2002
Daewoo Nubira

Starts at:
$11,699
Shop options
New 2002 Daewoo Nubira
See ratings
Consumer rating
Owner reviewed vehicle score
Not rated
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
Consumer rating
Owner reviewed vehicle score
Not rated
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
Shop Cars.com
Browse cars & save your favorites
Dealers near you
Find & contact a dealership near you
no listings

We're not finding any listings in your area.
Change your location or search Cars.com to see more!

Change location

Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 4dr Sdn SE
    Starts at
    $11,699
    22 City / 31 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn CDX
    Starts at
    $13,999
    22 City / 31 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

The good & the bad

This vehicle doesn't have any good or bad insights yet.

Use our comparison tool to look at this model side-by-side with other vehicles or view the full specifications list .

Start your comparison

Expert 2002 Daewoo Nubira review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By Cars.com editors
Full article
our expert's take

Vehicle Overview
Slotted between the subcompact Lanos and the midsize Leganza in both size and price, Daewoo’s Nubira comes as a front-drive compact sedan and wagon. The sedan comes in base SE and step-up CDX price levels. The Nubira wagon is available only in the CDX trim.

Daewoo had big plans when it entered the U.S. market for the 1999 model year, but since then, the South Korean automaker has run into serious financial woes. Despite a 117 percent sales hike in 2000, with more than 68,000 cars going to customers, Daewoo has remained for sale. Ford first emerged as the highest bidder, but that sale fell through. In September 2001, GM signed a nonbinding agreement to acquire control of bankrupt Daewoo for $400 million.

Exterior
More distinctive in appearance than a lot of smaller cars, the Nubira rides a 101.2-inch wheelbase and measures 177 inches long overall, which is 2.4 inches longer than the Honda Civic sedan. The Nubira is 66.9 inches wide and stands 56.3 inches tall.

Interior
The Nubira seats five occupants. The trunk holds 13.1 cubic feet of cargo, and the 60/40-split rear seat folds down for additional space. With the backseat folded, capacity increases to nearly 32 cubic feet.

Remote keyless entry with a theft alarm, air conditioning, and power windows, locks and mirrors are standard on the CDX model and optional on the SE. An in-dash CD player is standard, and the CDX can be fitted with optional leather seating. Neither of these features is available on the SE.

Under the Hood
A 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine develops 129 horsepower and teams with a standard five-speed manual or an optional four-speed-automatic transmission. Antilock brakes are standard on the CDX sedan but not offered on the lower-priced SE model.

Driving Impressions
More refined and considerably more substantial than the little Lanos, the Nubira takes aim at the likes of the Toyota Corolla and undercuts nearly all competitors with its low prices. Because of its short life in the marketplace and its questionable future, the Nubira’s reliability and durability are still unknown.

A comfortably composed ride and ample front/rear passenger space must be matched against performance that’s no more than adequate for this league. The Nubira exhibits more confident handling than the Lanos, and its suspension absorbs a sizable share of road imperfections. With an automatic transmission, the Nubira is exceptionally easy to drive and maneuvers well. The manual-shift Nubira proved to be considerably less pleasing by exhibiting excessive driveline “play,” and it is imperfectly matched to an ill-behaved clutch. Sound insulation is better than that of the Lanos.

 

Reported by Jim Flammang  for cars.com
From the cars.com 2002 Buying Guide

2002 Daewoo Nubira review: Our expert's take

Vehicle Overview
Slotted between the subcompact Lanos and the midsize Leganza in both size and price, Daewoo’s Nubira comes as a front-drive compact sedan and wagon. The sedan comes in base SE and step-up CDX price levels. The Nubira wagon is available only in the CDX trim.

Daewoo had big plans when it entered the U.S. market for the 1999 model year, but since then, the South Korean automaker has run into serious financial woes. Despite a 117 percent sales hike in 2000, with more than 68,000 cars going to customers, Daewoo has remained for sale. Ford first emerged as the highest bidder, but that sale fell through. In September 2001, GM signed a nonbinding agreement to acquire control of bankrupt Daewoo for $400 million.

Exterior
More distinctive in appearance than a lot of smaller cars, the Nubira rides a 101.2-inch wheelbase and measures 177 inches long overall, which is 2.4 inches longer than the Honda Civic sedan. The Nubira is 66.9 inches wide and stands 56.3 inches tall.

Interior
The Nubira seats five occupants. The trunk holds 13.1 cubic feet of cargo, and the 60/40-split rear seat folds down for additional space. With the backseat folded, capacity increases to nearly 32 cubic feet.

