1991-1996 Saturn Coupe Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Our in-depth review covers everything you need to know about this generation Saturn S-Series. Get the latest news, find a local dealer, and get a free price quote for this generation Saturn S-Series.

1991-1996 Saturn Coupe Review

The newest member of the GM family was Saturn. Initially they offered a 2-door coupe and 4-door sedans and wagons. All came with doors, fenders, and side body panels made from a rustproof plastic. However, hoods, trunklids, and roofs were still made of steel. Saturn coupes rode on a 99.2-inch wheelbase and measured 173.2 inches from front to back. For its first year, only one coupe model was offered--the SC. The only engine for the SC coupe was a twin-cam, 124-horsepower, 1.9-liter 4-cylinder. All Saturns are front-wheel drive and had antilock brakes optional.

Year to Year Changes

1992 Saturn S-Series: Saturns return for their sophomore season with few changes. The most significant being the arrival of an optional driver-side airbag and a new mounting system for the engine and transmission, designed to reduce noise and vibration.

1993 Saturn S-Series: A standard driver-side airbag is added to all Saturn subcompacts, while a new base coupe is added. The new entry-level coupe is dubbed SC1 and comes equipped with the 85-horsepower single-cam version of Saturn's 1.9-liter 4-cylinder. Last year's coupe is renamed SC2 and retains the 124-horsepower twin-cam version. For both engines, a 5-speed manual is standard and a 4-speed automatic is optional.

1994 Saturn S-Series: Revised power door locks, a recalibrated transmission, and CFC-free air conditioning sum up the changes to Saturn's sports coupes for 1994.

1995 Saturn S-Series: A standard passenger-side airbag, extra power for the base engine, and minor styling changes are making headlines this year at Saturn. Saturn completely redesigned the interior with a new dashboard and dual airbags. In addition, the base engine provides 15 more horsepower--100 instead of 85. With the addition of dual airbags, motorized shoulder belts have been discarded for new height-adjustable manual 3-point belts. Among the styling changes, the SC1 gets a new front end, while revisions were made to both the front and tail of the SC2.

1996 Saturn S-Series: For 1996, the electronic 4-speed automatic has new adaptive shift program that changes based on how the car is driven. The other big change is that traction control, previously included only with the optional ABS and automatic transmission, can now be included when ABS and the 5-speed manual gearbox are paired. The Saturn coupe would be redesigned for '97.

1991-1996 Saturn Coupe Road Test

Pros	Cons

Antilock brakes (optional)	Engine noise

Fuel economy	Road noise

Acceleration (SC2)	Acceleration (SC1)

Instruments/controls	Rear-seat room

	Entry/exit

Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation

If possible, select a base model (1995-96) with the 100-horsepower base engine paired with the manual 5-speed. Acceleration is sluggish with the automatic. Also, the revised base engine performs better than the previous 85-horsepower unit. The more powerful twin-cam engine in the SC2 performs well with either transmission. We timed one with the automatic at 9.1 seconds to 60 mph. The same car averaged 25 mpg from mainly urban driving. The SC1 should prove even more economical. However, both engines are still too noisy at higher speeds. Like most other sports coupes, these two suffer from limited rear-seat room, though there's plenty of space in front for tall people. The gauges are clearly marked and well-lit at night, and the steering-column stalks for both lights and wipers are at the driver's fingertips. The early climate controls are too low in the center of the dashboard and require a long look away from the road to find the right switch.

Value for the Money
Saturn coupes began to get lots of competition from rivals, but the used-car certification program from Saturn dealerships could help ensure that buyers will get a good deal on a used Saturn. You also have the promise of higher-than-average customer service on repairs and warranty work after the purchase.

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Saturn SC1	Rating

Performance	2

Fuel Economy	7

Ride Quality	4

Steering/Handling/Braking	4

Quietness	2

Controls/Materials	4

Interior Room	4

Room/Comfort (rear)	2

Cargo Capacity	3

Value within Class	5

Total:	37

Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room, Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.

1991-1996 Saturn Coupe Reliability

Trouble Spots

Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer, however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.

