Daewoo Nubira Car Review

Daewoo is pecking away at its competitors in the market place with the introduction of new models and the upgrading of existing ones.

The Nubira sedan, first introduced in Australia in June 1997, has undergone its third upgrade, each of which has offered further improvements and better value for money.

By far the most significant feature of the late 1999 model sedan is the more powerful two-litre engine, although this is supported by a new front and rear body treatment, a more ergonomic interior, plus a package of handling, ride and safety items. Daewoo claims to have designed this year's two litre Nubira around the needs and expectations of today's average motorist.

The 2.0 litre Nubira is available in a sedan model priced at $20,000 or a wagon version for just $20,750. Automatic transmission is $2000 extra. For the more sports oriented driver, there is now a Sports Pack option for $2,500 consisting of larger wheels and tyres, anti-lock brakes, dual airbags and a metallic grain dash. Our test vehicle was a manual sedan fitted with the optional Sports Pack, and priced at $23,500.

The two litre, DOHC, sixteen-valve engine is manufactured by the Holden Engine Company in Melbourne complete with multi-point fuel injection and electronic engine management.

Transmissions appear unchanged with a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic, both of which drive the front wheels through a transaxle assembly. The four-wheel disc brakes and front and rear independent suspensions are also unchanged apart from some minor tuning.

Most improvements are confined to the exterior and interior bodywork, the controls and the equipment level.

The grille, bonnet, bumper and lamp assemblies have been redesigned to provide a more aerodynamic style, while the boot lid, bumper and rear lamps have been revised to enhance overall styling, although it is still easily identifiable as a Daewoo.

Driver and passenger comfort for five is reasonable, although it still requires some further attention to improve lumbar and lateral support. Rear seat passengers have only minimal leg and headroom while the centre position is quite uncomfortable.

Passenger safety is at a premium with anti-cabin intrusion measures added at the front, rear and sides. A driver's airbag, a three-point safety belt in the centre rear position and adjustable head restraints on all four outer seating positions are standard equipment. The Sports Pack raises the safety level by adding anti-lock brakes and a passenger's airbag.

The equipment level in the Nubira is certainly up to the mark, with air conditioning, central locking, variable intermittent wipers, height adjustable driver's seat, lumbar adjustment in front seats, tilt adjustable steering column, plus power windows, mirrors and steering fitted as standard.

The Nubira's 2.0 litre engine performance is certainly an improvement over the previous 1.6 model with better acceleration and low speed torque. The steering wheel requires some telescopic adjustment, the gear lever is notchy and indirect, while the accelerator is quite light and poorly positioned, making smooth operation a chore and causing some discomfort over longer periods. The high noise level recorded appears mainly due to a high instance of wind noise.

The gearshift pattern, dash switches, left positioned turn signal and light stalk, right wiper stalk and air conditioning controls all reflect a strong European influence that can be annoying at times. The radio/CD player although functioning satisfactorily, is very fiddly to operate whilst driving.

Both handling and braking on our road test vehicle were impressive, although I suspect much of this could be attributed to the Sports Pack fitted. Speed-sensitive power steering has improved overall feel for parking and cruising alike.

Daewoo's customer care package for a period of three years or 100,000 km is quite attractive, including full manufacturer's warranty, free servicing every 15,000 km or twelve months, free roadside assistance and free courtesy car service.