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Saturn S-Series sedans and wagon offer new curtain air bags
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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PONTIAC, Mich. -- In the Detroit suburb of Pontiac, a drive up Woodward Avenue as clogged with stop-and-go morning traffic quickly demonstrates how quiet and comfortable the latest issue of Saturn's S-Series compact sedan has become.
The four-cylinder engine, revamped last year with a new block, lighter pistons and counterweight applied to the crankshaft, produces a smoother flow of power with far less vibrations as translated through the steering wheel, control pedals and car frame to the passenger compartment.
Also, the overall structure was stiffened through additional bracing along chassis flex lines, with sound-damping insulation increased to block noise of the engine from permeating through walls of the cabin.
New fixtures for the cabin include seats that slide forward and back on extended floor tracks to expand floor space for long-legged riders, new comfort touches scattered throughout the space and the steering system now rigged with power controls even on the entry-level SL model.
Externally, low fascia wrapping the sleek shell reflect paint tinted to match the body color, and the base SL edition gains equipment like dual rearview mirrors. Styling changes carried over from the previous models include smooth body panels below the beltline and optics with clear-lens headlamps.
Yet the most significant improvement for the S-Series this year concerns concealed optional safety hardware.
The three S-Series sedan models and a wagon variation offer new curtain-style side air bags that tuck into roof rails and extend above the front and rear doors.
If the vehicle is struck from the side -- a circumstance that occurs in a third of all collisions with smaller cars -- the side curtain air bags will drop down over door windows and instantly inflate to cushion heads and necks of passengers.
Saturn's small cars are the first to offer this added safety gear and it's priced reasonably at $325.
Another safety device -- anti-lock brakes -- is also optional at $495.
The ABS controls, when added to the standard brakes with front discs and rear drums, work with all four wheels and include a traction controller integrated with the powertrain that can check wheel spin on slippery pavement by retarding power to a slipping wheel.
Standard safety equipment extends to frontal air bags, three-point safety belts, daytime running lamps and an emergency lock release lever located inside the trunk.
Like all previous editions, the new S-Series Saturns wear dent-resistant polymer side panels designed to withstand blows from another car door or runaway supermarket cart. Only the hood, roof and rear deck -- all horizontal surfaces -- use metal panels.
Consumer enthusiasm for these cars remains high as the brand earns top marks in surveys measuring product quality and sales satisfaction -- and Saturn continues to rank above other nameplates in terms of customer loyalty and strong resale value.
The sedans have formed the core components of Saturn's fleet since the introduction of angular first-generation models in 1990.
Improvements for safety, comfort and performance occurred in 1996 with revisions in the chassis design and new structural elements applied, upgraded interiors and improved powertrain components that generated more spirited performances and better fuel economy numbers.
Then that sleek new body style emerged late in 1999, along with the new powertrains.
Despite the lineage, the new editions with their quiet manners and smooth ride characteristics compare to previous generational issues in name only.
The wagon treatment, which first appeared in 1993, mirrors the sedan's development and contains the same equipment as the top sedan trim.
To create the wagon, designers began with the sedan but eliminated the trunk, set new structural supports in the rear and simply extended the roofline and passenger cabin in a wagon format. Virtually everything else remains from the sedan, including the five-person seating arrangement with two buckets in front and a rear fold-back bench, the mechanical equipment and twin-cam engine variation.
Trim designations include the SL, SL1 and SL2 sedans and SW2 wagon. Numerals in these names relate to the engine, as the SL1 carries the plant with a single overhead cam but the SL2 and SW2 use the two-cam version.
The base engine for SL and SL1 displaces 1.9 liters and employs sequential port fuel injection.
It musters only 100 horsepower but earns fuel economy numbers that climb as high as 40 miles per gallon for highway driving when teamed with the manual transmission.
Only the manual stick shows up with the price-leading SL trim, yet the upgrade to SL1 brings the option of an automatic four-speed transmission.
priced at $860, the automatic substitutes helical in-line gears instead of the planetary gears typical of most automatics. This change enables the SL1 to be towed behind a recreational vehicle without damaging the transmission -- which perhaps accounts for its popularity as a secondary car for motor home owners.
The twin-cam engine for the SL2 sedan and SW2 wagon increases power without severely sacrificing fuel economy.
It nets 124 hp and enables the SL2 to decrease the run-up time from zero to 60 mph by 1.5 seconds.
A five-speed manual transmission with the twin-cam engine delivers fuel economy figures up to 38 mpg, and the automatic four-speed hits 36 mpg.
With the more powerful engine, the SL2 feels enthusiastic with quick acceleration noted when starting off the line of a stoplight, like the endless series of controls that line Woodward Avenue.
Propel it through some curves and it holds a steady line, thanks to the responsive rack and pinion steering system and a fully independent suspension with front MacPherson struts and stabilizer bar and the rear tri-link design with strut and spring modules.
Saturn's one-price strategy confirms price points from the outset.
Expect the SL sedan to list for $10,570, the SL1 for $11,484 and the SL2 for $12,895. Packages add more numbers to the bottom line, such as leather appointments for $700, a security kit for $370, SL2 optional equipment like cruise control and power windows for $995, a sunroof at $725 and larger alloy wheels for $350.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2001 SATURN S SERIES Specs |
| Description: |
Compact sedan, wagon
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| Model Options: |
Compact sedan, wagon
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| Wheelbase: |
102.4 inches
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| Overall Length: |
178.1 inches
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| Engine Size: |
SOHC 1.9-L I-4
DOHC 1.9-L I-4
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| Transmission: |
Manual/5, Auto/4
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| Drive: |
Front
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| Braking: |
Disc/drum/opt. ABS
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| Airbags: |
2 (front)
+ opt. 2 (side curtain)
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| Gas Mileage: |
SOHC M/5: 29/40 mpg
SOHC A/4: 27/38 mpg
DOHC M/5: 27/38 mpg
DOHC A/4: 25/36 mpg
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| Price: |
$ 10,570 to $ 19,000 |
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