Daewoo road test reports and car reviews

Daewoo Matiz SE plus 2001

I’ve had two of these Daewoo’s and both have been great little cars. The first one was new in 1998 and ran for the two years I had it, without even a bulb being changed - perfect. The second and my current car is a 2001 model bought in 2005. Bad points first: the 800cc engine is a little underpowered when the car is loaded and hilly or fast roads can be a chore after a while. The later cars are fitted with a bigger 1.0 litre engine. Genuine parts are expensive, but then aren’t they all? Fuel consumption is not fantastic for such a small car at 42mpg urban and 49mpg on a steady run and there is no diesel option - petrol only. The Matiz is also not rated to have tow bar fitted which is a real nuisance - the Austin Metro did okay with one. Good points...well where do I start? Agile around town and with small wheels and power steering it is a breeze to park anywhere. The styling is cheeky and attractive with big headlamps. Interior space is well designed for a car of this size with good leg room even in the back. Rear 60/40 seats fold to make a neat little ’van’ if required. My personal experience of reliability have been good but other reports suggest there are weaknesses in the coolant system which can lead to leaks in the manifold and heater matrix and dealers’ get a poor rating also. Overall a cracking little car and I’d have another tomorrow.