Not really a sport-utility or minivan, the PT has been well received by our staff. It offers versatility and eye-catching styling not found among compact cars. Its only drawback is tepid acceleration. Also getting the nod as a Best Buy is the Nissan Altima. It is the best all-around performer offering room for four large adults, a comfortable but sporty ride, above average acceleration, and good fuel economy.

Recommended choices include the sporty Mitsubishi Galant, the vanilla Mazda 626, and the refined Volkswagen Passat. Hyundai's Sonata is a viable alternative if cash is tight. Though just an average performer on the road, Sonata's below average price and quality construction help it stand out.

Americans have been buying a lot more South Korean vehicles the past couple of years, and though Daewoo is still a minor U.S.-market "newbie," it's been cashing in just like Hyundai and Kia. Indeed, Daewoo Motor America nearly doubled year-to-year sales in calendar 2000, reaching just over 68,000. So did Leganza, the flagship U.S. product that remains the company's top U.S. seller. Though it bested other models by only a few thousand units, Leganza, too, nearly doubled its year-to-year sales, moving up to nearly 25,000.

That's just as well, because Daewoo needs all the sales it can get right now. The South Korean parent company is still struggling to stay afloat and needs to be sold fast. General Motors, now the only buyer in sight, has been conducting "due diligence" on Daewoo, but is as yet undecided about whether to take the plunge.

To convince the public (and maybe Wall Street) that it has a future, Daewoo lifted a page from Chrysler's 1980s playbook and unwrapped the next-generation Leganza at last winter's Los Angeles and Detroit auto shows. As things stand now, the new model won't go on sale until June 2002 as an early '03. Even so, Daewoo hopes to keep base price close to today's $15,000-$16,000.

That'll be some trick, because the '03 Leganza will exchange its Australian-built GM 4-cyl for an inline-6, a 2.5-liter version of Daewoo's own new "modular" engine design. Called XS6 and standard for North America, it's a lightweight all-aluminum unit measuring a compact 36 inches long, thus allowing it to sit fore-aft instead of crosswise as in most front-drive cars. Other features include variable valve timing, a torque-enhancing variable intake system, and expected certification to Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) standards. Horsepower is quoted at 180 in U.S. tune.

As for the rest of it, the new Leganza shows a strong external resemblance to Mitsubishi's midsize Galant sedan, but is a tad larger, which pays off in apparently ample rear-seat room. Daewoo plans to offer two trim levels. Features haven't been decided yet--ditto starting prices--but 5-speed automatic transmission should be standard along with 4-wheel ABS disc brakes, a 140-watt CD/cassette audio system, and power windows/locks/mirrors. Options will definitely include a navigation system and, if not standard, traction/antiskid control. The uplevel model will doubtless feature leather upholstery.

Meantime, rumors persist that Daewoo will send over a larger sedan to counter rival Hyundai's recently launched midsize XG300. Sources refer to this model as either Magnus or Shiraz, but agree that it's a front-drive design sized close to the Toyota Avalon. In fact, it's probably a stretched version of the new Leganza, much like XG300 was created from Hyundai's compact Sonata. Industry moles insist the Daewoo's engine will be a 3.3-liter V6, which would mean a bolted-together pair of the 3-cyl units from the new modular family. Though the final answer on that is uncertain, we'd expect a full range of upscale mechanical, convenience and safety features, including torso and curtain side airbags, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes, traction/antiskid control, 5-speed automatic, leather/wood interior, moonroof, full power accessories, and the inevitable gizmo or two. Of course, all this assumes GM takes over Daewoo and allows this model to go forward, and those are very big "if's" at the moment.