Daewoo Nubira CDX Car Review

The Daewoo Nubira is the Korean manufacturer's latest offering in the medium car class, having replaced the Espero model. Unlike the Espero, the Nubira range has expanded to include three body styles: a four door sedan, a five door hatchback and a station wagon. The new range should appeal to those seeking a new medium sized vehicle at the cheaper end of the new car market, and compete with Hyundai's Lantra range for a market share of the class.

The Nubira station wagon carries the model designation of Eurowagon and is available as either an SX or a CDX model. The SX is powered by a 1.6 litre engine, while the CDX uses a larger capacity 2.0 litre powerplant. Both engines are a double overhead camshaft design and feature four valves per cylinder and multipoint fuel injection.

Prices for the Nubira Eurowagon start at a reasonable $20,500 for a manual SX and rise to $24,500 for an automatic CDX, the model evaluated for this report. All Daewoo's new car prices incorporate its 'Free Care' plan which covers dealer charges, roadside assistance for three years and free scheduled servicing for the new car warranty.

The CDX Eurowagon is equipped with a good selection of equipment as standard inclusions. Some of the standard items include power windows, key operated central locking, tilt adjustable steering column, single CD player and radio with six speakers, air conditioning, power steering, tachometer, variable intermittent wipers, 60/40 split fold rear seats, overhead map lights, rear cargo blind, power mirrors, velour seat trim, twin cup holder and front door map pockets. The Nubira is a more stylish and modern looking vehicle than the superseded Espero although it is still quite conservative in appearance. A distinctive front grille, shared with other Daewoo models, makes the Nubira easily recognised as a member of the Daewoo family of cars.

The overall build quality of the Korean manufactured Daewoo was generally found to be of an acceptable standard for the price and class of vehicle. Noteworthy is the particular attention which has been paid to the detail finish of the boot area. The boot is divided into a number of individual compartments for tools and the jack, as well as a handy support rod to hold the false floor out of the way when removing the spare wheel.

The design of the Nubira Eurowagon offers quite good interior space for a medium sized car. Front seat occupants enjoy ample head and leg room, while even with the front seats in their most rearward position, rear seat leg room is still adequate for most adults. The 60/40 split fold rear seat arrangement provides versatility and a generous amount of rear load space when required.

One of the disappointing features of the Nubira is the seating. The seats are of basic shape, offer little support and are not particularly comfortable. The CDX Eurowagon also has quite firmly sprung suspension and '55' series tyres. Unfortunately, all the above items combine to provide a level of ride comfort in the Eurowagon that is below average.

The Nubira is an easy vehicle to drive due to the light operation of the controls and good visibility. The control layout is generally straightforward with the exception of a high, roof mounted clock and the indicator stalk having been mounted on the left side of the steering column.

The 2.0 litre engine's specifications look credible on paper; however, the on-road performance turned out to be a little uninspiring for a modern engine of this capacity. Frequent down changes are a characteristic of the automatic transmission, and result in harsh, noisy revving of the engine as it attempts to maintain road speed.

On a positive note, the Nubira displayed sure-footed handling and minimal body roll when cornering. The firm suspension and low profile tyres no doubt assisting in this area. Both the steering and the brakes are light to operate and provide good feedback.