Chevrolet Optra is a compact car that has been manufactured and marketed globally since 2002 by GM Korea. Apart from South Korea, The Optra was produced in several countries, including Thailand, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and India. It was sold under different names in different regions, such as the Suzuki Forenza in the United States and the Daewoo Lacetti in other markets.
GM Korea released its first version in 2002 which was four-door Daewoo Lacetti. And the hatchback version showed off after a facelift in 2004.
The 2004 facelift included many different changes, mainly a new front grill, switching from a three-part corporate Daewoo grill to a simpler, Chevrolet-style grill.
In the same year, Chevrolet Optra entered the Iraqi market with the 1.6-litre engine and manual transmission, a few years later Iraqi government used the LS version as a traffic police vehicle.
In South Africa, the Lacetti came to the market in 2004 as Chevrolet Optra, and it was available only as a sedan. The Chevrolet Optra has a reasonable price in comparison with other compact cars.
In this blog, we will talk about chevrolet optra available in Iraqi markets so any information posted is based on Iraqi markets only. The Optra had two body styles: a sedan and a wagon.
The Chevy Optra has a good reputation in Iraq because it consumes less petrol, and has cheap spare parts. The Optra was equipped with the car’s basic safety features such as anti-lock brakes, front airbags, and side-impact airbags. However, it did not come with advanced safety features such as electronic stability control or rearview cameras.
At the same time it has a powerful powertrain which is available as shown below:-
1.6 E-TEC gasoline, 1.5 E-TEC gasoline and finally 1.4 E-TEC gasoline. The 1.6-litre petrol version was available in one trim level the Elite LS. The 1.6-litre petrol produced 110 hp and allowed a top speed of 220 km/h (110 mph),
The automatic transmission of chevy optra is only available to 2008 and 2005 models. Let’s not forget that all chevrolet optra from 2008 models to the latest model has only white colour in Iraq
Here are some key facts about the Chevrolet Optra:
As a driver who has owned Optra for many years, I am writing this review completely based on my experience with the vehicle.In this blog post, I want to write about L.S optra which is the most common version in Iraqi markets.
Because the climate in Iraq is hot, the Optra is one of the cars that can withstand the hot climate in Iraq. It was offered in three trim levels: the base LS, the mid-level LT, and the top-of-the-line LTZ. The LT and LTZ trims offered additional features such as power windows, air conditioning, and a CD player.
Optra is one the best compact cars, and it is a good choice for someone with drivers 100 kilometres a day. This car consumes relatively little gasoline, which means that you can drive 100 kilometres with seven litres of gasoline.
When the car’s AC is running, it consumes about 0.95 litres of gasoline per kilometre.Although the car loses some of its power when the A/C is running, this is normal because most cars lose power when the AC is running. In fact, the Optra’s AC is much better than other cars.
The Optra has a well-organized electrical system, and good to some extent but there are still some problems which make it somehow difficult to fix, for example, headlights and interior lamps can stop working at any time.
It has a straightforward dashboard layout that is easy to understand and operate. And its basic features are intuitive and easy to use. This makes the Optra a great choice for buyers who are looking for a car that is easy to operate.
The Optra’s interior is surprisingly spacious, especially considering its compact size. It can comfortably seat up to five passengers, and it has plenty of headroom and legroom for taller passengers. Additionally, the Optra’s trunk is large enough to accommodate plenty of cargo, making it a great choice.
And another devastating problem of chevy optra is overheating, Radiator water decreases quickly, causing the engine to overheat.
This problem exists in most Chevrolet Optras, There is no solution to prevent the engine from overheating.
To reduce the effect of overheating, I recommend adding a little coolant to the radiator before starting the vehicle. Some vehicle experts point out that the Optra has a problem with the radiator water pump. To fix the issue, try to change the radiator water pump.
Chevy Optra engine
One of the most obvious cons of the Optra engine is that the engine can’t withstand overpressure. The Optra engine is fairly good for the weight of the car. And You shouldn’t overpressure it because it has low endurance.
You should never suppress the recommended speed range for the gears otherwise the transmission may damage severally.
In other cars especially cars with 1.8L engines the recommended speed range for first gear is 50km/h.
Fun facts: recommended gasoline octane is above 89.
Finally, the Chevrolet Optra was a practical and affordable compact car that offered good value for its price. While it may not have been the most advanced or luxurious car on the market. But it was a dependable and easy-to-drive vehicle that was popular with budget-conscious buyers.
The Chevrolet Optra is easy to drive and manoeuvre, making it an ideal choice for city driving. Its compact size and responsive steering makes it easy to navigate through tight spaces and busy streets. While its smooth ride ensures that passengers stay comfortable even on rough roads.
