Acceleration

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Red Line, manual	Red Line, automatic	Class Average
6	6	8	8	6.6

The base engine is slow to rev and has little power reserve for quick highway passing. Still, its performance supports GM's 0-60-mph claim of about 7.2 seconds with either transmission. Turbocharged Red Lines are punchy at any speed, though with notable turbo lag. GM says it does 0-60 in 5.5 seconds or less, which seems credible. The automatic transmission has no real penalty vs. the manual, which some testers say has notchy shift action.

Fuel Economy

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Red Line, manual	Red Line, automatic	Class Average
5	5	5	5	5.3

In Consumer Guide testing, base Sky and Solstice models with manual transmission averaged 20.8 mpg in mixed driving, 23.0-25.2 in mostly highway driving. Test manual-transmission Red Line averaged 20.1 mpg in mostly city driving. GM recommends premium-grade gas for both engines.

Ride Quality

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Red Line, manual	Red Line, automatic	Class Average
5	5	4	4	4.1

Sky's suspension is slightly softer than Solstice's, but differences are hard to detect. The ride is supple enough for sports cars, but turns jiggly and thumpy on wrinkled pavement at highway speeds. The sport suspension used on Red Line and Solstice GXP is tauter, so impact harshness is more noticeable.

Steering/Handling/Braking

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Red Line, manual	Red Line, automatic	Class Average
9	9	9	9	8

Predictably agile and balanced with little cornering lean, good smooth-surface grip, and great steering feel and response. Fine straightline stability and crosswind resistance too. Red Line/GXP can hop and skip over large bumps but quickly regain composure.

Quietness

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Red Line, manual	Red Line, automatic	Class Average
2	2	2	2	3.2

The engines are buzzy or boomy depending on rpm and are loud enough to mask most tire noise. Several test Skys and Solstices had ill-fitting tops that allowed annoying wind rush even at moderate speeds. Top-down wind buffeting is tolerable up to 75 mph with the windows raised.

Controls

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Red Line, manual	Red Line, automatic	Class Average
3	3	3	3	5.6

The gauges are set in deep tunnels and can be hard to read even by day. Most controls are simple and well marked but can be hard to reach in the tight confines of the cabin, particularly the ill-placed cupholders.

Details

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Red Line, manual	Red Line, automatic	Class Average
2	2	2	2	4.8

Sky's brightwork and piano-black finishes look upscale vs. the Solstice's cockpit. Like the Solstice, however, the cabin is awash in cheap-looking hard plastic. Several test models suffered from numerous interior squeaks and rattles.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Red Line, manual	Red Line, automatic	Class Average
5	5	5	5	5.3

Tighter for six-footers here than in the Mazda MX-5, but there's OK leg space and good top-up headroom. Low seats won't suit some shorter drivers--and impede entry and exit for all. Seats have good lateral and lower-back support, but the padding feels skimpy. Double-hump rear deck hinders vision astern for shorter drivers, but top-up rear visibility is better than in most convertibles. The top requires standing outside the car to manipulate its folding mechanism, rear-roof pegs, and trunklid--hardly convenient.

Room/Comfort (rear)

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Red Line, manual	Red Line, automatic	Class Average
0	0	0	0	1.4

(No rear seating.)

Cargo Room

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Red Line, manual	Red Line, automatic	Class Average
1	1	1	1	2.9

The top folds into the trunk after lifting the rear-hinged lid and leaves oddly shaped space for only smaller items like briefcases. Top-up space is sufficient for one large golf bag or two small ones. Cockpit storage is meager, even for a sports car.

Value within Class

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Red Line, manual	Red Line, automatic	Class Average
5	5	5	5	6

Like its Solstice sibling, Sky offers affordable sports-car fun, but feels unfinished. The base model rivals Mazda's MX-5 for performance, handling, and style, but not for practicality and overall polish. The punchy Red Line compares more with Honda's S2000 on price and performance, but has the same drawbacks. For now, Saturn (Pontiac, too) gets an A for effort, C for execution.

Total Score

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Red Line, manual	Red Line, automatic	Class Average
43	43	44	44	53.2

Scores for all Sporty/performance Cars

Low Score		42
Average Score		53
High Score		70