Real Road Test: 1995 Daewoo Espero! Mint 21k mile example 

Who looks at a car in that condition and thinks "Yeah, I'll scrap that" Glad it was saved

Imagine scrapping a car as clean as this and then being able to sleep at night.

This shows once again that no bad cars were made, but that there were many bad motoring journalists who wrote everything that wasn't Mercedes, BMW or Porsche into the ground.

My uncle had one of these for over 10 years he used it as a taxi was on nearly 400,000 miles when he sold it 😂

I'd never spotted the similarity to the Xantia before, but now you've said it, I can't unsee it!

I bought a espero as my first car. Brings a smile to my face everytime i drive it!

I was fascinated by these as a kid. Over 20 years later they've aged incredibly well in my view

Love the Espero! :)

Always remember these being the big prize on family fortunes in the 90s 😂

Much better equipped than my MK2 Cavalier, still looks nice even today. Never considered one of these (when secondhand) due to snooty car magazine reviews. I think I missed out.

It seems like such a decent car, for very little money when new. It absolutely blows my mind that anyone would consider scrapping this lovely car.

Please bring back velour seats.they're like a hug from your granny :-)

Used to have them on the rental fleet where I worked back in the mid 90’s. We used to fight for the keys on a hot day because they were the only ones with AC as standard .

The 16V 1.5 1997 model hauled our family for years. My parents struggled to make the ends meet in the 90s and needed something cheap and reliable. Sadly the engine was too small for our long trips and struggled up mountain passes. I always loved the styling, it didn’t look like a cheap car from the outside. I sadly never got to drive it myself since it was crashed before I got my license, nobody was hurt thankfully. Some of my earliest memories are of the test drive on a very grey day when it was compared to a much more basic used Corolla. Edit: We used that ski hatch a lot being Norwegians haha

My Grandfather had one of these brand new, after 2 years there was quite noticeable rust in the roof and A and B pillars, To be fair to Deawoo they took the car back and replaced it with a brand new Laganza

As Mr Ian has stated in the video, Daewoo has expanded to countries such as Poland and Romania. Well, speaking of Romania, Daewoo was present in the country between 1994 and 2007. Daewoo Romania has made many Daewoo models such as the Cielo/Nexia, Tico, Matiz, Espero also, Nubira, Leganza and Tacuma, which were sold mostly in Romania itself and neighbouring countries. The cars were produced in the city of Craiova, after Daewoo bought the old Oltcit factory in 1994. With that I can say that all the Daewoo cars made in Romania can be considered as the Oltcit's spiritual succesors. The factory was eventually bought in 2008 by Ford Romania which has been producing cars there ever since, cars including the new Ford Puma.

I was working at a car supermarket when these were in their hay day and despite the "What a Daewoo cheap and nasty" syndrome the supermarket sold a lot of them. The thing they most importantly for me as a mechanic shared with the Vauxhall Cavalier Mk2 was they were sooo easy to work on

What a marvellous example…So glad it was spared a visit to the crusher!

I remember having at look at one of these in a Daewoo showroom in the 90s, with refreshingly relaxed sales assistants, whose 'pressure selling' involved nothing more than " Welcome. Do have a look at the cars and if there's anything you'd like to know, just ask." A nicely done review of the Espero - that'll be the Hubnut.

I never knew about the Citroen link, but I can see a lot of Xantia and XM now.

Nice to see Howard from last of the summer wine make a guest appearance at 1:10 😀

probably the first time that ski bag has been unfurled.

CD Autochanger was optional when I got mine. In fact when I went to collect the car (from Leicester) they had forgotten to fit it and claimed the car has failed its PDI and I'd need to come back a week later to collect it (they quickly whipped it round to the local Halfords to get one fitted). I recall gettign a call from Daewoo customer services on the way home asking how I was ejoying my new Espero, they were not impressed when I told them I was still in my old car! :)

That's a funny looking Fairmont, I'm sure that's what I was watching a minute ago :)

Absolutely perfect! Despite the age of the design it's still an attractive looking car - I guess that was Bertone working their magic. So pleased this example was given a last minute reprieve. 😃

Your love of the humble is quite refreshing. Cheers pal.

I absolutely love that interior. Velour, the simple dash design without all the horrendous modern over-styling....... Lovely!

Always liked the look of these and had forgotten all about them… must be very few left.

Never thought I'd like a daewoo, but having owned & loved 3 xantia's & 4 XM's, I can now see the styling influences.

