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DAEWOO Matiz Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Generations: 3
First production year: 1998
Engines: Gasoline
Body style: Hatchback
DAEWOO Matiz photo gallery

Introduced as an upgrade for the Daewoo brand, the Matiz was designed by Giugiaro as a possible replacement for the Fiat 500. The Italian carmaker rejected the project, and Daewoo bought it instead. As a result, it launched the Matiz in 1998.

In 2002, General Motors bought the Korean carmaker and pushed for a second generation, which it launched in 2005. Daewoo vastly improved the Matiz over its predecessor even though it kept the same platform.

First of all, the car received a new, updated look penned in the new-edge design theme, with swept-back headlights and sharp lines on the hood. The overall shape was kept, but the new design touches made the car look better. Finally, it received body-colored door handles and mirrors.

Inside, the Matiz II featured a new dashboard with a center stack extended on the lower side. Depending on the trim level, it featured AC and a stereo for the upper trim level, while the lower ones provided only a ventilation system. The manually adjustable rear-view mirrors were unusual for a 2005 vehicle, but its price under $10,000 was also a major selling point.

Under the hood, Daewoo switched to a new engine generation with four cylinders. It complied with the Euro 5 emission standards, which also helped with the London congestion charge. The inline-four unit sent its power to the front wheels via a five-speed manual, which was the only transmission option for most of the markets. Later on, GM rebadged the Matiz II as Chevrolet Spark.

full description and technical specifications
DAEWOO Matiz photo gallery

Three years after it launched the Matiz on the European market, the Korean carmaker Daewoo added the first facelift to its small-segment vehicle.

The car was based on a 1992 design study signed by Fabrizio Giugiaro from Italdesign. While the concept was made for Fiat for its then-future 500 model, it ended up as one of the best-selling vehicles built by the Korean automaker. The initial launch of the Matiz happened in 1998, but three years later, Daewoo made some changes to make the car more appealing to European customers.

Built with an egg-shaped bodywork, the new version sported a new front fascia where the turn signals were moved upward on the bumper. Previously these were corner-mounted and exposed to small bumps while parking in tight spots. The hood was also redesigned, and its lower edge looked more like a smile, giving the car a happy face. At the back, the carmaker replaced the taillights with newly designed ones that offered better illumination for the reversing lights.

While it fixed most of the problems claimed by customers, the interior was left mostly untouched. Apart from new upholstery colors, there was nothing new on the interior. The AC unit was still offered only as an option and only for the upper trim levels.

Under the car's tiny hood, Daewoo installed the same 0.8-liter inline-three powerplant for most of the markets, while a Suzuki-sourced inline-four with a one-liter displacement was available in a few countries.

full description and technical specifications
DAEWOO Matiz photo gallery

The Korean automaker Daewoo tried to expand its presence on the European market and developed Matiz, an egg-shaped supermini vehicle that promised to perform well in crowded cities and congested traffic.

When Fiat rejected the design project proposed by Fabrizio Giugiaro for the Cinquecento (the 500), the Korean automaker considered it would suit its needs very well and purchased it. Moreover, it already had a platform for it, so it was just a matter of fit and finish to complete the car and start selling it. At that time, Daewoo had two factories in Europe, in Poland and Romania, and it used those assembly lines to produce the little Matiz. It was a commercial success for the Korean automaker, especially since the car was cheap to buy and run.

The egg-shaped bodywork of the Matiz started at the front with a pair of big round headlights that were slightly tilted rearward, flush to the hood. Depending on the trim level, the car sported a black or body-colored bumper that integrated a rubber horizontal stripe in its midsection. Lower, on the apron, Daewoo installed the air intake flanked by a pair of empty scoops used just as decoration.

From its profile, the Matiz revealed its MPV styling but scaled down. Its short and steep hood was continued by the tall, wide panoramic windshield that opened the way to the tall greenhouse. Thanks to that, the automaker could install generously-sized side windows for the doors. At the back, the almost vertical C-post and the curved-down drop for the tailgate completed the ovoid-shaped vehicle. But Daewoo tried more and created a longitudinal crease on the doors and fenders, making the car look longer.

Inside, the low-budget vehicle revealed its true intentions due to the vast areas of hard plastic that covered the dashboard, the center stack, and the door panels. Depending on the market, the base model had cranked windows for all, and the fabric upholstery could have been better. Daewoo offered the car with Air Conditioning, a CD stereo, and a folding rooftop for higher grades. Thanks to the tall greenhouse, the automaker used high-mounted seats for the front occupants, which led to adequate legroom for the rear passengers. In the back, the folding bench seat was good enough for two adults or three kids on their way to school. But they had to keep their backpacks on their laps since the trunk was tiny.

Under the skin was a platform carried over from Matiz’s predecessor, the Tico, which in turn was a licensed Suzuki Alto. But Daewoo worked hard to improve that platform and made it suitable for the Matiz and other vehicles that followed. The 0.8-liter inline-three engine was carried over from the Tico, but it now sported a fuel injection system that allowed it to pass the Euro 2 emission standards, which were mandatory in Europe. For specific markets, the Matiz was also available with a one-liter inline-four powerplant.

full description and technical specifications