Daewoo Nubira 1.8 CDX

Style has never been one of Daewoo's biggest selling points. Its cars were always bought by drivers seeking no-nonsense, low-hassle motoring rather than those who wanted to cut a dash. So calling in a string of legendary Italian designers is proving to be a shrewd move for the company - causing as much of a stir in the industry as if Armani had done Tesco's next clothes collection.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Chris Thorp

June 2003

Style has never been one of Daewoo's biggest selling points. Its cars were always bought by drivers seeking no-nonsense, low-hassle motoring rather than those who wanted to cut a dash. So calling in a string of legendary Italian designers is proving to be a shrewd move for the company - causing as much of a stir in the industry as if Armani had done Tesco's next clothes collection.

After the impressive Kalos, next up is the Pininfarina-penned Nubira, which uses the Ferrari designer's know-how to create a head-turning family saloon.

Getting the Korean manufacturer up and running again under the control of General Motors was never going to be easy, but bosses are keen to keep the model launches coming. Can this fresh look and an all-new design from the ground up attract new buyers to the Nubira? Well, where the old model looked awkward, this one is hard to fault from the outside. At the front, the familiar three-grille layout remains, but new light clusters are more upmarket than those of the family four-door's predecessor. In profile, the sloping waistline and bold wheelarches add to the overall effect, with an uncluttered rear adding the finishing touch.

Move inside and it's hard not to be disappointed at first by the dated seat trim and coarse plastics from Daewoos of old. But once settled in, you soon find the clear dash easy to read and all controls within reach. Rear passengers are also well catered for, with plenty of headroom and adequate legroom. Trim quality isn't quite up to the standards of class leaders, but it's not far off.

Two petrol engines will be available at launch, with the entry-level model coming with a 108bhp 1.6-litre unit and the flagship equipped with a 120bhp 1.8. The latter offers swift performance, but with peak torque arriving at only 4,000rpm and maximum power at 5,800rpm, it has to be revved hard. The sprint from 0-62mph takes 9.5 seconds, with a top speed of 121mph - it's no performance car, but there is enough poke for safe overtaking. Fuel economy of 37.7mpg is enough to match similarly powered rivals.

Behind the wheel, the Nubira's ride and handing are also pleasantly surprising. Minor lumps and bumps are dealt with efficiently, while the firm set-up limits body roll during cornering. Head into a turn too fast and the body control is left behind by dynamically superior rivals, but in day-to-day conditions the Nubira is fine.

At launch, only two trim levels will be available: the ΂£10,995 1.6 SX and the 1.8 CDX, priced at ΂£11,995. Standard equipment is plentiful, with even the base model featuring air-con, alloy wheels and four electric windows. The CDX adds rain-sensing wipers, traction control and automatic climate control.

Four-door saloons are never the top sellers in the compact family sector, and Daewoo executives admit that next year's five-door version will be more popular. But the Nubira saloon is still great value for money.

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