That has to be kept like that what a lovely old car I remember them back in the day always thought they were crap now this is a fantastic piece of motoring history

What a wonderful old thing! So glad it got saved

Was just going to watch part 2 of the fairmont import but at least another vid to watch 👍

You are a man after my own heart Ian. I love to listen to you talking all things motoring. Your values are very similar to mine also. Keep up the good work. Pete Birmingham 🇬🇧

Very impressive car actually! I have the feeling that at the time Daewoo first came to Britain with there way of selling was not liked by other motor manufacturer's. I had a friend and her husband traded in his 1.6 Montego for one of tease and was extremely happy with it back in the day.

I can remember going into a Daewoo accredited Halfords and using a computer terminal to spec an Espero and then printing off an "offer and reference" which, if I had wanted to, I could have used to ask for a build by Daewoo! Way, way ahead of the time. Great video.

I had one as a loan car after an accident, a new demonstrator in green. It felt brilliant to drive then, particularly when the garage swapped the Espero for a golden Proton in GL flavour. Mmmmm. Amen to the return of our Polo mk2 estate...

Made great minicabs back the the mid 90s, decent price plus the free servicing package a no brainer, reliable as well! A shame they've all but disappeared, saw one recently in Grantham and that was a good one,

I love the fact they actually added me to the car.

This channel often makes me feel old. I remember when these were brand new, a friend having one on an extended test drive over a weekend. At the time, I couldn't see past it being a quirky looking Vauxhall Cavalier. But actually, 26 years later, I think the design has aged very well. This one being super clean, and in white, no doubt helps.

I remember a gentleman who was working as a salesman back in the nineties having one of these. It was an automatic and he put 300.000km in few years with no issues.

this is peak hubnut, excellent

My Parents had one. in 1995 they bought it brand new in green. I remember as a kid we traveled Europe in it. It was quite an attraction for locals literally everywhere we went to. I remember once in Denmark a group of people gathered around it at the car park. My dad was petrified that something happened to it, burned down or someone smashed windows or whatever. It turned out they were just very curious, started doing a photos etc. In Holland, everywhere we went people always started chatting to my dad about the car. It was a car i learned how to drive. My dad sold it to our neighbour, a Polish guy, in 2009, as he was in love in Esperos in general (they were quite popular in Poland). He took it there. Believe me or not this guy still owns it and he says it might actually be the only one Right Hand Drive example in Poland and its still, a real attraction. Great memories! Long life Espero!

I haven't watched all the video yet but I had to stop and comment. It's a perfect Hubnut car, with odd but attractive looks and way too underappreciated because it isn't from a fancy brand. Great choice!

one very key way of seeing it's indeed a design proposal for the xantia, is seeing the panels "cut", see how the rear bumper, doors and front bumper are cut in the exact same way as the final design on the xantia.

Funny what time can do. When these were new, they were considered boring and uninspiring by many, and the User Choosers simply overlooked them in favour of a Mondeo or Vectra. 25 plus years later, and the Espero now looks stylish and interesting, especially in white. I must admit, I'd rather like one.

I woke up today thinking about buying one... I guess that i'll have to now 😅

Fantastic looking car and such a great condition. I retired from the UK to Southern Italy and down here they don't throw much away. It's great to see 30 plus year old Astras and Novas, badged as Opel, first generation Pandas. Second hand cars here are seriously more expensive than they are in the UK which may be the reason for not throwing them into the scrap heap. Great video, thanks.

They've aged really well. That sound takes me back to my MK2 Cav Gli. :)

"Always accompanied by four beeps" *car beeps five times*

I remember going with me dad to a Daewoo showroom as a young-ish teenager somewhere in Kent and sitting in an Espero and loving it. For its time... Was definitely ahead of its time in the tech front. Fantastic example that, great vis as always. I'm forever scouring eBay for one - do they ever come up... I've not seen one, apart from perhap scrappers.

Wiper action will always be welcome. Would like to see more. Don’t sensor for the haters. Wiper action rules!

My mate worked for Daewoo/Halfords as a mechanic from the launch until about 2000 when he jumped ship to Peugeot. They gave all the staff the opportunity to get brand new Daewoo on lease I think so they could promote the brand. He took a gold Nexia and he quite liked it.

I bought 2000 Daewoo Lanos when it was 16 years old. It was a garage queen. So nice to drive, minimal issues, no mechanical issues. I drove it 80.000km in 4 years. Been to Russia, Finland, Greece, Italy, Autobahn (there is nothing else). I even went to FSO factory where it was made. Then it was T-boned 200m from my home by another Korean Car - Ssangyong Rexton. Suv on snow on bald summer tires who run stop sign with driver having 4 year old in his lap.

I remember there were a couple of Espero taxis near me when i was a kid. Rode in one of them and back then, the standout thing was how soft the ride was.