Air conditioner: A simple adjustment to compressor may prevent air conditioner evaporator freeze-up. (1994-96)

Air conditioner: Air conditioning stops blowing cold air after highway driving because evaporator freezes up requiring adjustment of compresses suction set point. (1994-96)

Antenna: A whistling wind noise may be coming from the radio antenna. (1991-95)

Automatic transmission: If the automatic transmission shifts harshly, erratically, or sticks in gear or neutral, iron sediment in the valve body may be the problem. (1993-94)

Brake noise: Brakes that growl or grind during low speed stops are repaired by replacing the front pads and machining the rotors. (1991-95)

Cruise control: If the cruise control fluctuates at speeds over 64 mph, a new control-module assembly may be needed. (1991-95)

Doors: If the doors will not open, the door-latch assembly(s) will be replaced. (1991-93)

Electrical problem: If rear wiper, speakers, fuel gauge stop working, wiring harness near left kick panel may be chafing on bracket. (1995-96)

Engine noise: Squealing from the front of the engine when the temperature is below 40 degrees (F) will be fixed by replacing the drive-belt idler pulley with one having a revised bearing. (1991-95)

Tail/brake lights: A drop in fuel economy, brake noise, vehicle vibration, and/or increased brake-pedal travel could be caused by a misadjusted brake-light switch that does not allow the pedal to return to full release. (1991-93)

Trunk latch: If the trunk can be opened without the key, Saturn will fix the release mechanism. (1991-93)

Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs

This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership to be slightly higher.


Item Name	Repair Cost

A/C Compressor	$390

Alternator	$350

Automatic Transmission or Transaxle	$905

Brakes	$190

Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing	$530

Constant Velocity Joints	$380

Exhaust System	$298

Radiator	$350

Shocks and/or Struts	$485

Timing Chain or Belt	$295

NHTSA Recall History

1991-93: Generator-wiring harness could suffer excessive current flow.

1992: Automatic transaxle-valve assemblies on some cars were improperly machined.

1993 SC2: Battery-cable terminal at solenoid may be formed incorrectly.

1993: Brake-booster housing on some cars could separate.

1994-95: Some front seatback-recliner gear teeth may wear excessively through repeated use; could cause seatback to slip partially rearward when force is applied.

1995 w/automatic: Improperly adjusted cable makes it possible to shift from "Park" with key removed, or to remove key while lever is in position other than "Park."

1996: Horn could become inoperable or activate without pressing button; under certain conditions, heat could build up, leading to underhood fire.

1991-1996 Saturn Coupe Prices

Prices	Good	Average	Poor

1991
SC2	$1,100-1,500	$700-900	$100-200

1992
SC2	$1,200-1,600	$700-1,000	$100-200

1993
SC1, SC2	$1,300-1,700	$800-1,100	$200

1994
SC1, SC2	$1,500-1,900	$1,000-1,200	$200

1995
SC1, SC2	$1,800-2,300	$1,200-1,600	$300

1996
SC1, SC2	$2,100-2,600	$1,500-1,800	$400-500

This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:

Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.

Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings; engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.

Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo, etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from region to region.

1991-1996 Saturn Coupe Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	2-door coupe

Wheelbase, in.	99.2

Overall Length, in.	173.2

Overall Width, in.	67.5

Overall Height, in.	50.6

Curb Weight, lbs.	2284

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	10.9

Standard Payload, lbs.	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	12.8

Seating Capacity	4

Front Head Room, in.	37.5

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	42.6

Rear Head Room, in.	35.0

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	26.5

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Powertrain Options and Availability

The basic engine for the initial SC coupe was a twin-cam, 1.9-liter 4-cylinder engine. It provides 124 horsepower at 5600 rpm and 122 pound-feet of torque at 4800 rpm. In 1993, a single-cam version was added for the new SC1 base model, while the SC2 version retained the twin-cam engine. The single-cam engine provides 85 horsepower at 5000 rpm and 110 pound-feet of torque at 2800 rpm. A shift from single-point to multipoint fuel injection in 1995 results in new performance figures of 100 horsepower at 5000 rpm and 114 pound-feet of torque at 2400 rpm. Both the single-cam and twin-cam versions of the 1.9-liter come paired with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.

Engines	Size liters / cu. in	Horse- power	Torque	Transmission: EPA city/hgwy	Consumer Guide Observed

ohc I4	1.9 / 116	85	110	5-speed manual: 27/37 4-speed automatic: 26/35	5-speed manual: 24 4-speed automatic: --

ohc I4	1.9 / 116	100	114	5-speed manual: 29/40 4-speed automatic: 27/37	5-speed manual: 31.9 4-speed automatic: --

dohc I4	1.9 / 116	124	122	5-speed manual: 25/35 4-speed automatic: 24/34	5-speed manual: 25.8 4-speed automatic: --

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Vehicle crash test information not available at this time.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Built In: USA

Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

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