Driving Impressions

As we began driving the new Saturn LS, the first thing we noticed was that the seats are roomy and comfortable. Saturn officials say they have put a great deal of effort into getting the seats just right. They wanted their new, larger car to provide big-car accommodations without a sofa-like experience. As a result, the front bucket seats are supportive without being restrictive. With so many good platforms available through General Motors, it's interesting that Saturn chose an Opel for its basic platform. It turned out to be a wise choice because Saturn picked one of Opel's finer vehicles on which to base the mid-size Saturn. This decision has translated into an agile four-door sedan. The LS is a vehicle that is going to raise the level of what will be expected from Saturn in the future. Saturn engineers changed what they knew they had to for the American market, but left much of the German engineering. Case in point is the suspension system. To fit into the Saturn idea of suspension compliance, the LS has a comfortable ride. Yet it isn't so compromised as to eliminate the handling capability the Germans contributed to the system. From mountain passes to the flat never-ending desert floor of Arizona, we had the greatest environment to test the ride quality and agility of this new Saturn. Undulations just outside Phoenix tested suspension compliance, which directly affects ride quality. For miles, we drove over roller-coaster undulations that tested chassis stability as well as the stability of our stomachs. Our Saturn LS2 absorbed road vibration and provided a stable platform through this section. Delivering 137 horsepower, the four-cylinder engine in the LS1 model seemed to provide adequate power -- 0 to 60 mph in 9.5 seconds, according to Saturn. But we felt the increased power of the V6 is strong justification to upgrade to the LS2. The increase to 182 horsepower in a 3,100-pound vehicle is quite noticeable, dropping 0-60 mph performance to a respectable 8.2 seconds. And even though there is a decrease in fuel economy (23/32 mpg vs. 20/26), it isn't a major penalty.

Final Word

Saturn has made a major commitment to give the car buyer a tremendously solid automobile along with a pleasant retailer experience. The company has shown that if you treat people well, and offer them value, then they will become nearly fanatical over their vehicles. Just look at what happens at the Saturn reunions held at Spring Hill, Tennessee. This Saturn manufacturing plant becomes the Mecca of Saturn owners where they gather to exult the virtues of their favorite mode of transportation. It is, quite honestly, a bit unusual that owners can become so enamoured over their vehicles. It only proves that Saturn has done something many never believed they could: offer a decent vehicle for a decent price and continue to be a competitive force in the industry. Saturn has proven they can do just that and do it so well people are willing to wait a long time for a new car. We are sure there are many out there who are extremely happy that the LS has arrived.