1999-2002 Daewoo Nubira: Road Test

Ranking as a midpack performer in every way, the Nubira seems to have several personalities. Some examples behave nicely, while others deliver more annoyance than driving pleasure. Considering its origins, though, the Nubira is generally a surprisingly pleasant and capable small car. As for acceleration, a CDX wagon with automatic ambled to 60 mph in 10.1 seconds, averaging about 20 mpg in hard driving. Neither figure is great, but both are passable. The ride is fairly supple, turning choppy only when the pavement gets rough. Handling is front-drive safe, if ordinary, though with some body roll evident. Braking is competitive if ABS is installed, with fine "panic" braking prowess. Nubira's automatic transmission sometimes shifts with a lurch. The manual gearbox can be balky and uncertain, seemingly mismatched to a mediocre-acting clutch. The coarse-sounding engine gets loud when pushed and its noise intrudes even in gentle driving. For its exterior dimensions, the Nubira is pretty roomy inside. Two medium-sized adults should not feel cramped in back, at least on shorter trips. Gauges and switches are mostly handy and legible, but audio controls could be more convenient. Workmanship is generally good--in line with the Nubira's moderate new-car price, if spoiled by a few second-rate details. Interior ambience comes across as discount-store level rather than designer-inspired.

Value for the Money
Overall, the Nubira is an average subcompact from a company whose future is in grave doubt. Buy one only with great caution, and only if the price is truly hard to pass up. Daewoo resale values were low even before the big financial ills loomed, so finding a low-priced example shouldn't be difficult. Still, it would be wiser to pay a few dollars more for an alternative model, such as the impressive Ford Focus.