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I RETURNED after the hoopla, after the journalists and Saturn Corp. execs had left. I came back to explore John Brown’s Fort and the Master Armorer’s House, and to stand atop Jefferson Rock, which affords an impressive view of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers.

The Saturn people had visited town a few days earlier to show off their nice 1996 cars. I took one for the week, a green SL2 sedan. But the roadshow seemed out of place amidst this town’s natural beauty and its tragic history involving John Brown, who hoped to spark a slave rebellion here with a raid on a federal armory in 1859, when this town was part of Virginia. The effort failed and he was hanged.

Luckily, Saturn Corp.’s revolution within General Motors Corp. is turning out better. Saturn’s mission was to change the way GM builds and sells cars. Saturn’s 1996 automobiles, its numerous public accolades and its growing acceptance within the ranks of its parent company show that the revolution is working.

Background: GM launched Saturn Corp. in 1985 — the company was trying to gain freedom from administrative and manufacturing traditions that undermined the quality of its products. Saturn was a way to begin anew. Saturn’s cars since have won top marks and its no-haggle, one-price selling system has changed how many auto retailers do business.

The improvements continue with Saturn’s largely redesigned 1996 fleet. The new SL2 has a more pleasant face than its sharp-nosed predecessor. The new look is more rounded, a bit more stately — not a heartthrob, but distinctive. The car’s rear end also was redesigned, with its sweeping tail lamps reminiscent of the Mitsubishi Galant’s sassy backside.

But the new Saturn’s interior — which is okay — practically is the same as in the 1995 model, with an oval instrument cluster and an easy-to-reach center console housing air conditioner/heating and sound system controls.

Structural changes include taller rear doors for easier entrance and exit, improved door and window sealing systems, better side-impact barrier crash protection, a one-piece upper cover on the dashboard and more headroom for rear passengers.

The Saturn’s 1996 engine and transmission are essentially the same as in 1995, except for tweakings, such as a smoother operating, optional four-speed automatic transmission.

The 1996 Saturn lineup includes sedans (SL, SL1 and SL2), wagons (SW1 and SW2), and coupe (SC1 and SC2). All are front wheel-drive models designed to hold five passengers (though only four have wiggle room in the coupes).

The base Saturn engine is a single-overhead cam, 1.9-liter, inline-four cylinder job rated 100 horsepower at 5,000 rpm with torque set at 114 pound-feet at 2,400 rpm. A double-overhead cam version of that engine is standard in the tested SL2 with a rating of 124 horsepower at 5,600 rpm, and torque set at 122 pound-feet at 4,800 rpm.

Standard brakes include front discs/rear drums. Anti-lock brakes are optional.

Complaints: The tested 1996 SL2 was a pre-production model, evident by its less-than-perfect mating of the dashboard with the car’s A-pillars — the two front pillars that help form the car’s windshield frame. Saturn says the production model will have a perfect fit.

Praise: An excellent update of a successful car.

Head-turning quotient: Khaki pants and blue shirt. Straight but acceptable.

Ride, acceleration and handling: Solid ride and decent handling. Very good lane-change acceleration. Braking was excellent.

Mileage: About 30 miles per gallon (12.8-gallon tank, estimated 370-mile range on usable volume of regular unleaded), running mostly highway with three occupants and light cargo in the SL2’s 11.9 cubic-feet trunk.

Sound system: Four-speaker AM/FM stereo radio and cassette. GM/Delco. Good.

Price: Base price on the 1996 Saturn SL2 sedan is $12,295. Estimated dealer’s invoice price is $10,700. Price as tested is $14,850, including $2,165 in options and a $390 destination charge.

Purse-strings note: Good value. Lots of competitors, including Chevrolet Cavalier/Pontiac Sunfire, Toyota Corolla/Geo Prizm, Honda Civic, Subaru Legacy, Nissan Sentra, Mazda Protege, Ford Escort and Chrysler/Plymouth Neon.