Daewoo · 1997–2009

Daewoo Nubira

Daewoo Nubira is a compact car which was produced by the South Korean automaker Daewoo from 1997 to 2002 as a 4-door sedan, 5-door hatchback and a 5-door station wagon.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Daewoo LeMans · Successor: Daewoo Lacetti

All Daewoo Nubira data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Development

The Daewoo Nubira (J100 platform) was released in 1997 reflecting Daewoo's new found design and manufacturing process. Production took under 30 months by ex-Porsche and BMW engineering chief Dr. Ulrich Bez (later of Aston Martin), with Daewoo's growing in-house R&D network in Korea, Worthing and Munich collaborating with the world's best engineering consultancies. Styling was done by I.DE.A Institute in Italy, and other companies involved in the development programme included Ricardo and GM Holden. Built in Kunsan, South Korea in a factory equipped with sophisticated laser-guided robots, it was developed as a replacement. People weren't entirely sure what was the replacement, but Daewoo said that not only did it replace the lower and medium specification of the Espero, but also those at the upper end line-up of the Nexia.

Overview

The name Nubira (누비라) is the command form of the Korean verb Nubida (누비다), meaning to crisscross. Thus the name was chosen to convey the aspiration that this car would be seen crisscrossing every corner of the globe. The Nubira II (J150) (facelift) was released for the 2000 model year. Over 90 improvements were made by Daewoo's Worthing Technical Centre in the United Kingdom, including an increase in passenger space and a decrease in noise, harshness and vibration (by adding a fourth engine mount and retuning the intake resonators for example). Offset crash performance was further improved in the second generation, as demonstrated by Australian ANCAP tests, though it fell well short of exemplary performance. The exterior was reworked, including the revamped front, a more angular rear and door mirrors creating a more dynamic upright and swept look of the era, a design later seen reflected by the Lexus ES350 and 2004 Mitsubishi Diamante. International market Nubiras had a choice of a Daewoo "E-Tec" 1.3,"E-Tec" 1.6, or Holden 1.8 or 2.0-litre inline-four gasoline engines: no diesel version was ever offered, although the Worthing Technical Centre installed Renault's F8 1.9-litre engine in a small number of test vehicles, under a development programme known as J151. The Nubira was also briefly produced from CKD kits on Taganrog, Russia TagAZ factory; it was marketed as the Doninvest Orion by the Russian automaker Doninvest. Until 2008, Daewoo Nubira was produced in Romania in a former Daewoo factory which had the licence from GM Daewoo. The Daewoo Nubira was still produced in Egypt in 2008, in a former Daewoo factory which has the licence from GM Daewoo. The Nubira was replaced in 2004 with the J200 Daewoo Lacetti, under GMDAT management with a new Pininfarina-designed body

European market

In all European markets, production starts in 1997 and facelifts were done in 1999. United Kingdom. Daewoo announced that production of the Nubira would begin in Autumn 1997 along with the new Daewoo range (that is with the Lanos and Leganza). At 9 September 1997, prices were confirmed for the Nubira to go to sale on 11 September 1997: The four-model range offered two engines which included the 1.6 and the 2.0. There were two equipment levels, SE and CDX and two body styles, a four-door saloon and a five-door estate. The five-door hatchback was not offered at all. All models had the following equipment: air-conditioning, ABS, driver and front passenger airbags, alarm, engine immobiliser, power steering, electric front windows, central locking, metallic paint and RDS radio/cassette players as standard. The only differences were that the SE had hubcaps, non-body coloured door handles and door mirrors and 'SE' emblems at the body wings. Alloy wheels were an option on the SE model. The CDX, meanwhile, came with alloy wheels, body-coloured door handles and wing mirrors, rear electric windows and 'CDX' emblems at the body wings. Then, promotions were extended to one years' free insurance for the new range from 1 January 1998. New finance packaging were provided and the prices were cut by £425 for 1999. In 2001, prices were reduced another £1,230. Reviewing. The AA first tested out the Nubira in August 1997. They claimed that the ride was subtle and the driving experience was decent. In conclusion, they said that its keen value for money and decent equipment makes it a good family car. However, for them it was just another family car, rather competent than trendsetting. In November 1998, AA tested the 1.6 SE version of the Nubira Estate. The AA's verdict mentioned that it was

North American market

Production began in 2000. In the United States, the Nubira was marketed with Daewoo's smaller subcompact Lanos and midsize Leganza. Daewoo had a difficult time entering the US auto market due to financial trouble at home; with 2002 being the last model year available due to bankruptcy and a lack of new product. In North America, the cars are relatively obscure, if not rare, and sourcing parts for them became relatively difficult; though many powertrain parts were shared worldwide with other GM platforms (Opel, Holden, Isuzu). Promotions were provided, including a peace-of-mind 3-year/36,000 mile comprehensive warranty, 3-year/24-hour priority assistance program and a 5 year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty. All with no extra charge. United States Nubira models came equipped only with an Australian-built (by Holden) DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter inline-four General Motors "D-Tec" gasoline engine paired with either a Daewoo-designed D-20 five-speed manual transaxle or an optional, GM-sourced 4T40E automatic. Producing 136 lb⋅ft (184 N⋅m) torque at 4,400 rpm, the GM Family-II engine had a square 3.4" stroke and a 3.4" bore and at 5,400 rpm making 129 bhp (96 kW; 131 PS). Two trim levels were available, SE and CDX. All Nubiras were equipped with power-steering and an array of other standard equipment. CDX models got extra equipment, like air conditioning, cruise control, alarm with keyless entry, alloy wheels and a CD player.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Daewoo Nubira (J100)
Manufacturer: Daewoo
aka: Doninvest Orion (Russia)
Production: 1997–2002 (South Korea), 1998–2008 (Romania), 1997–2009 (CKD and license-built models)
Assembly: Gunsan, South Korea, Cairo, Egypt (Daewoo Motors Egypt: 1998–2012), Craiova, Romania (Rodae), Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine (AvtoZAZ), Warsaw, Poland (FSO), Hanoi, Vietnam (VIDAMCO)
Designer: Justyn Norek and Francois Lampreia at I.DE.A Institute
Class: Compact car (C)
Body style: 4-door sedan, 5-door hatchback, 5-door station wagon
Layout: Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Engine: 1.3 L Family 1 I4 (gasoline), 1.5 L Family 1 I4 (gasoline), 1.6 L Family 1 I4 (gasoline), 1.8 L Family II I4 (gasoline), 2.0 L Family II I4 (gasoline)
Transmission: 5-speed Daewoo D-20 manual, 4-speed ZF 4HP14 automatic, 4-speed GM 4T40-E automatic
Wheelbase: 101.2 in
Length: 167.2 in (hatchback), 175.9 in (1997–00 sedan), 177.7 in (1997–00 wagon), 177.0 in (2000–02 sedan), 179.0 in (2000–02 wagon)
Width: 66.9 in, 67.7 in (2000–02 wagon)
Height: 56.1 in (1997–00), 56.4 in (1997–00 wagon), 56.3 in (2000–02 sedan), 57.9 in (2000–02 wagon)
Predecessor: Daewoo Nexia, Daewoo Espero (South Korea)
Successor: Daewoo Lacetti

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q482830CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daewoo_NubiraCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1358166940 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Daewoo_Nubira_front_20080115.jpgCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Rudolf Stricker · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.