Faults:

Nothing. I had a Matiz-SD model for 2000, which I used up to 165,000 Kms, but there was no problem, and it is one of the best cars I would like to own.

Last year I sold that and bought another second-hand Matiz model (1999), which was in good condition.

Just three days ago I met with an accident with a Maruti-Suzuki Alto, which dashed straight into the co-driver's side, but nobody was hurt. If I was in another car, it was sure to be a fatal accident, but the Daewoo MATIZ saved me.

Faults:

Nothing much wrong with the car. It is neatly packaged car with great combination of looks (it's really cute!),comfort, space and safety features in its class. However, lacks a bit of power (52 hp), especially felt in stop and go city traffic.

Suspension makes you feel the bumps and on bad roads, but within tolerable limits.

Gear shifting is not very smooth, especially from 1st to 2nd gear.

Brake pads tend to wear in my case.

However, our major concern (as is for other Matiz owner's in India) is the sales and service network for these cars as Daewoo has closed its operations in India. Probably, GM is going to revive the car in India. If it does, it will be a great relief!

General Comments:

The car is on the whole excellent. Will win any "beauty contest" hands down.

Is a "big" small car with adequate cabin space and driving comfort. Inside cabin with well arranged instrument cluster and controls.

Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning performs well though the the engine has to work harder when the Air-conditioner is switched on.

At high speeds, is a stable car with decent handling.

Lastly, shows a decent mileage, I get around 13 kilometers per lire of gasoline in city and 18-20 Kilometer per litre on the highway.

Faults:

No problem.

General Comments:

This car seriouly quick. This point I am making it because of self experience. It moves between in the gaps within no time.

Leg room is simply the best. No other small in India as far I have seen does not have such good leg room and comfort in driving for long distance is simply too good.

I love to drive the car for long distances without any problem.

Faults:

A sound from the steering resembling the sound a plastic bag makes when it's ruffled hard just 30 days after purchase. Till now the dealer has not been able to solve it and few months back when the car was sent to him, he threw up his hands and said he can't locate the problem and I should bear the sound!!

All 4 doors keep creaking and no amount of greasing has solved the problem. Dealer says all Matiz cars have this problem and Daewoo have solved it in the 2002 year model. As for model year 1999 customers, he says you will have to bear with the creaking!!

I had a continuous sound coming from the underbody irrespective of the road surface the car was driven on. The dealer changed the Tie bar and lower arms citing a worn out suspension charging me Rs.6500 ($136 approx) and the problem still continued. Ultimately I had a big argument and after a through check up he said it's not a suspension problem at all!! He changed the brake calipers and strut package charging me another Rs. 2600 ($55 approx). That was 20 days back and till now the sound hasn't come back and hopefully it wouldn't.

The fuel indicator shows me wrong indications of fuel. Once the indicator was at the E mark and when I topped up the tank at the gas station, I could barely manage 15 liters!! Now, the fuel tank has a capacity of 35 liters which meant there was more than half tank of fuel, but the indicator was hovering at the E mark. The dealer says it's a conked out fuel pump and it will cost me Rs. 5500! (approx $115)

The exhaust pipe has corroded and the entire pipe till the middle has to be replaced along with the silencer muffler. The dealer says all cars have this problem and he is right. Water and poor fuel quality in India causes this. But I had got the car treated with Dinitrol Anti-rust agent when I bought it and it still corroded. When I asked the dealer how my dad's 6 year old Suzuki doesn't have that problem yet, he says I am just lucky. OK I agree all exhaust pipes corrode, but do they corrode in 2 1/2 years and after just 25000kms?? How come the Japanese and European cars don't have that problem so soon?

It's a piece of Korean junk and I will never again buy a Korean car.

General Comments:

Performance is pretty good for a car with a 796 c.c. 3 cylinder 6 valve engine. It has a peppy 52 bhp @ 6000 rpm enigne and good low torque of 7.3kgm@3500rpm. Of course at traffic lights the Hyundai Santro-Atoz and Suzuki Alto/Zen are faster, but then they have a 999cc engine and the Matiz is heavier than all these cars. 800kgs for the Matiz as compared to 765kgs of the Santro. However, switch the Air-Conditioning on and the performance just dies.

Ride and handling is much better than it's rival Santro. Coupled with a peppy engine and sharp handling it's so much more fun to drive than the Hyundai.

The Air-Conditioning is fantastic which is a boon in the hot & humid Indian summer.

Good design of the Interiors and comfortable seats. It's also surprisingly roomy for it's size. Inadequate boot space is a bit of a problem. Absence of a tachometer is surprising. Gear shift is vague and clunky with long travels for the gear lever. Daewoo claims it's a superior cable operated shift, but I don't agree.