Overview and Common Failures
Body and Interior
The paintwork here is weak, but the body is galvanized and resists corrosion fairly well. On forums, people complain about easily scratched glass and quickly tarnishing chrome. The car's interior is visually pleasant, with many useful options and good build quality. Owners complain about easily scratched plastic and poor sound insulation.
Electrical System
The electrical part is very reliable and the car is practically trouble-free.
Engine
The 1.4-liter G4LC Kappa engine is very good and doesn't cause any particular trouble. The 1.6-liter G4FG Gamma engine is known for cylinder scoring. After 150,000 km, the timing chain often stretches, and this applies to both engines. The 1.6-liter G4FD engine for the American market is equipped with a direct fuel injection system. It often suffers from carbon deposits on the intake valves, and also experiences scoring.
Transmission
The 6-speed manual M6CF1 is quite reliable and doesn't cause any major problems. You can only complain about the modest lifespan of the clutch and leaks in its hydraulic system. The 6-speed automatic A6GF1 is also one of the strong points of this model. However, for trouble-free operation, the oil needs to be changed every 60,000 km.
Chassis
The suspension is comfortable and durable, with only the stabilizer links being prone to wear. However, some owners have replaced the rear shocks and springs before reaching 100,000 km. There are complaints about the steering rack, as it sometimes starts making noise around 50-80,000 km. There are no major complaints about the braking system; it performs as well as competitors.
