DAEWOO hoped to duplicate the 1.5i light car's surprising success with the bigger Espero, a front-wheel drive five-door hatchback that was loosely based on discarded GM Vauxhall/Opel bits from the 1980s. But despite the Italian styling, roomy interior, gigantic luggage space and high specification levels, the Espero failed to make an impact. Critics were less than impressed with its low build quality, sub-average dynamics and wheezy performance from the Holden-supplied 2.0-litre Family II engine. And, predictably, so were buyers, who said no to Espero in droves. Its Leganza replacement was a much happier proposition.