Daewoo Matiz Photos, engines & full specs

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.