrumentation is detailed.

Main controls are positioned within easy reach for the driver and are easy to use. Are they all equally efficient? The question is legitimate - in cold weather we found the heating and defrosting systems to be barely adequate. Could we have been coming down with the flu?

Visibility is excellent and the ideal driving position is relatively easy to find, but the bucket and bench seats are still poorly padded. As is the case with most coupes, access to the rear calls for acrobatic skills, but at least you’ll be able to get a breath of fresh air thanks to rear windows that roll all the way down - a rare commodity.

Contrary to the sedan, the hatchback opens solely from the outside and has no remote latch; its trunk is minuscule (250 litres) but with the rear seat folded down, its volume increases to 866 litres.What to go for - the sedan or the hatchback? Beyond accessories, the main difference is under the hood. The hatch is powered by a 1.5-litre four- cylinder (86 horses, three valves per cylinder) and the sedan features a DOHC 1.6-litre (105 horses, four valves per cylinder). It is important to know that it would run with much more ease (but undoubtedly still howl strongly under strong acceleration) if it had been assembled on a vehicle lighter than the Lanos. Performance, such as acceleration and pick-up, is sacrificed as a result.

Standard equipment on the Lanos includes a five-speed manual transmission (a four-speed automatic is available as an option) and while it not may be the very best, it’s significantly less inconsistent than the Kia Sephia’s unit, for example.
On the road, the Lanos’s chassis behaves very well and has no unpleasant surprises in store for drivers. But nothing to write home about. It doesn’t take the Lanos very long to reach its limits thanks to its small and poorly performing tires. The suspensions seem to have been designed to maximize comfort to the detriment of road stability - not necessarily a defect given the often lamentable state of our road system. Assisted steering is well balanced and the surprisingly short turning radius makes this Daewoo particularly nimble in an urban environment. The disc-drum brake duo ensures that the Lanos comes to a full stop over a reasonable distance, but no more. And no one would argue that an anti-lock system is sorely lacking.

Lanos is better equipped than the subcompacts it intends to rub doors with, but it still can’t lay claim to the reputation for reliability and durability that its rivals, such as the Ford Focus or the Hyundai Accent (to name by only two), enjoy on our continent - and often at a better price.

PROS
Attractive styling
Appealing price
Neutral handling

CONS
Mediocre heating and defrosting
Poor power-to-weight ratio
Embryonic dealership network