- Spacious interior
- Comfortable ride
- 1.6-litre engine lacks low-rev torque
- Cheap interior plastics
- Unsupportive seats and poor ergonomics
Review: Daewoo J100 Nubira (1997-99)
Overview
Released in July 1997, the Daewoo J100 Nubira was available as a four-door sedan or five-door hatch or wagon (the ‘Eurowagon’). Manufactured in Gunsan, South Korea, the front-wheel drive Nubira was available with 1.6- and 2.0-litre petrol engines that were mated to either four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmissions. The J100 Nubira range consisted of SX, SE and CDX variants, although there were also limited run EuroSunHatch and X Series variants (see table below).
The GM-sourced 1.6-litre ‘Family I’ petrol engine had double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 9.5:1. The 2.0-litre ‘Family II’ petrol engine – was shared with the Leganza and Nubira – was manufactured by Holden and also had double overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder, though its compression ratio was 9.6:1.
The Nubira hatch was 4248 mm long, 1700 mm wide, 1425 mm tall and had a 2570 mm long wheelbase. Relative to the hatchback, the sedan and wagon were 219 mm and 266 mm longer (respectively), while the wagon also had an 8 mm higher roofline. The Nubira had MacPherson strut front suspension with L-shaped lower arms and independent rear suspension with trailing arms and dual lower transverse links.
| Body | Variants | Years | Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5dr hatch | SE | 1998-99 | 1.6-litre petrol I4 | 4sp auto, 5sp man. |
77 kW at 5800 rpm | 145 Nm at 3800 rpm |
| EuroSunHatch | 1998 | |||||
| 4dr sedan, 5dr wagon (‘Eurowagon’) |
SX | 1997-99 | ||||
| SE | 1998-99 | |||||
| X-Series | 1999 | |||||
| CDX | 1998-99 | 2.0-litre petrol I4 | 4sp auto, 5sp man. |
98 kW at 5400 rpm | 185 Nm at 4400 rpm |
Safety equipment
Safety equipment was limited to the Nubira’s structural design, as dual front airbags and ABS were only available as options.
Features
Standard features for the entry-level SE variant included a four speaker sound system with radio and cassette player, air conditioning, front fog lights, powered front windows and central locking. Compared to the SE, the SX omitted air conditioning, but added a six speaker sound system, CD player, powered front and rear windows.
The range topping CDX was further equipped with alloy wheels, air conditioning and upgraded interior trim; the CDX was also fitted with four wheel disc brakes.
1998 Nubira EuroSunHatch
In November 1998, a limited run EuroSunHatch variant was released. Compared to the standard SE, the EuroSunHatch featured a ‘super sunroof’ (a power operated, folding sunroof that extended to the rear seat passengers) and CD player.
1999 Nubira X-Series
In March 1999, a limited run X-Series variant of the sedan and wagon models was released; compared to the SE, the X-Series added alloy wheels and a CD player; sedans were also fitted with a rear spoiler while wagons had roof racks.
Review: Daewoo J150 Nubira (1999-03)
Overview
Released in October 1999, the J150 Nubira introduced a revised range and subtle facelift. The J150 Nubira range initially consisted solely of CDX variants, powered by the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and available in sedan or wagon bodies; beyond this, there were also Sports and Limited editions. In 2000, a limited-run X-Series variant was released.
Compared to its J100 predecessor, the J150 Nubira provided greater refinement due to the addition of a fourth engine mount and re-tuned intake resonators.
| Variant | Edition | Years | Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDX | N/A | 1999-03 | 2.0-litre petrol I4 | 4sp auto, 5sp man. |
98 kW at 5400 rpm | 185 Nm at 4400 rpm |
| Sports | 1999-02 | |||||
| Limited | 2002 | |||||
| X-Series | N/A | 2000 |
Safety equipment
Safety equipment was improved with the introduction of a driver’s airbag as standard equipment. The Sports edition was also fitted with a passenger airbag as standard.
ANCAP crash testing
In ANCAP crash testing , the J150 Nubira received a two star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 13.1. In the offset crash test, the passenger compartment was substantially deformed and the driver’s contact with the airbag was unstable. Furthermore, protection from serious leg injury was poor for the driver. In the side impact test, there was a high risk of life-threatening chest injury for the driver.
Features
Standard features for the Nubira CDX included a six speaker sound system with CD player, air conditioning, central locking, telescopic steering wheel adjustment, power mirrors and power windows. Beyond this, the Sports edition added 15-inch alloy wheels, sports instruments and metallic interior highlights.
Nubira X-Series
In August 2000, a limited run X-Series variant was released; compared to the CDX, the X-Series added alloy wheels and a CD player; sedans were also fitted with a rear spoiler while wagons received roof racks.
Nubira Limited Edition
In February 2002, a Limited edition model was released. The Nubira CDX Limited was distinguished by its 14-inch alloy wheels, remote central locking, floor mats, leather trim and woodgrain interior trim.
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