Daewoo Matiz v Fiat Seicento Sporting

Budget rivals

Budget cars are tempting buys new thanks to generous equipment, good prices and low-interest finance deals, but do they still make sense used?

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Craig Cheetham

May 2002

We compare them with earlier mainstream models.
Daewoo Matiz SE 2000 W Easily the best model in the Korean manufacturer's line-up, the Matiz holds on to its value far better than any other budget car currently on the market.
Ironically, the miniature Daewoo made its world debut as a Fiat concept, designed specifically for city roads. Its narrow track and high roofline suit the urban environment perfectly, and it is one of the few cars which is a genuine pleasure to drive through traffic. It's easy to see why - the Matiz offers an entertaining chassis, cute styling and a strong image, as well as five-door practicality. In our opinion, it's one of the best city cars you can buy.
Against The Matiz's weakest link can be found under the bonnet. Its 800cc three-cylinder engine is just about up to the job of propelling drivers around town, but feels strained at speed. Performance is breathless and the unit is noisy at high revs. ABS isn't fitted as standard, either, and braking performance is far from impressive. Interior trim can feel a little cheap, while equipment levels are predictably low. With this in mind, we have no problems with durability. Even over extended tests, the Daewoo stood up to the hardest use.
Fiat Seicento Sporting 1999 V It's impossible not to like the Seicento's cheeky styling and nimble chassis. Thanks to its sharp steering, the baby Fiat is a driver's delight, while the suspension helps the car to develop impressive amounts of grip.
On top of this, the Seicento is an incredibly cheap motor to buy, sips petrol, costs mere pennies to run and squeezes into the smallest of parking spaces. Insurance costs are rock-bottom, too ί¿½ even the 'hot' sporting edition qualifies for group three, making it a great choice for keen young drivers. A vibrant choice of colours add to the Fiat's appeal, as does its vast network of dealer support.
Against Sadly, the Seicento is let down by poor build, shoddy trim and a disappointing reliability record, all of which conspire to give it poor residual values. Spend GBP4,000 today and even a flagship 1.1 Sporting will have dropped to only GBP2,000 by 2005. It's also hampered by a cramped, noisy cabin and doesn't have a five-door option. A poor Euro NCAP showing did little to help the supermini's cause, and buyers turned away from new editions, depressing used values further. A recent 'facelift' and mechanical improvements failed to lift the Fiat's stock.
Verdict Daewoo Matiz. You don't need the knowledge to work out which of our two city cars is the most sensible buy. Quite simply, the Matiz is the only choice. Its mix of affordability and strong residuals impresses, as does its driveability and practicality.