OK, now that we've restated the obvious, we have only three words for all of those more established economy-car fans who are undoubtedly putting finger to keyboard in a fit of rage: Get Over It! If you don't like where "your" car finished, don't write to us, write to the car companies. They actually have the ability to do something about their vehicles' poor showing. As for Daewoo, we have to give them a nod of recognition for a job that, if not exactly "well done" at least earns them a grade of "not bad."

How did the youngest car company in this test manage to leapfrog four industry heavies? By scoring above 90 percent in two of our five categories. First comes price at a couch change-like $13,955 as-tested. Producing and selling an economy sedan, of any caliber, in today's world for under $14,000 is no simple task. It's an even more impressive feat when the car is loaded with features. To score high in the content area, as the Protege did, is easy when the car costs over $18,000. And producing a low-buck car that lacks any real content, like the Neon, is also a no-brainer. But scoring a 98.3 percent on price and 91.7 percent on features, as the Daewoo does, says a great deal about this company's ability to deliver the most for the least.

In terms of content, the Nubira possessed 11 of our 12 most desired features, missing only side airbags which, unfortunately, are not an option. Standard features on the Nubira in CDX trim include air conditioning, antilock brakes, a CD player, cruise control, power door locks, power mirrors, power windows, rear disc brakes, remote keyless entry, driver's seat height adjustment and a tilt steering wheel. In fact, the only option our test car had was carpeted floor mats for $105.

In addition to our 12 "featured" features, the Nubira possessed several items that none of the other cars in this test had. These included a fold-down rear seat armrest, heated exterior mirrors, a stereo mute button, and articulating front seat headrests. It was also one of only three cars in the test to have rear disc brakes (Sentra and Elantra also had them) and A-pillar-mounted tweeters (Neon and Elantra had these as well).

Does this fifth-place finish mean that Daewoo will soon rule the economy car class? Not exactly. Its score was still 20 percentage points behind our first-place finisher and some serious issues still need to be addressed. Premier among them is the lackluster performance provided by the Nubira's engine and transmission combination. With a peaky 129 horsepower available up at 5,400 rpm, the Nubira engine has to be revved to make any real forward progress. Problem is, the engine doesn't liked to be revved and gets quite buzzy and loud when the tach swings past 3,000. Throw in the Daewoo's rubbery 5-speed transmission with long throws, excessive driveline lash, and high gearing, and you're left with a very difficult car to drive smoothly.

We wouldn't suggest you drive this car at accelerated speeds. Neither the suspension nor the steering is prepared for anything beyond rudimentary roadway travel. Extended highway cruising was annoying due to a droning exhaust note that could induce migraine headache symptoms after about 15 minutes. So you exit the freeway and power the Nubira through a canyon or two to quell your throbbing head, right? Wrong. You'll experience undue amounts of body roll, heavy steering with minimal feel, and ear-splitting tire squeal. Even its braking characteristics, despite the presence of rear discs, had several staffers complaining about a lack of feedback and occasional fade. This is not a performance car and it lets you know that at the first turn of the wheel.

The Nubira compensates for its performance failings with a roomy and well-thought-out interior. Driver accommodations were rated as excellent with firm cushions and plenty of adjustments, including seat height and a rotary knob allowing for infinite seat back angle settings. Leg-, head-, and hip room was never an issue, even for our tallest drivers.

It wasn't until we closely inspected the Nubira's interior design that we began to see how Daewoo has kept the MSRP so low. Specific mention was made of the harsh foam headliner, flimsy cupholders, exposed screw heads and mismatched interior textures. Climate and cruise controls were described as clunky by more than one staffer, and the location of items like the rear window defrost and hazard buttons seemed out of place to one editor. Use those small, flimsy, slide-out cupholders and the radio is completely blocked.

Exterior design cost the Nubira a few more points with drivers in near-universal agreement about its dumpy back end, funky profile and "Cuisinart" style wheels that not only looked cheesy but would be a real pain to keep clean. This was also the only car with prominent, exposed screw heads appearing in the front turn signal/side marker lights. Yet despite these design faux paus, and the spotty interior materials, the Daewoo's build quality received above-average scoring.

Of the three Daewoo models currently offered in this country, we've always felt the Nubira represented the best compromise between low price and high quality. Having the opportunity to compare this car back-to-back with its competitors has confirmed our position and given us new respect for this Korean carmaker. If money is truly your number-one concern, and if you value feature content over driving performance, the Nubira makes a viable choice.

Editor Comments

I like saying "Daewoo Nubira" as if it was a prizefighter and I was the announcer at a scheduled bout. "And in this corner, weighing in at 2,800 pounds from Korea, Daywooooo Nuuuuubeeeerrrrraaaaaaaa!" Too bad when going up against the Focus or Sentra, the Nubira gets its toothy grille punched in. With a better suspension and engine, perhaps this car would be a contender. -- Brent Romans

The clunky, clumsy shift action leaves you with the feeling that this car is built like a toy from the bargain bin and will be headed to the trash bin soon. The car doesn't have enough get-up-and-go either, but it had adequate fit and finish. I know I have my detractors, but I still like the looks of the Nubira, with its clean lines and sleek lights. -- Liz Kim

Provided one can pay an appreciably lower price for the Nubira than the top four cars in this test, the value that can be had might make it a worthwhile transaction. Sure the car starts to convulse lightly once you get it to 85 mph or so (not a big deal for many consumers), but Daewoo has packed the car with a lot of standard features, like heated mirrors and articulating headrests, that are not usually available in the economy car class. The design is politely edgy with a generous use of angles and flattened conical shapes, and the Nubira handles and brakes adequately. -- Erin Riches

Nubira would be for the thrifty shopper who simply doesn't give a damn about anything, including resale value and image, were it not for the alleged "one-price" shopping. Supposedly, you pay sticker for a Daewoo, and it's not worth sticker. Nubira gives the impression of a car designed and manufactured by a company unfamiliar with the design and manufacture of cars. Directly compared, Nubira makes the Hyundai Elantra seem sophisticated. The Daewoo has an ungainly profile, alloy wheels that look like Cuisinart blades, and cheap interior materials. The car, however, is pleasing in terms of comfort and ergonomics, but so are others in this test. Factor in the lack of refinement and sloppy suspension, compounded by unknowns like long-term reliability and resale value, and you have a recipe for a car to avoid. Sure, you get free scheduled maintenance. Yes, the Nubira has some neat features not available on others in this test. And surprisingly, it exhibited great build quality. But these things are not enough to garner a recommendation from this editor. -- Christian Wardlaw

Specifications and Performance - 2000 Daewoo Nubira CDX
Stereo Evaluation - 2000 Daewoo Nubira CDX
Rear Seat/Cargo Area Evaluation - 2000 Daewoo Nubira CDX