There are cars out there, the very mention of their names conjuring up thoughts of sleek lines, supple leathers, exotic woods and mechanical precision that demands redline shifts. The sort of car that one truly aspires to possess. The Daewoo Nubira isn't one of them.

It is transportation pure and simple, a four-wheeled appliance, budget wheels for those who live paycheque to paycheque. It stirs no soul, inspires no lust, sets no benchmark. In short, it's a car for people who need transportation and little else. But you know what? As a conveyance, it does the job, and it delivers reasonable value for every sweat-stained loonie you earn.

Korean manufacturer Daewoo is still a new kid on the block in this country, having entered the Canadian market only two years ago. Its trio of product includes the even more frugal, subcompact Lanos hatchback and sedan, the Leganza flagship sedan, and the Nubira, a sedan and wagon for the mass market.

There's beaucoup competition out there to the Nubira; established nameplates from both the Japanese and Big Three powerhouses. As Daewoo is too new to develop any sort of reputation for reliability, it gets consumers' attention the old-fashioned way; on price.

For $16,700, the Nubira SX provides the essential four-door compact sedan configuration, and the ubiquitous economical four-cylinder engine - a 129 horsepower DOHC 2.0-litre - and five-speed manual transmission. Standard features on the SX include air conditioning, power windows and door locks, heated power mirrors, and a Sony AM/FM stereo with CD player; items that tend to be optional or part of more expensive trim packages on many competitive models.

According to Daewoo, the 2000 Nubira has been completely restyled inside and out, with more than 1,000 new parts. Despite the claim that the external revisions have given the sedan "a more aggressive and dynamic look", its styling is completely anonymous "meet John Doe", save the massive headlight covers and somewhat unique front grille. If you're the type who loses your car in parking lots easily, I strongly suggest tying a brightly-coloured ribbon to the antenna.

The interior accommodations are basic, but comfortable. Trim finish is typical; various plastic textures on par for a budget-based car, but at least - in the tester's case - a colour other than penitentiary grey was chosen. I'm not sure about the long-term appeal of brown/beige or the mouse fur texture of the seat materials, but for a week, it was liveable. The front seats offer firm support and there's good legroom and headroom. Getting into the back seat will prove a squeeze for larger adults, especially those with big feet. Once ensconced, though, it's not too big a hardship, as long as we're talking short trips to the mall.

The instrument panel features plain, easy-to-read gauges, and most controls seemed to fall to hand. But, there are a few ergonomic concerns. The most egregious is the impossibly small buttons on the stylin' Sony stereo system. The other is the four-speed ventilation fan. On most cars, the fourth position brings a hurricane blast of fresh air that also makes conversation difficult. In the Nubira, the fan's force would be hard pressed to unfurl a tissue.

While it would be a stretch to think of the Daewoo as a sporting sedan, it does move along smartly, thanks to a slim 1,242 kg (2,732 lb.) curb weight. Acceleration to 100 km/h can be reached in about 10.5 seconds, and the engine only starts to get thrashy above 4,500 rpm. The engine note at normal speeds could best be described as a thrum and isn't really obtrusive. The car handily cruises at 125 km/h. Nor is the five-speed's operation the mop-in-pail sort of slop that is sometimes found in less expensive products. There's some rubber banding as you move through the gears and the clutch take-up is abrupt, but as long as you don't try to speed-shift, the selector slips in and out with ease. Engaging reverse, though, involves a fairly agricultural whine.

Both the steering and suspension are typical for this class of car; rack and pinion for the former, and front MacPherson strut/independent rear for the latter. Bumps and humps are effectively damped and the ride quality isn't hard to take.

It's nearly impossible to ignite a spark of emotion for the Daewoo, but that doesn't mean that it's beyond consideration. Despite a lack of superlatives it functions very well within its economy milieu. Very few family-type sedans in the sub-$18K range are capable of excitement. And since not everyone embraces driving as a passion, those hunting for the most bang for their buck would be hard-pressed to find a vehicle offering more standard features than the Nubira. For that $16,700 sticker, you can forgive a lot of its inadequacies.

Type of Vehicle: Front-wheel drive, four-door, compact sedan Engine: 2.0 litre DOHC 4-cyl. 129 hp @ 5,400 rpm; 136 lb.-ft of torque @ 4400 rpm. Transmission: Five-speed manual Brakes: Front disc/rear drum Tires: P185/650R146 all-season Base Price: $16,700; as tested: same Major standard features: Five-speed manual transmission, dual airbags, AM/FM stereo cassette and CD player, power windows and door locks, power mirrors, air conditioning, and tilt steering Options: none Fuel economy, L/100 km (mpg): City -10.5 (27); Hwy. -6.9 (41) Consumer Reports predicted reliability: new model - no data available. Basic warranty (yr./km): 3/60,000 Powertrain warranty (yr./km): 5/100,000 Seats: Five

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