1999-2002 Daewoo Lanos: Road Test

Crude, loud, and coarse, the little Lanos is something of a throwback to imported cars of an earlier era. In comparison, the Korean-built Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio come across as civilized and refined. So do a host of Japanese- and American-brand small cars that cost more, but deliver a far greater level of quality and confidence. Falling well short of the competition in acceleration and quietness, the Lanos can nevertheless be almost fun to drive--but in the older-import sense, not the modern mode. Performance is at least passable with manual shift, and it gets around town well enough, but this is not a great choice for long highway drives. The automatic transmission can behave in a jumpy manner at times. Lack of available antilock braking in 2001-02 models is another drawback. Rear-seat room is more limited than in some competitors, true, but it's actually rather spacious when you consider the Lanos's exterior dimensions. Interior details are on the bargain-basement level. Still, the biggest disadvantage of buying a Daewoo is the highly uncertain future for the remaining dealerships. As of mid-2002, no one is sure where, or how, the existing cars will be serviced.

Value for the Money
Though seemingly quite affordable, the Lanos isn't really all that cheap for a car that ranks only average in most respects--and disappointing in several major areas. It's definitely not a wise entry-level buy, especially since Kia and Hyundai rivals are better developed and more appealing, and came with much longer, more comprehensive warranties. We'd opt for one of those, or for a Japanese or American alternative that offers superior refinement and customer support, for a little more money. A Ford Escort or Dodge Neon, for instance, offers superior refinement and customer support.