Vehicle Overview
The front-drive Lanos, the smallest, least-expensive model from Korean automaker Daewoo, is a carryover from last year except for a shorter roster. The SX two-door hatchback is gone, leaving S and SE models for that body style, and the four-door sedan loses its SE version, leaving S and SX models. Daewoo (pronounced “day-woo”) entered the U.S. market in fall 1998 and now has more than 200 sales outlets in 42 states. Daewoo also is selling cars through its Web site and “campus advisers” — college students who recruit fellow students as first-time buyers. The company promises a no-haggle sales approach in which its cars are sold at suggested retail.
Interior
Hatchback or sedan, Daewoo says the Lanos holds five passengers, though that seems a stretch given the modest size of these cars. The trunk on both holds 8.8 cubic feet, and the split rear seatback folds for additional cargo space. All models have a standard cassette player, and the SX sedan adds a CD player. Air conditioning is standard on the SX, optional on the others.
Exterior
The two-door hatchback is 160 inches long and the four-door sedan is 167. By comparison, the Honda Civic hatchback is 164 inches long and the sedan is 175. If you want alloy wheels and a power sunroof, the SX sedan is your only hope. Alloy wheels are standard and the sunroof is a $500 option.
Under the Hood
All models have a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 105 horsepower. A five-speed manual transmission is standard and a four-speed automatic is optional. Anti-lock brakes are a $700 option on the SE hatchback and SX sedan.
Performance
Lanos plows no new ground in performance or features, though it is attractively priced for budget-minded shoppers. However, after a little more than a year on the market there is little reliability and durability data. In addition, the ALG projects low resale value for Lanos compared to other small cars.
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