It’s good to know there ARE decent sized cars out there, with a bit of flair to them, that won’t break the bank.

Like the 1.4-litre Daewoo Lanos. Although I had the car for a fairly long test period, it really didn’t take me long to make up my mind about it.

This is a spiffing little get-up-and-go car with stylish looks to match its performance. Buyers can chose from two trim levels, the 1.4S and 1.4SE.

The basic S version, the version under review, has a price tag of 12,995 euros. Although it has only wind-up windows and manually adjusted side mirrors, it DOES have a radio/CD player as standard! You won’t find a CD player in some of the more expensive competitors’ models included in the standard price!

The car is quite sporty looking and when viewed from the side, seems all front and little back.

The cabin is cheerful with different shades of medium gray and the colourful pattern of the cloth seats is repeated along the doors.

There is also ample leg and head room for most shapes and sizes.

Foot pedals are well spaced and there’s even room for your left foot at the side of the clutch. Gears are nice but I found reverse sometimes balky. Steering is quite light making the car easy to manoeuvre even in the tightest of spaces.

Other definite pluses include the deep shaded area along the top of the front windscreen (not featured in some more expensive brands) and the low scuttle line of the dashboard which gives a feeling of airiness as well as better visibility. It also means not having to crank up the driver’s seat to get a good view of the road ahead when you’re not that tall, like me.

Visibility is also enhanced by the long side windows, and the low rear window which actually curves around the sides of the car.

The illumination on the instrument panel changes to a cheery yellow at night; it’s unusual and nice and the figures are easy to read. By day, they are white on a dark background.

The usual cubbies include a nice sized glove compartment but rather small door bins, pushed back to accommodate the wind up handle for the windows, I expect.

Small gripes, however, included the radio which I found too fiddley by far and it was only through trial and error that I discovered how to unlock the boot door. You turn the key a quarter way to the left which allows you open the boot by pushing the button. To lock it again, turn the key quarter way to the right. I must say it drove me ‘around the bend’ until I discovered the trick to this little operation.

Safety standard equipment includes twin air bags, side impact protection beams, impact absorbing triple structure front and rear bumpers, together with steel reinforced anti-submarining front seats. (ABS is fitted on all SE models).

You’ll also get central locking, an immobiliser, heated rear screen, 60/40 folding rear seat, tinted glass, and mud flaps front and rear. But you won’t find any vanity mirrors on the front flaps! I had to make do with the rear-view mirror, and readjust it after I’d used it!

Out on the road the car is a really smooth performer - with enough power for your needs from the 1349cc E-TEC engine which can accelerate from 0-62 mph in 15 seconds. It’s not hard on juice either, returning around 36mpg on the combined cycle, and I figure the real-use performance is probably better.

All Daewoos come with a 3-year/60,000 miles warranty, a year’s RAC membership and a 6-year anti-corrosion warranty. A nice little number all round.