Daewoo Leganza is definitely for this girl

Sleek and curvaceous, the Daewoo Leganza is the flagship of Daewoo’s current new range. It’s also one of the most elegant cars on the road. Distinctly Italian in looks, it offers a more refined choice to buyers seeking something special at a price that is not outrageously extravagant. And special it certainly is.

First impression is of a beautifully integrated front. The Leganza is clearly the car in which the Daewoo grille looks at its best. The big eyes of the lights extend in a very pleasingly feline style around the sides of the car while the air intake which is incorporated into the bumper adds to the overall impressive design.

Side on, the sleek look continues with an upward curve to the rear. Two indent lines emphasise the style as does the rubbing strip along the doors. Black plastic around the windows adds interest to the overall look, as do the recessed door handles.

This car looks almost as good from the rear end, with three-in-one rear lights separated by an attractive chrome strip over the numberplate, body-coloured bumper and a very big boot and electric aerial.

The Leganza is very spacious inside and the upholstery in the review car was nice and expensive-looking in a two-tone grey material which was repeated along all the doors. Tasteful wood effect trim on the centre console added distinction and it too was repeated on the doors.

All windows are electrically operated. Map pockets are placed behind the two front seats. Other cubby holes include a good-sized holdall on the front passenger side and smaller pockets on the front doors.

The Leganza comes equipped with high levels of specification and attention to detail found in larger, executive saloons, including dual airbags and ABS. I found the gears to be extremely user-friendly, and a neat safety feature is a collar on the gear shift which must be lifted before you can go into reverse. The leather-bound steering wheel was very solid and had a great feel to it.

The dashboard, angled to the driver, features a futuristically-curved top over the instruments area which is very pleasing to my eye. The clock above the dash is clearly visible and the important buttons are nice and big. In fact, all the controls are easy to see and use and it is clear that a great deal of thought was paid to this aspect of the ergonomics. The specification included fully automatic climate control.

I especially liked the electric seat adjust which allowed me to effortlessly select the position I wanted. An easy-to-get-at manual lever operates the seatback adjustment. The seats were extremely comfy and offered great support, nice at all times but especially on a long trip. The sunroof was also appreciated on one of our better days this summer. There is ample leg room front and back for all five passengers.

Driving the Leganza is a lovely experience and the car handled beautifully. It also felt very safe on the road. And the visibility was very good too. The ride was comfortable without being over-soft, and there’s certainly a reflection of the original design brief for the small Jaguar which the project was for before Daewoo bought it from Giugiaro.

Both the 2.0 SX and the 2.0 CDX models are powered by Daewoo’s latest generation 2.0 DOHC D-TEC engine which I found to be willing and brisk. Pushing up the revs made it a little noisy, but not displeasingly so. There is Bosch electronic ABS, and the 2.0 CDX also boasts a traction control system that prevents wheel spin during starts and acceleration on icy and slippery roads.

The Leganza 2.0 SX comes with a price tag of £18,395 while the 2.0 CDX is priced at £19,995. Options for the 2.0 CDX include leather upholstery. Have to say that I left this one back with a lot of regret.