##daewleg.jpg --Right##IF friends and colleagues have muttered 'that'll be the Daewoo' once, they've said it a thousand times. Yes, I've taken delivery of the Daewoo Leganza 2.0, one of the latest cars on our long-term test fleet. Some may say I drew the short straw, but after a couple of weeks driving the car, I don't feel at all unlucky.

Look beyond the badge and you'll find a perfectly reasonable vehicle. Admittedly, it's pretty middle of the road - neither ugly nor stunning, neither gutsy nor sluggish - but so far the driving experience has been faultless. Mind you, it's early days yet so I haven't properly put the Daewoo to the test on a long jourtney. Hopefully, in my next report I'll be able to inform readers how it handles on major roads.

The car's interior - particularly the facia - is rather pleasing on the eye but is let down by some of the fixtures and fittings which look a bit cheap and cheerful, particularly the plastic 'wood'. But on the whole, the Daewoo is a perfectly good car, which offers better value than many others on the market for the same price.

Drivers with a couple of grand extra to spend could opt for the CDX-E which has a satellite navigation system as standard. For comfort, the jewel in its crown is a temperature-controlled air conditioning unit which has proved a Godsend on June's few - but welcome - hot days.

Fleets who choose this Daewoo will find themselves with a spacious, comfortable and well-equipped car. All windows are electric, the Sony stereo produces a powerful sound, the driver's seat can be adjusted electronically, there's a glass sunroof and it has heated door mirrors.

Although not a remarkable car, all these goodies and more make it worth considering. Daewoo also offer some decent support packages which fleets might want to investigate.

Under the new CO2-based regime, due for introduction in 2002, a Leganza driver's BIK tax would be based on 25% of the vehicle's list price (ú3,831).

Mike Roberts