Remote keyless entry with a theft alarm, air conditioning, and power windows, locks and mirrors are standard on the CDX model and optional on the SE. An in-dash CD player is standard, and the CDX can be fitted with optional leather seating. Neither of these features is available on the SE.

Under the Hood
A 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine develops 129 horsepower and teams with a standard five-speed manual or an optional four-speed-automatic transmission. Antilock brakes are standard on the CDX sedan but not offered on the lower-priced SE model.

Driving Impressions
More refined and considerably more substantial than the little Lanos, the Nubira takes aim at the likes of the Toyota Corolla and undercuts nearly all competitors with its low prices. Because of its short life in the marketplace and its questionable future, the Nubira’s reliability and durability are still unknown.

A comfortably composed ride and ample front/rear passenger space must be matched against performance that’s no more than adequate for this league. The Nubira exhibits more confident handling than the Lanos, and its suspension absorbs a sizable share of road imperfections. With an automatic transmission, the Nubira is exceptionally easy to drive and maneuvers well. The manual-shift Nubira proved to be considerably less pleasing by exhibiting excessive driveline “play,” and it is imperfectly matched to an ill-behaved clutch. Sound insulation is better than that of the Lanos.

 

Reported by Jim Flammang  for cars.com
From the cars.com 2002 Buying Guide

Factory warranties

Currently no warranties for this model year
This vehicle doesn’t currently have warranty details.
You can still learn about car warranties, review what’s best, and identify coverage that may be right for you.
Cars.com warranty hub

Consumer reviews

100% of drivers recommend this car
4.4 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.2
Interior 4.3
Performance 3.6
Value 4.0
Exterior 3.8
Reliability 3.8

Most recent

  • By familyguyfan420 from xxxx, Michigan
    Used to own this car
    August 5, 2019

    An alright commuter

    This car is really not that bad a commuter for only $500. The only issue I see with owning a Daewoo Nubira is parts availability in the US. A rare bird, indeed!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 3.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • By Thihopderk from Indianapolis
    Used to own this car
    July 9, 2017

    Excellent Car excellent people can't wait to do it

    This car got me through to work wasn't what I wanted but was a great deal so would do it again we don't it again would recommend
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 2.0
    Exterior 2.0
    Reliability 3.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • By Mr. Carter from greensboro,nc
    Owns this car
    September 2, 2012

    dont regret buying this car most reliable.

    cheap and reliable car to have. bought from a friend and dont regret it one bit wish they had more on the road.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • By Nubi Owner from Detroit, MI
    Owns this car
    November 22, 2009

    Great Value for the Money

    I bought a CDX trim Nubira a while ago used. I was amazed by the features it offered, especially consitering the fact that it's a compact. The in-dash CD player and radio system are of high quality, and the fold-down rear armrest is a nice touch. The suspension is nice, most road imperfections aren't noticable. The transmission is bad in 3rd and 4th gear, but 5th is very forgiving and smooth. The clutch is tempermental, and must be pushed nearly to the floor to disngauage; the 16-valve DOHC engine, however, provides plenty of get-up-and-go for quick acceleration. Other flaws include the rarity of replacement parts, a fuel guage that occasionally malfunctions, and some minor interior paint chiping. Other than that, it is a solid car with a substantial feel. The only real question is if you can deal with driving an obscure Korean car.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • By Long Distance Driver from McAllen Texas
    Owns this car
    March 27, 2007

    Excellent value for money

    I bought this car rather cheaply and once I fixed the problems for about $150 I have driven it daily. I took the car to Guatamala and also spent some considerable time driving in Mexico. It handled the roads wonderfully without any difficulty. It is not a perfect car and there are some minor little things that are annoying. however on a value for dollar basis I rate it very high. One final comment to get the best out of the car please follow the maintenance schedule
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
See all reviews

FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2002 Daewoo Nubira?

The 2002 Daewoo Nubira is available in 2 trim levels:

  • CDX (1 style)
  • SE (1 style)

What is the MPG of the 2002 Daewoo Nubira?

The 2002 Daewoo Nubira offers up to 22 MPG in city driving and 31 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

Is the 2002 Daewoo Nubira reliable?

The 2002 Daewoo Nubira has an average reliability rating of 3.8 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2002 Daewoo Nubira owners.

Is the 2002 Daewoo Nubira a good Sedan?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2002 Daewoo Nubira. 100.0% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.4 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.2
  • Interior: 4.3
  • Performance: 3.6
  • Value: 4.0
  • Exterior: 3.8
  • Reliability: 3.8
Your list was successfully saved.
 
 
 
 
Save list Compare
[{"cat":null,"stock_type":"used","bodystyle":"Sedan","page_type":"research/make-model-year","oem_page":false,"search_fuel_types":["Gasoline Fuel"]}]