Daewoo Leganza 1997 test drive - 2002 sedan

Jaguar in Korean

When Jujaro presented the conceptual Jaguar Kensington in Geneva in 1990, Daewoo Motor was known only in Korea. Kensington immediately predicted the fate of the successor of the XJ sedan series - it saw one hundred percent, classic Jaguar. But who then knew that in the next seven years the English company would not release a fundamentally new sedan? And who could imagine that in 1997, Daewoo, abandoning the production of licensed models, would launch 4 owns in the series at once: Lanos, Nubira, Leganza and D'Ars?

 

Well, and what does the Daewoo gamma update have to renew the seven years ago? - you ask. - And in general, why are these parallels between the English and Korean automakers, diametrically opposite even geographically? But what - Leganza body is created in the image and likeness of the Jaguar concept! We carefully look at the new Korean flagship: the contours and proportions of the body, the hood connectors, windows, doors, trunk, horizontal curves on the sidewalls, even door handles and turns repeaters - all this, one to one, transferred here from the Kensington prototype unclaimed by the British ...

 

Sensation? No. There is a concept-frame market, aka market of ideas. And it correlates with the market for serial cars in the same way as the market for clothing models Haute Couture and Pret-A-Porte. The ideas of the Grandes recognized in their areas - whether Jujaro or Carden - soon or later make the way from the podium to the counter. Such a background, for example, had, for example, the 1975 Rolls-Royce CamaQue coupe, developed by the Pininfarina studio based on the created Mercedes-Benz Special Coupe of 1970.

 

Work on new models - Lanos, Nubira and Leganza - began at the end of 1993 with the so -called V100 project. Cars were intended for world markets, and made them all the world. The overall engineering development of Leganza was conducted by the English Mira (Motor Industry Research Association), the Australian company Holden (part of the General Motors corporation) was engaged in the engine - the English Lotus, the brakes - the American Delphi ... well, and the appearance, as you already understood. - Italian atelier Italdesign.

 

By the way, in addition to Leganza, the Koreans received in Italy a ready -made concept of another model: the micro -linear d'Ars has nothing more than the serial embodiment of the Fiat Cinquecento Lucciola concept, which, like Kensington, did not find application at the specified address. You can even imagine how a large Korean boss entered the Italdesign Museum and poked a finger: this is this.

 

Indeed, Leganza is not a beautiful and stately model. Despite the branded radiator cladding and huge headlights, the car feels classic and even jaguarry: a large high trunk, massive rear racks, a sloping roof. Probably today it is the most stylish Asian car.

 

However, on the back of the Anglo-Italian topic ends, everything else Daewoo did sam. So the salon is made in Korean, in an inherent avant -garde style inherent in almost all Korean models - a lot of pathos, little order. Smooth surfaces, bizarre combinations of the forms of ventilation deflectors, a liquid crystal display of watches and functional buttons - a consequence of the violent fantasy of Daewoo designers. But what is quite organic for the abandoned Hyundai Coupe is not quite appropriate on the almost representative Leganza. (Imagine that you are married to your own daughter. Order a dress from Carden for her, and then you lead your ugly to the acid hairdresser ...) Having caught on the Jaguar style, you can and should be made by the interior more restrained and conservative. At the same time, there are no comments on the quality of the leather upholstery of the salon (as well as plastic parts and their assembly).

 

The front seats have combined adjustments: seats - electric, backs - mechanical. The position of the pillow changes in height, angle of inclination and the distance from the pedal block, and the back - along the angle of inclination. In addition, the driver's seat has a profile adjustment in the lumbar region. The adjustment of the seats does not cause difficulties - its algorithm and the location of the control buttons are the same as on Mercedes E -class.

 

The steering wheel is sheathed with genuine leather. The dimensions of the rim, the shape and location of the spokes do not cause any inconvenience. The steering column is adjustable along the angle of inclination. The range is large, even too much - in the lower position of the steering rim touches the knees even with a completely lowered pillow of the seat, in the upper - the steering wheel hub with a pillow of safety obscures the scale of control devices, by the way, large and well -readable. The same with the seat - it moves forward so far that the lever of the box selector is almost under the elbow. It seems that, preparing their car for world markets, the Koreans tried to make a workplace convenient for both a 12-year-old teenager and a NBA player.

 

The car is equipped in full-two front pillows, ABS, immobilizer, an audio center, climatic installation and factory Mul-T-Lock for a locomotive box, not to mention the electric drives of all glasses and lateral mirrors.

 

The instrument panel is not overloaded - only the most necessary. The review through the rear window is limited by the high line of trunk and wide roof racks. When parking in reverse, awkwardness occurs - a feeling of loss of the dimensions of the machine. True, Leganza is not the only car with a similar complex. The same inconvenience accompanies the driver of Skoda Octavia, for example. But sooner or later, the owner begins to see through the trunk.

