We had the opportunity to drive the 1993 Saturn SW1 station wagon in SpringHill, Tenn., last summer when the automaker unveiled its trio of new cars-the SW1 and SW2 wagons and the SC1 coupe-to the media.
At that time we noted that we liked the car, but not the idea of a station wagon when the public would really enjoy a convertible.
We’ve now had the opportunity to drive the SW1 in Chicagoland environs and have come to the same conclusion-nice car, decent looks for a wagon, but we sure would like a convertible instead.
Also, every time a wagon comes off Saturn’s Spring Hill assembly line, it means one fewer four-door sedan, and they’re already in short supply.
The SW1 wagon features Saturn’s 85-h.p., 1.9-liter, 4-cylinder engine. Teamed with the optional 4-speed automatic on our test car, the 1.9 is rated at 25 m.p.g. city/35 m.p.g. highway. The SW2 wagon, by comparison, is powered by the peppier 124-h.p., 1.9-liter Saturn 4.
The SW1 has a base price of $11,095, a $200 increase from last fall, when the car was introduced. Not only have base prices risen at Saturn, so have theoption costs. Automatic transmission in the wagon now runs $775, up from $750,and antilock brakes are at $625, up from $595. A driver-side air bag is standard.
