South Korean onslaught continues with Daewoo to launch Nexia

South Korean onslaught continues with Daewoo to launch Nexia

By Russell Williamson

Daewoo will be the third South Korean manufacturer to enter the increasingly crowded small passenger sedan market when the Nexia goes on sale late this year.

Competing against its compatriots, in the form of Bimantara's new Cakra and the Timor car -- which is effectively a Kia Sephia -- the Nexia is likely to be aiming for price as its major selling factor.

In order to generate some interest in the vehicle prior to its release, PT Starsauto Dinamika, the local assembler and distributor for Daewoo, will be displaying the four-door Nexia sedan alongside its existing product, the Espero, at the Jakarta Auto Expo.

The Nexia is based on the 1980's Opel Kadett and it probably says a lot for that car that it is still able to compete effectively in its class on the world market today.

It was initially offered with a basic single overhead cam 1500cc engine for export markets around the world but last year, a front and rear restyle and the addition of a twin-cam engine brought the car into the 1990s and gave it the ability to compete on more even terms.

It is not yet clear which engine will power the Indonesian Nexia's as many markets offer both with the SOHC unit, used in entry level vehicles, and the DOHC sophistication in the higher- specced cars.

Adding a new, deep-breathing, high-technology cylinder head has given the Nexia more power (66kW compared to 55kW) and torque (137Nm compared to 127Nm) than the single-camshaft variant.

Interestingly, the extra punch comes without recourse to extra rpm -- in fact the twin-cam's 66kW comes at just 4800rpm, which is 600rpm less than that required by the single-cam engine to produce its 55kW. The higher torque figure, does, however, require a small rpm increase, from 3200rpm to 3400rpm.

So, forget what the multi-valve head implies: it is not your high-revving, top-of-the-tacho power plant. The extra urge is readily available, within a useful segment of the operating range.

In overseas markets the inclusion of a driver's side air bag brings the Daewoo into line with most of its competition while antilock brakes, available only on top of the line cars, is also a welcome addition.

The feel-good exterior styling is let down by the interior, which appears to be put together from an available-parts bin and is cheap both visually and physically.

The seats feel firm and unyielding but there is more room inside than would normally be anticipated in this class. The inclusion of a height-adjuster on the driver's seat compensates for the fixed-height steering column, which is set perhaps a little too high for some drivers.

Luggage space is excellent, and a surefire attraction to the Daewoo.

Even in the top of the range model, where the suggestion is made that this Daewoo is no longer quite your bottom-of-the- market, cheap and cheerful conveyance, the Nexia doesn't quite achieve the quality levels of its opposition.

Carpet and trim fit contrasted with the accurate attention to detail evident in its Japanese competition -- or even the new Bimantara Cakra.

The Phillips sound system does produce good sound, although it uses fussy, difficult, touch controls rather than ergonomic rotating knobs.

Driving the Nexia, two aspects were brought immediately stand out: the more powerful engine does indeed lift performance, but at the expense of a little smoothness and quietness, and the standard-issue Kumho tires are not the most tenacious when it comes to road grip.

The Nexia could be induced into tire-squealing antics without really trying and felt a little uncomfortable in wet conditions as well.

The multi-valve 1.5-liter, with its tendency to deliver good low-speed torque, handles the four-speed automatic gearbox well, but does not have the sound and feel of an engine that likes to take a deep breath and plunge upwards into the high-rpm band.

It is neither quiet nor smooth, although it would possibly feel better with the five-speed manual transmission.

In the end, the Nexia feels exactly what it is: a smart- looking car that is bigger than its anticipated price-equivalent opposition and consequently, more spacious and useful but still a smoothed-over, old design that has not benefited from the technology advances evident in most other small cars.

In addition to this preview, Daewoo will have on display its current Espero mid sized 2000cc sedan and a small 800cc micro car, Tico.

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Daewoo will join the small car explosion on the Indonesian market when it launches the Nexia later this year.