 

Leganza in the tables of Daewoo products occupies the upper - representative - position. Therefore, we tried to evaluate her professional suitability from the point of view of the rear passenger. In this sense, the car undoubtedly took place: huge spaces above the head, in the legs, on the sides. The leather finish of the cabin and the back tilted back give the rear sofa coziness and the comfort of the domestic sofa. In addition, the passenger is covered from the views from the outside with a highly raised line of the side glasses. It remains only to throw the leg on the leg, turn on the floor lamp and plunge into reading. Everything has everything for this ...

 

The Leganza engine is once again modified 2 l of the Opel power unit (in the Holden version), which served its Espero/Prince/Super Salon. Now - thanks to a new 16 -valve head and an improved injection system - its power has increased from 110 to 136 hp. The maximum torque increased by 12%. The motor can be aggregated both with a 5-speed manual, and with a 4-speed automatic.

 

We got a version with a machine gun. The ZF box today is already an archaic structure: pure hydraulics, even without blocking the hydrotransformer, which does not contribute to efficiency. There are no sports modes. This is quite consistent with the mentality of traditional buyers of Daewoo cars - there was little dashing among them.

 

According to passport data, acceleration to hundreds should occupy 12.5 seconds. - The indicator for this class is quite ordinary. Leganza power supply remained at the Espero model, the dynamic characteristics of which have so far satisfied many. We expected that the 16-valve engine would provide Leganza at least the same edification as the 8-valve engine-Espero. Indeed, the Leganza passport is superior to Espero in acceleration ... If both are equipped with mechanical boxes. With a machine gun, the car accelerates tediously slowly. Exactly, without failures and jerks, but slowly - even if at starting the gas pedal is completely drowned. 80 -horsepower mechanical Kia Sephia - and that is faster ...

 

What can you say? If Leganza, for example, had the same as Mazda 626 of 1984, peasant appearance and interior, then the described dynamics would be good for her. But, sitting down in a car of such a noble and exquisite appearance, we have the right to count on more. Such a beautiful car should leave beautifully at least one and a half liter Koreans - regardless of the type of transmission. But it did not work out. But the weighted Leganza, the excess metal, very favorably affected the mechanical solidity of the body - not the slightest hint of creaks or rummage.

 

The handling is good. With ordinary city traffic modes, the car is obedient and predictable. However, in order to get out of control, he may simply not have enough agility. The hydraulic wrap has a progressive characteristic - when parking, the steering wheel rotates very easily, and with a speed set, the force increases. At first, this pleased - the information content is needed in high -speed modes. But it soon became clear that the increase in the power on the steering wheel is disproportionate to the needs of the driver in such informativeness - the steering wheel grows up immediately, as soon as you add gas. And therefore, even with a regular urban driving, Leganza has to spend unnecessary efforts - large than in Espero. Although, in theory, a car claiming the title of representative should have an easier and more comfortable management. Yes, and it could be more sweaty.

 

In terms of smoothness, Leganza came close to European classmates. Compared to the same Espero, the new large Daewoo may really seem aristocratic jaguar - a soft energy -intensive suspension extinguishes any bumps of the road. At the same time, there is no hint of intensive operation of springs and shock absorbers. The car literally creeps on asphalt. Moreover, (unlike the Americanized compatriot - Kia Clarus) there is no imposition in Leganza suspension. The side roll in high -speed turns is acceptable both in terms of comfort and in terms of management. The front -end flies a little, but the car stabilizes surprisingly quickly, however, you still have to keep the steering wheel in vulgar - until you protect your leg from the gas pedal ...

 

Putting the Leganza market, the Koreans bet on a spacious interior and a spectacular appearance. At the same time, in Russia, the model is sold at a relatively low price - here this circumstance for many may be more weighty than unimportant dynamics.

 

We had the impression about Leganza: a lot of car, beautiful and stylish, a lot of things are stuffed, but in general - quite ordinary. However, maestro Jujaro has the right to not know about it. He has at least five more unclaimed concepts in stock ...

 

Female look

 

They are met, as you know, by clothing. And this test Leganza withstood confidently - the Korean was one hundred percent. Equipment is also where: ABS, electric windows, automatic transmission, steering wheel hydraulic power, air conditioning, a lot of other bells and whistles, in general - a complete set. Soft, rounded shapes, a slightly mowed hood, raised trunk, narrow headlights - the car resembled a panther preparing for a jump. But the jump did not work. This outwardly quite powerful and nimble, the creation actually behaved like a lazy cat, opening in the sun.

 

It was not possible to get the car in any way. Even the gas pedal, which was pressed into the floor, did not make much impression on it - a smooth leisurely acceleration, no more. And the point is not that Leganza is equipped with a automatic machine - the box did its job properly, smoothly and without twitching the gear. Rather, the engine installed here is rather weak for a car with a full mass of more than 1.8 tons. Or maybe the transfers in the box are unsuccessfully selected, especially the first or second. In any case, this car is not for racing ...

 

From such a leisurely, as it turned out, you no longer expect a car. But Leganza’s handling was on top: the steering mechanism is quite accurate, the suspension also did not cause complaints. At a reasonable speed, even being a mined, the car kept on the road like a tank. And the brakes! The slightest press on the pedal - and Leganza froze in place, as if dug.

