1999-2002 Daewoo Leganza: Road Test

Like the smaller Daewoo models--Lanos and Nubira--the Leganza is a credible competitor in its class, but no more than that. Basically, it's a competent family four-door, promising acceptable but uninspiring performance and comfort. Although it comes close to some Japanese-brand rivals, the Leganza fails to excel in any area. All Leganza models deliver a lot of safety and convenience features for the money. A smooth and pillowy ride is generally pleasing, if somewhat "floaty," but some bumps are attacked with a surprising level of harshness. Soggy but safe handling is the rule--on a par with some competitors. Braking also ranks as decent. The roomy sedan has good space for four adults. Less likable are the Leganza's tepid acceleration, mediocre gas mileage, and some odd interior design details. Interior assembly quality isn't the best, and radios operate rather strangely. A CDX sedan with automatic took 11 seconds to reach 60 mph, which falls short of the car's rivals. Fuel economy in new-car testing ranged from 19.5 to 22.4 mpg--typical for a four-cylinder compact, but nothing exceptional.

Value for the Money
Low resale value might make the Leganza tempting on a strictly dollar basis, but one of the reasons for rapid depreciation has been the unstable state of the company. Even before the financial concerns mounted, Daewoo ranked as a "dark horse," with no track record in the U.S. for quality and service. Kia and Hyundai competitors, also from South Korea, have come with much longer and more comprehensive warranties, as well as better reputations. As of mid-2002, the future is uncertain both for Daewoo dealers and all the car owners in the U.S.