You're absolutely correct: that's a beautiful, elegant car. Always liked the glorious rear design and lights.

Thank you so much for road testing this masterpiece! I've always wanted you to road test this. One of my all time favourite cars :)

Don't know the last day I saw one of these cars up and running! They all disappeared from our local roads about 10-15 years ago. White was probably the best color on them and it's amazing to see one in such good condition.

Every day is a school day I too never knew the Citroen link, now I cannot unsee it. Excellent review as always Sir.

The fun with old, low mileage cars is that you can actually experience them how they were when new, because they are. I've owned a Volkswagen Golf II with 22,600 miles which was 16 years old when I bought it from the 88 year old first owner, and since then I know how those Volkswagens drive when new. Two years later I sold the car to a friend for 500 € and from that moment I've driven (very briefly) Citroën, Peugeot/Talbot and Renault for many years, because I wanted cars that were comfortable and refined...

thanks for explaining about the styling. these always looked like a XM'd Xantia saloon.

Always liked the look of these, I can remember that these always used to be the prize on Family Fortunes back in the 90s!

Family Fortunes, anyone? Great review Ian. Never knew a whole lot about Daewoo until a couple of years back when I went to Poland and happened to learn about the factory out in Warsaw. Tonnes of odd looking Daewoo-badged stuff on the roads. Hats off to the neighbours of the gentleman who passed away for keeping his pride and joy going.

Even though there’s the GM/Daewoo Ford/Hyundai link up of the time I think the front end of this looks like a Mark 2 Sierra to me!

Love the look of that car, especially rear-end with all of those windows and taillights 😎 We didn't get those in Finland, if i remember correct they started to sell Daewoos when there was Matiz, Kalos, Tacuma, Nubira, Lacetti and Evanda-models.

Beautiful car I had A cdx In the day wish I still had it Brilliant video Ian 👍

I bought 1.5 Espero in 2009 with 180.000 km and still drive it today with 500.000+. Love this car.

The accounts guy at one of my customers had a burgundy one of these in 1999. It must have made financial sense if an accounts guy had one. He smoked like a chimney though so that one probably smelled like a working men’s club. I loved the smooth nose front end and single bar heckblende rear styling.

Seems a good car, fabulous rescue story. I had a P reg Escort, it had power steering and central locking but not much else, I certainly remember the keep fit windows in it!

I have a 1967 Daewoo entrenching tool It starts every time and has never let me down, ultra reliable

Back when these were new, I thought they were the coolest - then I did not know about the Citroën connection, but I loved the Citroën look of the design. I think I have seen one or two here in Sweden - sadly, they were never common here. Great video!

9:47 - I had exactly the same ski hatch in my P reg Deawoo Nexia 1.5 saloon. I used it to transport some long bits of wood a few times from the DIY shops. Handy for that too.

Nice review! Our family owned 92MY Espero 25 years ago and it was absolutely marvellous car. Enjoyed your video!

Not seen an Espero in years, I never realised how much GM there was under the bonnet! I shouldn’t be all that suprised really since the Nexia was basically a mk2 Vauxhall Astra under the skin. Strange they never used Corsa or Nova mechanicals for the Matiz, those were different. Great review Mr Seabrook!👍

Thats what i love about hut nut straight to the point proper reviews i never heard of one of these until now its pure automotive history and what a lovely example hats off to the folks that saved it and kept it in such good condition 😊👌

Too bad Daewoo did not import this to the US, I think it might have done very well! The steering wheel is definitely Daewoo, the rest, well, I like very much! Even Daewoo vehicles here are extremely rare as they were disposable, especially when Daewoo went bankrupt in a very dramatic fashion! And the exterior styling I really love, right down to the bootlid lock. Certain American vehicles had the lock hidden like this Daewoo, most of them were more expensive cars like Buick, Lincoln, Cadillac. This gives this Daewoo a but of exclusivity!

I’d love to own one of these. I was 16 when these hit the UK market and always loved our Mk2 cavalier as a child. Here was a beautiful 😍 design. So clean cut and I always loved the way the tail lights illuminated. I’d love to drive one!❤

Very comprehensive review Ian,think that’s one of your best.Lovely car.

Excellent review, Ian. I mean, I never expect anything less, AND I’m never disappointed. But you had such a genuinely happy retro experience with the Daewoo, it was a really fun watch. As always, thank you.

