2002 Daewoo Lanos: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

General Motors now owns a controlling interest in Daewoo, but at the time of this report, the future of the South Korean manufacturer's U.S. operations was uncertain. Lanos is Daewoo's smallest U.S. offering. It comes as a 2-dr hatchback in S and Sport trim and as the S 4-dr sedan. All have a 4-cyl engine and manual or optional automatic transmission. The Sport comes with air conditioning and leather upholstery, but Lanos and Daewoo's slightly larger Nubira (see separate report) are among the few cars that do not offer ABS. For 2002, power steering is optional rather than standard on Lanos S models, and alloy wheels are no longer available on the Sport.

COMPETITION

A perennial favorite, the Honda Civic, is as good as ever. We love the wide range of bodystyles, engines, and equipment. Civic is a solid car that has good performance, a nice ride, and a high degree of civility. We also love almost everything about the Ford Focus, but were reluctant to rank it a Best Buy because it was new from the ground up. After a year of living with a ZTS model, we can say that the reliability is good. Focus ranks a notch below Civic in some areas but costs less.

Topping the crowded Recommended list are the Volkswagen Golf and Jetta. They easily could be Best Buys. However, they are among the most expensive cars in this segment. Other Recommended choices include the no-frills Toyota Echo, the sporty Nissan Sentra, and the roomy Mazda Protege.