 

Outside, the car looks quite large and spacious, but, the three of us in the back seat, we again made sure that the appearance is deceiving. For five Europeans, the car is clearly not designed. Leganza’s briefly capacity can be designated as four tankers and a dog - there was such a popular film. And then, provided that the dog is no more than the beon and lies on someone on his knees. (In fairness, we note that in other models of this class, three behind is also not so spacious, but the appearance of Leganza promised something more.) But the leather interior of the top version looks wonderful, the seats are moderately tough and not slippery.

 

The passenger is deprived of such convenience as an armrest on the side of the door. That is, the armrest itself is available, but the handles for which you could hold on steep turns could not be found. So if you do not want to soar on the cabin, you will have to, as in a tram, hold on to the handle above the door.

 

Dimensions are felt perfectly, especially if you adjust the landing correctly. Adjusting the driver's seat - in sufficient quantities. I managed to deal with the standard immediately, but with the lever that controls the height of the pillow, I had to tinker - the algorithm of its work is not obvious.

 

In the driver's seat, you feel more comfortable than in the passenger. Even after lifting the pillow of the space between the ceiling and the head of the driver, enough remains. The legs for the legs are enough both in front and behind. I liked the placement and angles of the pedal - even the heels on the shoes do not interfere.

 

A small steering wheel resembling a sports, and asks for. He does not close the devices and the review is not a hindrance. Visibility through the rear window leaves much to be desired - due to fairly wide rear racks and high trunk. But a good review on the side mirrors.

 

The dashboard is made with taste, but the testimony of the pressed speedometer and tachometer are not read very well. But the built -in AIWA radio - in the most prominent place. It confuses a huge number of all kinds of buttons on the front panel. It looks amazing, but in order to figure it out, probably, there is not enough day.

 

After setting up the driver's seat, the gearbox lever was quite far away - you have to stretch. However, this is not so important, because the box is automatic. The very lever -sector liked - small, comfortable, with a soft move.

 

Under the hood, probably more spacious than in the cabin. You can easily reach all the nodes, which is more characteristic of domestic Lada than foreign cars, the corresponding nodes of which, as a rule, are located in almost a single block: as a result, to unscrew something during the repair, sometimes you have to disassemble almost the entire car. A rather spacious trunk allows you to throw a lot of different junk into it. In addition, the back of the rear seat is folding ...

 

Easy to control, calm, rather safe and, importantly, a very beautiful car, Leganza is perfect for women - for traveling around the city and shopping trips. But to go to the country, especially if it is far away, most likely, it will not be very fun. If only a deserted highway does not lead there - in traffic jams, the leisurely acceleration of Leganza will infuriate any driver with non -profitable nerves - and there are a majority.

 

The indisputable advantages of Leganza are a spectacular appearance, a spacious and solid salon, a comfortable suspension, good brakes. Obvious disadvantages are the sleepy behavior of the engine on the bottoms and mediocre dynamics. In the middle - steering. In general, a family sedan ... but what about the price? Interesting with the price ...

 

The competitors of the machine in world markets Daewoo itself - quite ambitious - according to models such as Toyota Camry, Opel Vectra, Ford Mondeo and Mazda 626.

 

Really Leganza is now sold in Europe and Australia. The exit to the American market is delayed. Sales are still unknown, but apparently small.

 

In the UK, for example, Daewoo Leganza CDX with an automatic machine and a leather salon costs Yo17,000. Hyundai Sonata 2.0 - on Yo1000 cheaper. In the same yo17.000, Vauxhall (Opel) Vectra 1.8i and Ford Mondeo 2.0 will cost, however, without skin. Mazda 626 2.0 in the top complexing costs yo18,000, Toyota Camry 2.2i - Y24.000. So the price seems to be reasonable.

 

In Australia (prices in the table - in Australian dollars!) Leganza in the basic configuration costs $ 25,000 with a manual box and $ 27,000 - with an automaton. The leather salon and electric drives are plus another $ 2.700.

 

It seems that here Daewoo lifted the price bar.

 

In the USA, Leganza is not sold yet. Pre-declared prices are in the range of $ 15,000- $ 20,000, however, it is not known for which configuration. If desired, for $ 20,000, you can leave the cabin on Toyota Camry, Ford Taurus, Honda Accord (three most popular cars of this class), Mazda 626 or Mitsubishi Galant. With such competitors and such similar prices in the United States, it is unlikely that anyone is flattered on Leganza. But the Koreans, as always, came up with a cunning move. Several hundred students from 400 local universities are hired. Everyone is given a demonstration car, which is shown to classmates in all its glory. If anyone is flattered and acquires a car, the student receives $ 400 from the company ...

 

And in Russia, Daewoo seems to continue its policy cheaper than that of rivals - with a richer equipment. The leganza Korean Leganza is sold in the top complexation for our Korean test in Moscow for $ 26,000. For such a car - a lot. But the same competitors with similar, and more often more poor equipment are much more expensive here: Honda Accord - $ 35,000, Toyota Camry Gl 2.2 - $ 35,000, Opel Omega 2.0 - $ 34,000 ...

 

Ivan Paderin, Mikhail Timachkov, Elena Levshina
 
 

 

A source: Magazine Motor