After GM bought what was left from the former Korean carmaker Daewoo, it tried to use the plans and the projects made by the former carmaker engineers, such as the Lacetti.
In some markets, the Lacetti was known as the Nubira since it made a connection with a former Daewoo model. Yet, the 2002 Nubira was different. It sported a design signed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and was launched after the bio-design era.
The Lacetti/Nubira hatchback featured a pair of narrow headlights that looked sharp on their inner side and rounded on the outer one. Like the Nubira, the Lacetti was available as a sedan, a hatchback, and a station wagon. Unlike its predecessor, on the other hand, the five-door version looked sportier, not cut before it was finished. Even though the C-pillar was quite thick and raised some problems for the driver, the overall look of the car was appealing.
Inside, GM had to rely on what Daewoo's designers created. Maybe it was not the best-inspired cabin, but it was decent. There was a simple layout with a two-tone, silver and black dashboard. The center stack sported a CD player with an in-dash changer as an option. While the base version was offered with a tape player. The two bucket seats at the front were just simple and looked like they were the cheapest on the market. At the back, the split-folding bench helped the owner increase the trunk area.
Under the hood, there was a mix of GM-sourced and Daewoo-developed engines. The base version was put in motion by a 95 hp 1.4-liter engine. Top of the range version gained a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated that was previously available on the Leganza flagship model. Last but not least, for specific markets, Chevrolet offered the Nubira/Lacetti with a two-liter turbo-diesel powerplant.