After a see-saw recent history that saw Daewoo's fortunes rise and fall like a juggler's baton, the company is finally undergoing something of a resurgence. Aiming to win back hearts, minds and wallets is the all-new Daewoo Nubira - a car that can claim to be more international than most, styled by Italians for an American- owned Korean company with some engines from Australia and final testing taking place in exotic Bedfordshire.

The new Nubira is certainly a prettier sight than previous cars to carry the name. In side profile, it is particularly handsome with pleasantly clean lines and a strong rear section slightly reminiscent of Toyota's latest Avensis.

As well as being easy on the eye at a glance, the Nubira stands up to closer scrutiny pretty well, too. The build quality of the exterior shows encouraging improvements If the Nubira does disappoint at all, it's probably in the quality of some of the interior materials that have been selected. They simply do not match the standards of the best in the class, though they would have been regarded as outstanding only a couple of years ago.

Instruments are conventionally laid out and pleasantly presented, meaning that you won't have to spend three days reading the owner's handbook before you feel confident enough to drive it.

The Nubira offers an impressively large interior space more akin to what you might expect from a larger saloon. Leg-room is superb and the interior promotes a relaxed, airy ambiance that makes the Nubira ideal for longer journeys. The car is at its happiest ticking off motorway miles by the dozen.

Equipment levels are decent, with twin front and side airbags, ABS with EBD, immobiliser, security window etching, four electric windows, alloy wheels and that all-important air-conditioning.

Power comes from either a 1.6-litre or 1.8-litre petrol engine. Given the Nubira's generous proportions, the 1.8 is the obvious option for most potential buyers, though anyone keen to show their thrift or unlikely to be operating with passengers on board very often may prefer the 1.6.

Much of the suspension set-up was developed in the UK - a fact that pays dividends in terms of the car's real-world performance.

Some effective weight-saving measures enable the Nubira to claim some very respectable performance figures, managing 0-60 in just over 10 seconds powered by the 1.6.

All new Nubiras come with three years' free servicing, a three-year warranty, three years' membership of the AA and a free course with the Institute of Advanced Motorists.