Daewoo - Lanos

1997-02 

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Daewoo's old small family range was replaced by the Kalos in 2002. Lanos makes little sense now as it's outdated and unrefined, although it is very cheap to buy.

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	Practical budget transport for smaller families
	Reliability is above-average; reasonably safe
	Cabin is quite comfortable for four adults
	Little image and an ageing design
	Engines are noisy when stretched
	Thirstier than most rivals; steep depreciation

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In its day Lanos looked quite attractive, the best of the late 1990s Daewoo line-up and a big improvement on the ancient Nexia. But when rivals moved on, and budget family motorists began to expect more for their money, Lanos began to look too basic and was left behind.

Quality and reliability are pretty good, and rust isn't usually a problem. Road, wind and engine noise are all higher than on modern cars. Fuel economy isn't good, emissions are poor, and insurance ratings are higher than average, so running costs are disappointing for a small car. The 1.4 litre engine feels sluggish; although its top speed is a respectable 102mph, it takes far too long to get there. The 1.6 accelerates quicker but is still uninspiring.

You're buying basic wheels here, so best bargain buy is the 1.4 SE, which comes with fairly generous kit as standard. The higher priced versions aren't worth the extra.