2000 Saturn S-Series: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Saturn freshens its subcompacts for 2000 and gives them a new family name: the S-Series. The revamped sedan and wagon bowed first, followed this spring by the similarly updated coupe as a 2001 model. S-Series coupes retain their unique 3-door design, with a small rear-hinged left-side back door.
All keep Saturn's dent- and rust-resistant plastic front and side body panels, but with new nose, tail, and lower-body styling. Sedan and wagon gain 1.2 inches of overall length, the coupe 1 inch of width. New inside is the instrument cluster, center console with redesigned cupholders, and audio and climate controls. The horn works via the steering-wheel hub rather than spoke buttons, and cruise control relocates from the side of the hub to the spokes. Front seats gain more travel and revised lumbar support, and there are now top tether anchors for rear child safety seats. The only changes to interior dimensions come in the wagon, which gains nearly an inch of rear head room and, due to the longer front-seat travel, loses 2.1 inches of rear leg room compared to previous models.
Sedans return in SL, SL1, and SL2 form, coupes in SC1 and SC2 models. The wagon comes in SW2 trim only. SL and "1" models retain a 100-horsepower 1.9-liter overhead-cam 4-cylinder, the "2" versions a 124-hp twincam variant of that engine. The twincam gets internal modifications and a new air-induction system aimed at a quieter, richer sound. Manual transmission is standard. An extra-cost 4-speed automatic is available on all but the SL. Antilock brakes are optional and include traction control.

COMPETITION

This crowded segment is best represented by two exceptional cars--one a Best Buy and the other a Recommended. Our Best Buy is the Honda Civic, which offers a wide range of bodystyles, engines, and equipment levels. Civic is a solid car that has good performance, a nice ride, and is very civilized.
Topping the Recommended list are the Volkswagen Golf and Jetta. They easily could be Best Buys as they are better than the Civic in many ways. However, they are also the most expensive cars in this segment. Other Recommended choices include the no-frills Chevrolet Cavalier and Dodge Neon, the slightly-upscale Chevy Prizm and clone Toyota Corolla, and the roomy Mazda Protege.
If you are looking for a Budget Buy we recommend you stay away from the Hyundai or Daewoo models and take a look at the Ford Escort.