- Flexible 1.8-litre petrol engine
- Generally comfortable ride
- Competent dynamics
- Steering lacks feel
- Cabin lacks sound insulation
- Automatic transmission sometimes indecisive
Review: Daewoo Lacetti (2003-04)
Overview
Released in September 2003, the Daewoo Lacetti was a small, four-door sedan. Manufactured in Gunsan, South Korea, the Lacetti was powered by a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine that was mated to either a five-speed manual or four-speed ZF automatic transmission (the latter with adaptive ‘fuzzy logic’).
The 1.8-litre ‘Family II’ petrol engine was manufactured by GM Holden and had double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, a Delphi Engine Management System (ECM) and a compression ratio of 9.8:1.
Styled by Pininfarina, the Lacetti was 4500 mm long, 1725 mm wide, 1445 mm tall and had a 2600 mm long wheelbase; kerb weight was 1210 kg and 1235 kg for models with manual and automatic transmissions, respectively. Furthermore, the Lacetti had MacPherson strut front suspension and independent rear suspension with dual lateral links.
Replaced by Holden Viva
In 2004, Daewoo withdrew from the Australian market and the Lacetti was rebadged as the Holden JF Viva . The Viva, however, was also offered in hatchback and wagon bodies.
| Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lacetti | 1.8-litre petrol I4 | 4sp auto, 5sp man. |
90 kW at 5800 rpm | 165 Nm at 4000 rpm |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the Lacetti included dual front airbags.
Features
Standard features included 15-inch steel wheels with 195/55 R15 tyres, a six speaker sound system with a CD player, driver’s seat height and lumbar adjustment, rear fog lights, 60/40 split and folding rear seats, remote central locking, power windows and heated mirrors, telescopic steering wheel adjustment, a 12 volt power outlet (in the centre console) and an immobiliser.
Lacetti Limited Edition
In October 2003, a Limited Edition variant was released. Compared to the standard Lacetti, the Limited Edition was equipped with front side airbags and ABS, while additional features included 15-inch alloy wheels, a six-disc CD player, climate control air conditioning, leather seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift. The Limited Edition models were also offered with metallic paint finishes.
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