1999-2002 Daewoo Lanos Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Our in-depth review covers everything you need to know about this generation Daewoo Lanos. Get the latest news, find a local dealer, and get a free price quote for this generation Daewoo Lanos.

1999-2002 Daewoo Lanos Review

Lanos is the smallest member of the trio of passenger cars that emerged in 1999 from Daewoo, the third South Korean automaker to enter the U.S. market. The front-drive subcompact came as a two-door hatchback or four-door sedan, in S, SE, and top-of-the-line SX trim. Main rival was the similar-sized Hyundai Accent, also produced in Korea, but Lanos models also competed against the Dodge/Plymouth Neon, Ford Focus, Ford Escort/ZX2, Honda Civic, Hyundai Accent, and Toyota Echo. All versions used a 1.6-liter, dual-overhead-cam four-cylinder engine, offered with five-speed manual shift or an optional four-speed automatic transmission. Antilock braking was optional, except on base S models. Standard equipment included cloth front bucket seats, a split folding rear seat, cassette stereo system, rear defogger, tachometer, intermittent wipers, and 185/60R14 tires. Hatchbacks had a rear wiper/washer. The midrange SE edition added a power right-hand mirror, power windows and door locks, remote keyless entry, and a theft-deterrent system. Topping the trio, the SX came with air conditioning, a tilt steering wheel, cassette/CD stereo, foglights, alloy wheels, and the option of a power sunroof. At first, Daewoo recruited teams of students to promote the car on college campuses. Before long, though, conventional dealerships began to spring up around the country, Buyers got a roadside assistance program as part of the purchase.

Year to Year Changes

2000 Daewoo Lanos: Little was changed in the Lanos's second season on the U.S. market, except that more dealerships were appearing. At the same time, the South Korean company was starting to face serious financial woes, prompting consideration of a possible takeover by one of the Big Three automakers. By now, the Lanos had another competitor in the U.S., in the form of the comparably-sized Kia Rio.

2001 Daewoo Lanos: The increasingly embattled Daewoo company continued to send cars to the U.S. market, but financial troubles were mounting rapidly. Prospective suitors emerged, then backed away, and Daewoo's fate was increasingly uncertain. Minor rear-end styling changes were evident. The Lanos SE hatchback and SX four-door sedan were dropped (including the option of antilock braking). That left only mainstream S models, available with a new Premium Package that roughly duplicated formerly standard top-of-the-line equipment. A new Sport hatchback got body-colored side skirts, bumpers and mirrors--plus a rear spoiler, black/red leather upholstery, air conditioning, power windows and locks, power mirrors, and a CD/cassette stereo.

2002 Daewoo Lanos: In spring 2002, General Motors bought a sizable share of the assets of the Daewoo organization--but not its sales arm in the U.S. That move left dealers hanging, selling only leftover cars, and owners unsure how their vehicles would be repaired under warranty. The Lanos came as a two-door hatchback in S or Sport trim, and as an S four-door sedan. Power steering was now an option on the S edition, and alloy wheels no longer were available on the Lanos Sport.

1999-2002 Daewoo Lanos Road Test

Pros	Cons

Fuel economy	Acceleration

Price	Automatic-transmission performance

	Rear-seat room

	Rear-seat entry/exit (hatchback)

Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation

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.

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Daewoo Lanos S sedan	Rating

Performance	2

Fuel Economy	6

Ride Quality	3

Steering/Handling/Braking	2

Quietness	3

Controls/Materials	6

Interior Room	4

Room/Comfort (rear)	3

Cargo Capacity	2

Value within Class	1

Total:	32

Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room, Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.

1999-2002 Daewoo Lanos Reliability

Trouble Spots

Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer, however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.

Brakes: Various brakes complaints ranging from partial hydraulic failures, short pad life to inoperative ABS. (1999-00)

Fuel gauge: Incorrect fuel gauge readings are caused by a defective resistor card in the fuel sender. (2001-02)

Headlights: The headlight wiring connector may be damaged by heat causing low light output. (1999)

Steering problems: Imprecise steering feel, wandering and loss of power assist. (2000)

Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs

This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership to be slightly higher.


Item Name	Repair Cost

A/C Compressor	$385

Alternator	$520

Automatic Transmission or Transaxle	$680

Brakes	$275

Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing	$425

Constant Velocity Joints	$950

Exhaust System	$250

Radiator	$465

Shocks and/or Struts	$1,040

Timing Chain or Belt	$285

NHTSA Recall History

1998-02: Camshaft position sensor on some engines may melt, resulting in burning smell and visible smoke that could lead to melting of camshaft cover and wire harness, possibly causing underhood fire.

1999: In a side impact collision, pelvic protection for the front seat occupants will be reduced due to an incorrectly positioned side impact pad.

1999: Steering will feel loose if the steering wheel center bushing that connects the wheel hub to the steering column slips.

1999-00: Some alloy wheels were manufactured without steel bushing inserts around the wheel bolt openings. The wheels could detach from the vehicle, causing a crash.

1999-02: In a crash in which airbags do not deploy, there is increased risk of head injury to the front seat passenger due to lack of energy absorbing mounting brackets on the airbag cover.

2000-01: A wiring harness beneath the carpet could be damaged by passenger traffic, affecting engine drivability; engine could stall.

1999-2002 Daewoo Lanos Prices

Prices	Good	Average	Poor

1999
Lanos S, SE	$1,000-1,400	$600-800	$100
Lanos SX	$1,200-1,500	$700-900	$100-200

2000
Lanos S, SE	$1,200-1,600	$700-1,000	$100-200
Lanos SX	$1,400-1,800	$900-1,200	$200

2001
Lanos S	$1,500-2,000	$1,000-1,300	$200-300
Lanos Sport	$1,700-2,200	$1,100-1,500	$300

2002
Lanos S	$2,000-2,500	$1,400-1,800	$300-400
Lanos Sport	$2,300-2,700	$1,700-1,900	$400-500

This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:

Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.

Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings; engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.

Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo, etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from region to region.

1999-2002 Daewoo Lanos Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	2-door hatchback	4-door sedan

Wheelbase, in.	99.2	99.2

Overall Length, in.	160.4	166.8

Overall Width, in.	66.1	66.1

Overall Height, in.	56.4	56.4

Curb Weight, lbs.	2447	2522

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	31.3	8.8

Standard Payload, lbs.	--	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	12.7	12.7

Seating Capacity	5	5

Front Head Room, in.	38.9	38.9

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	42.8	42.8

Rear Head Room, in.	37.8	37.8

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	34.6	34.6

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Powertrain Options and Availability

Throughout its life on the U.S. market, the Lanos used a single powertrain: a dual-cam four-cylinder engine making 105 horsepower, coupled with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.

Engines	Size liters / cu. in	Horse- power	Torque	Transmission: EPA city/hgwy	Consumer Guide Observed

dohc I4	1.6 / 98	105	106	5-speed manual: 26/36 4-speed automatic: 23/34	5-speed manual: -- 4-speed automatic: --

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Vehicle crash test information not available at this time.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Built In: South Korea

Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

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Also in the 1999-2002 Daewoo Lanos Review:

Daewoo Lanos

Daewoo Lanos Road Test

Daewoo Lanos Reliability

Daewoo Lanos Prices

Daewoo Lanos Specs & Safety

Daewoo Lanos Photos

Daewoo Lanos Full Review