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A new interior for 2000, a new exterior for 2001 and, in a couple of years, a new car will appear with a redone interior and exterior.

That, in a nutshell, is whazzzz up with the Saturn SC1 and SC2 coupes, with “1” meaning it comes with a 1.9-liter, 100-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, and “2” meaning it comes with a 1.9-liter, 124-h.p. 4.

Regardless of 1 or 2 and the horsepower numbers, both have a standard driver’s-side rear-access door so folks can get in or out without having to leap the front seat.

Of course, the cabin in back is rather confining–so much so that if you’re an adult and your body doesn’t come curved like the letter “C,” chances are you won’t fit in the back seat, whether you’re forced to leap a seat or squeeze through an access door.

But, it’s the thought that counts and the third door makes it easy to put the briefcase, grocery bag, duffel bag or dry cleaning in back. And for that, we can thank Saturn.

In fact, when it comes to that third door, which no other vehicle in Saturn’s size and price segment offers, you could safely say that Saturn runs rings around the competition.

Sorry. The e-mail has addled our brain.

For 2001, which, for the Saturn coupe, starts now, the plastic body panels take on a different shape and appearance, thanks to a couple of creases carved into its sides that give it a slimmer, less bulky and more nimble look than it had with rounded panels. There’s also new reflector optic headlamps, taillamps and fog lamps.

We tested the SC2 coupe, a pleasant enough vehicle but by no means a rival to the Toyota MR2 or Chrysler PT Cruiser in styling imagination.

The SC2 looks just sporty enough to camouflage the car’s function as a high-mileage economy model for budget-minded motorists who don’t want to be seen in a bland machine.

The 1.9-liter 4 was teamed with a 4-speed automatic. One of Saturn’s shortcomings since Day 1–or the 1991 model year to be exact–is that the engine/transmission were sufficiently noisy to prevent you from slipping through the neighborhood unnoticed.

Each year, the noise has been toned down. It’s not gone, and, with a 4-cylinder, never will be, but it appears quieter for 2001 than it was for 2000.

The 4-cylinder has adequate get-up-and -go, but the 25 m.p.g. city/35 m.p.g. highway rating serves notice that low zero- to 60-m.p.h. times are not the reason to buy the 4-cylinder.

Would it be nice to have a V-6 with more pep and less noise? Sure.

The suspension system . . . well, it’s an economy car–not unduly harsh, but ease off the pedal on rough roads and when entering sharp corners at speed.

While the rear cabin is penance for those sent there, you’ll enjoy good room up front. And kudos to those who worked on the seats, which are wide and cozy and offer good lateral support. Long-distance travel shouldn’t be a chore.

The SC2 came with optional ($695) ABS with traction control, both nice to have in the Snow Belt, but welcome on wet or dry roads any time of the year.

But the low-slung coupe doesn’t offer a massive cargo hold in the trunk. In fact, one set of golf clubs just fits. Leave Big Bertha at home. The club, of course.

Nice touches include a pow er plug for the cell phone up front, along with a pair of cupholders (or one cupholder and one ashtray). The fuel gauge in the instrument panel comes with an arrow pointing to the filler side, a nice reminder–especially for families with more than one vehicle–when pulling up to the pump to refuel.

Our test vehicle also came with cruise control with the on/off button in the steering column, where it’s easy to touch by mistake. A better home for that would be welcome.

Saturn recently announced its parent, General Motors, will pour $1.5 billion into the Saturn kitty over the next four years to enable it to bring out new vehicles and a new engine and transmission very soon.

Among the new vehicles will be a compact sport-utility built off the compact S-Series sedan for 2002, to be offered with 4 or V-6 engines; followed by the next-generation S-Series sedan and coupe for 2003; and an undisclosed new model that might be a hybrid car/SUV powered by a Honda V-6 for 2004, though a truck and mini-van have been discussed. A new 2-liter 4-cylinder and a CVT–continuously variable transmission, with an infinite number of gears–also are planned for Saturn.

