2001 Daewoo Leganza Review
2001 Daewoo Leganza Review
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Used Leganza for sale
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Lots of features, low price, good looks.
Cons
- Questionable resale value, unproven reliability, weak engine, financially unstable manufacturer.
What’s new
Scarlet Mica and Harbor Mist Mica are the new exterior colors. Outside rearview mirrors get a blue tint and a new audio head unit is added for improved sound quality. A new option package for the SE includes front and rear power windows, power door locks, AM/FM/cassette/CD stereo with six speakers, dual body-color heated power rearview mirrors, anti-theft alarm with remote keyless entry, tilt steering wheel and front foglamps.
Edmunds says
Unless you're a die-hard groupie for the underdog, consider other cars.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2001 Daewoo Leganza SE 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 5M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$203/mo for Leganza SE
Leganza SE
vs
$181/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
Vehicle overview
Leganza, whose name is derived from a combination of the Italian words "elegante" (elegant) and "forza" (power), is Daewoo's midsize sedan marketed to would-be buyers of pedestrian Honda Accords and Toyota Camrys who want a full load of luxury amenities for a cut-rate bargain price.
Yes, the Leganza is elegant, penned by ItalDesign whiz Giorgetto Giugiaro. But powerful? Hardly. Competing against vehicles commonly equipped with V6 engines, the Leganza is handicapped in the muscle department by its only powerplant: A 2.2-liter DOHC 16-valve engine making 131 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 148 foot-pounds of torque at 2,800 rpm is charged with hauling around more than 3,000 pounds of sedan.
Three trim levels are available on the Leganza: SE, SX and CDX. Standard equipment includes a full-size spare tire, power windows and locks, air conditioning and a tilt steering wheel. A new-for-2001 option package can adorn the base SE with AM/FM/cassette/CD stereo, anti-theft alarm with remote keyless entry, cruise control and foglamps. Step up to the midlevel SX, and you're rewarded with four-wheel disc antilock brakes, a CD player, leather seats, cruise control and an automatic transmission, with a moonroof and 15-inch alloy wheels optionally available. The luxurious CDX gets those last two items plus a power driver seat, automatic temperature control, fake wood trim and traction control.
British suspension-expert Lotus tuned Leganza's four-wheel independent underpinnings, but Daewoo obviously wanted a cushy ride, and the Leganza delivers. Weak tires howl around turns, and the ABS is substandard in refinement and effectiveness. Despite a "Sport" mode for the automatic transmission, it's best to drive the Leganza less enthusiastically than you would, say, anything else on the market.
We've found the Leganza dissatisfying, though plenty of owners report that they enjoy their cars immensely. Our specific complaints include uncomfortable seats, poor quality interior materials, lousy stereo sound quality, a dearth of engine power, skittish transmission performance, uninspired braking ability and sloppy steering.
We also know that Daewoo, which has filed for bankruptcy protection, is in big trouble with creditors in Korea, and is desperately searching for another automaker to bail it out of tremendous debt. What's worse is that suitor Ford Motor Company, after reviewing Daewoo's internal records, declined an opportunity to purchase the company. Add to this list of woes substandard crashworthiness as proven by offset crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and we cannot recommend the Leganza to anyone. Well, anyone we like.
But perhaps the biggest hurdle the Leganza faces is not Daewoo's no-haggle sales strategy, patchy dealer network, financial trouble at home or poor crash protection, but the extremely fierce competition in the midsize sedan segment. Competing against such entities as the Chevrolet Malibu, Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Stratus, Ford Taurus, Honda Accord, Mazda 626, Mitsubishi Galant, Nissan Altima, Oldsmobile Alero, Saturn LS and Toyota Camry is no small order, especially when the American buying public already knows where to buy and service them.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2001 Daewoo Leganza.
5 star(50%)
4 star(37%)
3 star(4%)
2 star(7%)
1 star(2%)
54 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.63 out of 5 stars
My God - What a car!
Ali E, 07/25/2004
2000 Daewoo Leganza CDX 4dr Sedan
Being a construction engineer, I knew
of Daewoo's high quality in heavy earth
moving equipment. Over the past 20
years I've owned a Buick Lesabre, a
Mitsu Galant, and a Honda Accord. All
new. I must say that these auto these
brands - along with others - are
probably relieved that Daewoo is no
longer around. In my considered
experiance, this Leganza CDX is indeed …
better than any other car I have ever
owned, on many fronts. The styling,
handling, ride and build quality,
features and duribility are supurb. I
purchased mine for $16,999. In
contrast, I remember a Saturn (with far
fewer features less power and sloppy
ride) with a sticker price of
$24,789!!
4.25 out of 5 stars
Problems with a Daewoo
amy, 03/05/2002
2000 Daewoo Leganza SE 4dr Sedan
Problems with my Daewoo are as follows: One)the tape player broke just months after purchase. Two)the back windshield blew out after turning on the rear defroster and it started smoking. Three) Daewoo refused to check for a manufacture's default in the windshield or the rear defroster, until my Insurance replaced it.
4.63 out of 5 stars
Best car ever!!
stottsy, 05/11/2012
2000 Daewoo Leganza SX 4dr Sedan
I bought this car from my sister about five years ago.
Sometimes she indicates she would like it back.
There is no way she is getting it because I am driving it until the wheels falls off. It has more than 120,000 miles on it.
It needs some cosmetic repair.
However I haven't had much more than routine repair such as tires, brakes and oil changes.
It is too bad they do not make anymore.
2.38 out of 5 stars
I thought it was perfect
Jessi, 06/18/2002
2001 Daewoo Leganza SE 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 5M)
I recently bought the Leganza with
11000 miles on it. I could not afford
a new car and my options were limited
on the used cars. I saw the Leganza
and copmpared to the Cavalier or Focus
Ithought it was great. I test drove it
and it felt like a luxury car. I had
to have it. At about 16000 miles that
is when it started ticking, then at
19000 miles the transmission … has locked
up. The biggest problem now is that
Daewoo will not stand behind the
warranty and I have a lifter gone on my
engine and a locked transmission. That
is whay they have a built in shift lock
release. Oh, and I got horrible ga
mileage.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2001 Daewoo Leganza, so we've included reviews for other years of the Leganza since its last redesign.
2001 Leganza Highlights
SE
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $14,399 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 21 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $203/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Leganza include:
- Alarm
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver3 / 5Passenger3 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger3 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRolloverNot RatedDynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalPoor
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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