Since watching Hubnut for about a Year Now. I must confess to paying more attention to Wipers and Triangles of Doom. Than I ever did before, it had just not entered my Zone of Interest. Other than "Damn it, I need New Blades..!" Thx Hubnut, you have Created a Perversion..!! Even playing 'Spot the Triangle of Doom' with my Son whilst waiting for his Mum, in a Carpark..!! Cheers All, kim in Oz. 😎

Spot on Ian! Family 2 engines, made in Australia. Powered our Holden Camira as well as Vauxhall and Opels, later also Daewoos. Probably Holden’s biggest export.

Very nice design which has aged very well. The windows remind me more of a Citroen XM than a Xantia personally. A shame that you don't see these on the road anymore

All I remembr about the Espero is that when it was launched in Australia, it had a CD player as standard. For 1995, this was a big deal for a car that sold for around the same money as a Corolla

Another car which I don't feel like I properly appreciated when it was on sale. I knew about the Mk2 Cavalier links but not the French connections. Most interesting. What a lovely example and I love the ski cover. I find mine drip all over the place. Perhaps the most extensive rear indicators ive ever seen too

Thank you very much for pointing out the Citroen design cues, Ian 👍🏻👍🏻 Never realised before, but now that you've mentioned it....the Espero's 6-light greenhouse comes across like a shrunken XM greenhouse (minus front quarter glass) stuck onto a 3-box saloon. Even the Espero rear lights with full-width reflector strip looks a bit XM-esque (but upside down) 😄

Just sold a 9,300 mileage 1996 P Reg Daewoo Nexia GLXi Saloon Auto ! In Green ! Beautiful. The Astra Belmont I never had

I was just thinking.... what does this car remind me of, it seemed somehow familiar. And i just realized.., the lines seem very similar to the mid 1980's Mazda 626.

Another clever car I didn't know existed till your review, cheers!

From the angle in the beginning watching the car, it makes me think of a Ford Sierra. Especially the doorlines starting from the A pillar all up to the C pillar. I remember that the car always intrigued me as a kid. I was well aware of the fact that it was always quite a rare sight on the public road and that made me think that it was for the upper class and the rather rich executives. Also wondering as a kid how the interior was. Nice review and cheers from windy and slightly sunny Belgium. Summer hasn't treated us yet here...

I owned one of these about 15 yrs ago. I seem to remember paying my Father-in-Law £350 for it. It was a 1.8L automatic, so not a 'road burner'. I drove it for maybe two years, the the head gasket started to leak, so I ordered a new one (plus new head bolts, as they were one use 'stretch' types). Head gasket replaced, I drove it for a few more months, until one of the fuel lines corroded through. On asking for a replacement fuel line from my local Vauxhall dealer, I was told that they were not available, so I spliced-in a section of flexible line. It was at that point that I chopped it in for another car, receiving slightly more than I had paid for it. Overall, I concur with your assessment; I was a comfortable, well equipped car, which did not really deserve the dealer nickname of Daewoo Despairer.

I remember the Espero and the Nexia from my youth. Great review, Ian!👍

This is by far the best looking J-car.

"If you've carried skis in a Daewoo Espero please leave a comment". Classic. Legend.

I remember these being a bit of a joke when they came out, but it has aged surprisingly well and I very much like the look of it now. Like Ian says, the equipment level for that era of car is astounding. I very much enjoyed that review, nice one Ian.

I had a dream, I was watching part 2 of the Fairmont video, but it was on repeat... And I was confused... Then all of a sudden I was awake and everything was ok again.

Always loved these so much!

OMG such a memory from my childhood and early teenage years (late 90's). The Espero and the Nexia topped foreign car sales in Russia being cheap and pretty reliable (but also prone to rust, even worser than Lada). But I've never seen Esperos equipped with the sunroof or automatic transmission. The other two cars Daewoo sold in Russia were Tico and Damas. Not very suitable for russian conditions actually but the Damas was used as a bus in Uzbekistan. In my family we had the 2002 Nexia (Uzbekistan assembled). Decent car for its time, easy to maintain and resell.

I bought a 95 Auto version as a weekly driver, Lancashire to London twice a week for 18 months. Only had to fix electrics besides servicing and preventative maintenance. I put 75,000 miles on it then traded it for a Mondeo. The Daewoo was the butt of many jokes from friends but it never let me down and the auto box helped on the M6/M1 commute.

I always thought that the Espero was a reworked Mk2 Vauxhall Cavalier/Opel Ascona, just as the Nexia was an updated Mk2 Vauxhall Astra/Opel Kadett. I bow to your knowledge on this Ian.

Great review hubnut, im glad it wasn't scrapped its a really nice car 😀

2 vids in one day! 😊 Did enjoy the Betty vid and thought the last shot when you talked about Betty in Wales was great