Saturn could have used the SUV about two years ago to attract new customers. But GM has this thing about allowing no vehicle in the stable that might turn consumers’ attention away from Chevrolet, its highest-volume division.

So Chevy labored with a small Tracker SUV built by Suzuki to compete against the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, which, combined, outsell Tracker about 200,000 to 1, though individually it’s probably 199,000 to 1.

This fall, one year before the new Saturn SUV arrives, Toyota brings out its second-generation RAV4. Not to make too much out of a Saturn SUV, but keep in mind that consumers have turned to SUVs and away from cars, and roughly half the folks who buy a Saturn report that without Saturn they would have turned to an import.

So, by delaying the Saturn SUV, GM basically shot itself in the wingtips.

GM also has this thing about Saturn being the brainchild of former Chairman Roger Smith, whose portrait hangs face to the wall at company headquarters because he was in charge when GM’s market share slipped from nearly 50 percent to a tad more than 30 percent.

While Saturn has been responsible for bringing 300,000 people a year into GM showrooms who otherwise would have ambled over to Toyota, Honda or even Mitsubishi, it is treated like a second-class citizen by the post-Smith crowd.

One good bit of news about future Saturns: Insiders say the CV1 hybrid car/SUV concept on this year’s auto-show circuit probably won’t be built. It’s not that Saturn couldn’t use a hybrid–in fact, it is expected to add a hybrid car/SUV in the next few years built off the larger midsize L-Series platform–but the concept is woefully ugly.

One bad bit of news about Saturn: The midsize L-Series hasn’t gone over well w ith the public and hasn’t had folks tossing their Toyota Camrys or Honda Accords in the recycling bins and running out to a Saturn showroom. Most say it’s because the L-Series styling is bland, though it isn’t any more bland than Camry or Accord. The problem runs a bit deeper.

We’ve spotted an ad on TV in which a Saturn salesman brings an L-Series sedan–along with a Camry and an Accord–to a customer’s home for a test drive.

First time we saw that ad, we turned to the bottle blonde and noted: “Bet he bought the Camry.”

Camry has a quality reputation built over many years on the market. The L-Series is too new to have a reputation and is at least two years too late in arriving to do much damage to Camry or Accord.

But we digress.

The Saturn SC2 we tested still boasts one of the major selling points of Saturn: never-rust plastic body panels that keep the car looking new for years.

Probably a little more pot ent and quieter engine would n’t hurt. Neither would a tad more room in the back seat and perhaps a top-of-the-line model with not only 24 more h.p. but also a little more imaginative design. Have to wait ’till ’03 to see what happens.

Another Saturn positive used to be the no-dicker sticker. You pay whatever the bottom line on the Monroney label reads. Nice to avoid being brow-beaten by a salesman when it comes time to negotiate, but even Camry and Accord offer incentives now and then to lure folks through the door.

Base price of the SC2 is $16,505 with automatic. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, power windows with driver’s express down, power outside mirrors, power locks with remote keyless entry, AM/FM stereo with cassette and an integrated rear deck lid spoiler unique to each 1 or 2 model. Among the popular options, a power sunroof will cost $725.

>> 2001 Saturn SC2 coupe Wheelbase: 102.4 inches Length: 180.5 inches Engine: 1.9-liter, 124-h.p. 4-cylinder Transmission: 4-speed automatic Fuel economy: 25 m.p.g. city/35 m.p.g. highway Base price: $16,505 Price as tested: $18,565. Includes $725 for power sunroof; $695 for ABS with traction control; $350 for 15-inch alloy wheels; $220 for AM/FM stereo with cassette and CD player; and $70 for floor mats. Add $440 for freight. Pluses: Redesigned exterior. Quieter 4-cylinder. Plastic body won’t rust. Excellent mileage. Handy rear access on driver’s side. Minuses: Redesigned exterior. ABS with traction an option, not standard. Very limited rear-seat room. Golf clubs just fit in trunk. A V-6 would be nice. >>