2001DaewooLeganzaDaewoo Leganza2001 Daewoo Leganza CDX SedanSedanSedanFWDKoreaScarlet 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 with six speakers, dual body-color heated power rearview mirrors, anti-theft alarm with remote keyless entry, tilt steering wheel and front fog lamps.Lots of features, low price, good looks.Questionable resale value, unproven reliability, weak engine, financially challenged manufacturer.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 standard and 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 fog lamps. 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's 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 them 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. Honda AccordHyundai SonataMitsubishi GalantToyota Camry336,000560,000336,0005UnlimitedNANANA42.2 litersInline131 hp @ 5200 rpm148 ft-lbs. @ 2800 rpm183.9 in.70 in.56.6 in.3157 lbs.105.1 in.39.3 in.37.8 in.55.9 in.55.9 in.NANA42.3 in.38.2 in.14.1 cu.ft.StandardStandardNot AvailableNot AvailableNot AvailableStandardNot AvailableRating = Not TestedRating = Not TestedGoodAverageNot TestedNot Tested15.8 gal.20 mpg / 28 mpg20 mpg / 28 mpg316 mi. / 442 mi.316 mi. / 442 mi.Insurance costs can vary greatly for this vehicle, depending on such factors as driver age, driver gender, teenage drivers in the household, driving records, theft loss data for your particular geographic region, miles driven per year, and other widely variable factors. Additionally, some companies charge a premium for certain makes and models, while others do not.$16,149$18,9997.35%$430N/ANo HoldbackSE (5M): 2.2L I4 DOHC MPI 16-valve engine; 5-speed OD manual transmission; 610 amp battery; 95 amp alternator; front-wheel drive, 3.72 axle ratio; partial stainless steel exhaust with tailpipe finisher; front independent strut suspension with anti-roll bar, front coil springs, rear independent multi-link suspension with anti-roll bar, rear coil springs; rack-and-pinion power steering; 4-wheel disc brakes; 15.8 gal. capacity fuel tank; front and rear mud flaps, side impact bars; front and rear body-colored bumpers; body-colored bodyside molding; clearcoat monotone paint; projector-beam halogen headlamps; driver's and passenger's power remote body-colored heated folding outside mirrors; 15" x 6" steel wheels; P205/60SR15 BSW A/S tires; full-size steel spare wheel; air conditioning, air filter, rear heat ducts; AM/FM stereo radio, seek-scan feature, cassette player, 6 speakers, theft deterrent, fixed antenna; power door locks, child-safety rear door locks, remote trunk release, remotefuel door release; 1 power accessory outlet, front lighter element, driver's foot rest, smokers' package; instrumentation display includes tachometer, water temperature gauge, in-dash clock, trip odometer; warning indicators include oil pressure, water temp, battery, lights on, key in ignition, low fuel, door ajar, trunk ajar, brake fluid; driver's and passenger's front airbags; tinted windows, power front and rear windows with driver's 1-touch down function; variable-speed intermittent front windshield wipers, sun visor strip, rear window defroster; seating capacity of 5, front bucket seats with adjustable tilt headrests, center armrest with storage, driver's seat includes 8-way adjustment, passenger's seat includes 4-way adjustment; 60/40 folding rear bench seat with fixed headrests, center armrest; height-adjustable front seatbelts; cloth seats, cloth door trim insert, full cloth headliner, full carpet floor covering, simulated wood dashboard insert, simulated wood door panelinsert, simulated wood console insert, chrome interior accents; interior lights include dome light with fade, front reading lights, door curb lights, illuminated entry; steering wheel with tilt adjustment; dual illuminated vanity mirrors; day/night rearview mirror; full floor console, glove box, front cupholder, instrument panel covered bin, driver's and passenger's door bins; carpeted cargo floor, cargo light; chrome grille, black side window moldings, black front windshield molding, black rear window molding and body-colored door handles.
SX (4A) (in addition to or instead of SE (4A) equipment): 4-speed electronic automatic transmission with lock-up converter; 2.65 axle ratio; vehicle-speed-sensing assist; 4-wheel antilock disc brakes; additional exterior lights include front fog/driving lights; single-disc CD player, power retractable antenna; cruise control; remote keyless entry; security system; driver's seat lumbar support; leather seats, leatherette door trim insert, leather-wrapped gearshift knob; leather-wrapped steering wheel.
CDX (4A) (in addition to or instead of SX (4A) equipment): Traction control; front power sliding and tilting glass sunroof with sunshade; full-size alloy spare wheel; climate control; 2 seatback storage pockets.