Daewoo Lanos

The Lanos (1999-2002) was the smallest of the three cars Daewoo sold in the US during its brief 1998-2002 American adventure. Subcompact three-door hatchback or four-door sedan, FWD only. Single engine: 1.6L A16DMS DOHC I4 (105 hp). Five-speed manual standard, four-speed automatic optional. Aimed squarely at the entry-level segment competing with Hyundai Accent, Toyota Tercel/Echo, Ford Aspire, and the cheapest Kia. The Lanos was meaningfully cheaper than its Japanese rivals at MSRP ~$9,000-$11,000 — but reliability and dealer-network problems plagued the entire Daewoo Motor America venture, and the company's bankruptcy in 2000 (with founder Kim Woo-choong fleeing South Korea to evade fraud charges) left buyers stranded. Total US Lanos sales were modest — roughly 10,000+ cars per year through the run, with sharp decline as Daewoo's collapse became public. After Daewoo Motor America exited 2002, the Lanos's successor became the Chevrolet Aveo for the US market. Now firmly a curio — surviving examples are rare and cheap.