Saturn S-Series

In short

• The first Saturn, a red SL2, was built in Spring Hill on 30 July 1990, the day Roger Smith retired.
• Three generations: 1991–1995 (SC to 1996), 1996–1999 (SC 1997–2000) and 2000–2002, all on GM's Z platform developed by Saturn.
• 1.9-litre four-cylinder engines: SOHC with 63 kW (85 hp), from 1995 75 kW (100 hp), and DOHC with 92 kW (123 hp).
• EPA ratings of 27/34 mpg city/highway for the SL1 (8.7 and 6.9 l/100 km); NHTSA gave the 2001–2002 SL five stars in frontal, side and rollover ratings.

Saturn S-Series at a glance

A different kind of car: spaceframe and polymer panels

The Z-body used a spaceframe, a construction GM had pioneered on the Pontiac Fiero in the 1980s. The side panels carried no load and were made of dent-resistant plastic. English Wikipedia calls them Saturn's unique selling point until a few years before the brand ended. Saturn sold every car at a fixed, no-haggle price, and the S-Series was the car that introduced this approach.

Model names told buyers what they were getting. SL meant "Sedan Level" and SC "Sport Coupe"; a 1 marked the SOHC engine and a 2 the DOHC engine. Saturn itself is part of the larger story in our history of General Motors.

Saturn S-Series generations

First generation (1991–1995). The S-Series went on sale for 1991 as the SC and SL. For 1993 the SC with the DOHC engine became the SC2, a new SC1 with the SOHC engine joined it, and the SW wagon arrived in SW1 and SW2 trims. For 1995 Saturn replaced the motorised passive seat belts with ordinary three-point belts. The same year brought a new dashboard, a passenger airbag, cup holders and multi-point injection for the SOHC engine.

Second generation (1996–1999). The redesigned SL and SW went on sale in 1995 as 1996 models, and the SC followed for 1997. For 1999 the SC gained a front-hinged rear door on the driver's side, opening clamshell-style, and Saturn claimed it as the world's first three-door coupe. The "1999.5" engines received new pistons, connecting rods and crankshaft counterweights. The DOHC head also gained roller rockers with hydraulic tappets. For California, a new exhaust manifold with a catalytic converter close to the engine met the CARB ULEV standard.

Third generation (2000–2002). A facelift for 2000 brought new body panels, a new dashboard, centre console and steering wheel. It was also Saturn's first car with combined body and powertrain control modules. Side curtain airbags became optional on the SL1 and SL2 for 2001. The SC got new front and rear ends, headlamps and an SC GT trim.

Engines, transmissions and performance

The SOHC cars used the MP2 five-speed manual or MP6 four-speed automatic, with taller gearing for economy. The DOHC cars had the MP3 manual or MP7 automatic, with closer ratios. English Wikipedia notes that some owners fit the MP2 gearbox to DOHC cars for quieter motorway cruising. It gives no torque figures for the US engines and no acceleration times.

Fuel economy and running costs

The tank held 12.8 US gallons (48 litres), enough for about 384 miles (618 km) at 32 mpg. Owners of base cars with the manual gearbox often reported 38–41 mpg (5.7–6.2 l/100 km) on the highway. To turn these figures into a yearly fuel bill, use the fuel cost calculator.

Dimensions and weight

The wheelbase is listed as 2,520 mm (99.2 in). The SL weighed 1,053–1,114 kg and the SW 1,087–1,134 kg. English Wikipedia's dimension table is partly misaligned, so a few figures may belong to a neighbouring model year.

Safety ratings

The IIHS did not test the small-overlap crash, side impact or roof strength. One weakness was theft. Cars built before the middle of 1995 lacked the PASSLock system, and a filed blank key could open and start them. The 1995 SL was the most stolen vehicle of 2003, and the 1994 SL ranked third.

Production by year

English Wikipedia flags this table as partly misaligned and gives no figure for 2002. Saturn built its 500,000th car in 1993, its one millionth went on sale in May 1995 and the two millionth left the line in January 1999. Special editions were small: 3,500 Homecoming Editions in 1994 and 4,000 in 1999, 1,000 tenth-anniversary SL2s and 99 "Bumblebee" SC2s in 2001.

Outside the United States and in racing

Saturn sold the car in Canada from 1992 and in Taiwan from 1992 to 1996. Japan received right-hand-drive cars from 1997 to 2000, only with the twin-cam engine, and sold 602 of them from April to December 1997. The SC2 was 30 mm too wide for Japan's compact tax class, and English Wikipedia calls the venture a flop. In 1999 Saturn built 450 SWP "Postal" wagons with right-hand drive. On track, SC coupes won several SCCA World Challenge races from 1995 to 1997.

Photo gallery