DAEWOO Cielo/Nexia Hatchback 5 Doors 1994-1997 Photos, engines & full specs

Daewoo Cielo/Nexia was the successor of the Racer model, which improved both on the exterior and the interior.

The Korean carmaker tried to make its way on the market through various marketing strategies, including direct sales to the customers with a fixed price and many incentives, such as a tank full of gas and free road tax. The vehicle was available in a few body shapes, such as sedan, 3- and 5-door hatchback. But underneath the restyled bodywork, there was a decade-old platform.

With its curved lines and remodeled headlights, the Cielo/Nexia surprised the European market. It was simple, reliable, and good running costs. While its four-door cousin was assembled in a few European countries, Daewoo built the hatchback in Korea. Like its original ancestor, the Opel Kadett (Vauxhall Astra Mk. II), it looked like a sedan with a chopped trunk. Its curved lines tried to hide that.

Inside, the dashboard design and the layout of the buttons couldn't hide its origins or age. While most of the cars on the market already switched to curved lines, the Cielo/Nexia couldn't hide its aged design. The boxy-looking instrument cluster with buttons on the sides was carried over from the former GM product. On the center stack, it featured a similar layout for the HVAC and the cassette-player. The Cielo offered room for five with individual seats at the front and a bench in the back, without a folding seatback.

Underneath the refreshed bodywork, it offered a 1.5-liter engine. In the beginning, it featured an 8-vales system. Later on, a 16-valve system was adopted. Both versions were paired to a 5-speed manual. A 4-speed automatic was available for selected markets.