2001 Saturn SC

The verdict:

Versus the competiton:

Lots of good things to say about the compact coupe from General Motors Saturn division, such as:

The plastic, never-rust body panels mean five years from now a wash will make the car look just like new.

An access or third door along the driver’s side makes it easy to open and then slip in briefcase, duffel bag, groceries or even a kid or two. The third door solves the problem of how to get to that back seat in a two-door coupe.

A 1.9-liter, 124-horspower 4-cylinder engine that delivers 25 m.p.g. city and 35 m.p.g. highway when teamed with a 4-speed automatic that make trips to the fuel pump occasional journeys.

And a price tag within reach of youth or those on a budget, making it a great starter car for the graduate entering the job market as well as anyone needing a high-mileage commuter.

But then there are drawbacks. Saturns, whether coupe, sedan or wagon and whether compact or midsize, act like economy commuters.

The suspension delivers soft ride, but not very precise handling.

Give the brake pedal an extra push because there’s a little too much play. A few too many noises filter into the cabin. And that third door is nice, but for the couple with one kid and a child safety seat in back, the door would be more useful on the passenger side.

The price is nice, starting at $16,505, but the options have been marked up considerably. Why $70 for floor mats? Why $725 for a power sunroof? Why $695 for ABS with traction control? Why $220 for the AM/FM stereo with CD upgrade to AM/FM stereo with CD and cassette? And why $350 for 15-inch alloy wheels?

That’s $2,060 in options, and with a $440 freight charge, the test car stickered at $19,005, or in the neighborhood of Chrysler PT Cruiser–though in fairness, to the PT you have to add whatever amount the dealer gets after turning you upside-down and shaking out your pockets. Saturns don’t go over list.

The SC2 coupe gets a redesign for the ’04 model year. Keeps the plastic body panels. A new compact sport-ute, the 2002 Saturn VUE, comes out this fall and should help bring folks back into Saturn showrooms who have been noticeable by their absence.