2002 Daewoo Lanos

The entry-level Daewoo Lanos hatchback and sedan were produced from 1999-2002. Both body styles were powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder good for 105 horsepower and 107 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission was standard and a four-speed automatic was optional. As expected, acceleration was leisurely, but the Lanos made up for this with very good fuel economy.

Trim levels varied by year but the most common were S, SE, SX and Sport. Potential buyers should focus on the Lanos SX and Lanos Sport, as these were the top-level trims and came standard with the most features, including power steering, air-conditioning and power accessories.

In our brief driving experience with the Daewoo Lanos, we found very little to like. Refinement was lacking, as the engine thrashed roughly at higher rpm and manual-transmission drivers had to shift by ear due to the lack of a tachometer. We did observe that it was decently entertaining to drive around corners, a fact likely attributable to Daewoo's claim that it had Porsche help with the car's suspension tuning.