Introduction
We had driven Saturn's L-Series before, so we figured we knew the LS2 even before we got behind the wheel. Well, yes and no. Our sedan tester excelled in areas where the other L-Series failed, and vice-versa. We also found that body color can have a dramatic effect on how the interior looks. The Medium tan dash and seats looked great on the Medium Gold wagon we drove earlier this year, but our Blackberry tester made the interior color look more like strained yams than a pleasing beige color.

The LS2 was the second least expensive car of the group, even though it was loaded with every available option, which left our editors thinking, "How'd they do that?" The answer was painfully obvious. Build quality from the Jurassic period, inconsistent interior materials and wavy plastic bodywork. Yet, the Saturn garnered a seventh place finish through outstanding powertrain performance, a low price point and good cargo-holding capability.

Background and OurTest Vehicle
The L-Series is the newborn of our test group. New from the ground up for 2000, this line-expanding entry for Saturn shares the design and philosophical heritage of its predecessors, yet paves a new road for the GM subsidiary.

Saturn has positioned the L-Series as an upscale family vehicle with sporting potential, and they've succeeded in spades. The company has been able to produce a sedan that can haul the family around in relative comfort, with enough power to keep dear ol' Dad happy behind the wheel, yet pack enough features that Mom feels coddled. Oh, the as-tested and fully loaded $23,860 price tag didn't hurt it a bit, making the LS2 one of the value stories in the test.

Exterior Design
The LS2 shares many of its styling cues with its sibling S-Series – signature headlamps, tail lamps, dent-resistant body side panels and horizontal character lines – while introducing new design elements – vertical "C" pillar, body-colored "D" pillar and fat-lipped bumpers -- to create an identity all its own. The look is distinctive, but left our editors cold, as it garnered an eighth place finish in styling points.

Of all the cars we tested, the LS2 exhibited the worst fit and finish of the lot. Not a single panel was fit properly, with gaps ranging from 1/16-inch to 1/4-inch in width and nearly all panels exhibiting a great deal of waviness, as though they were pulled from the mold before they had thoroughly cooled. On the highway we experienced so much hood flutter that one editor actually pulled off the highway to be certain the hood was indeed latched.

Interior Features, Controls, Materials and Design
In the wagon and sedan we reviewed earlier this year, we actually liked the beige interior color and praised the ergonomic layout of the cabin -- with controls for lights/signals and wiper/washer within an easy finger's reach on their distinct stalks. The climate control's large dials for air temperature and airflow direction were also looked upon favorably, but we disliked Saturn's selection of a "spin-dial" fan speed selector switch and the placement of the window switches around the shift console.

Ditto for the sedan, except for some strange reason, the medium tan interior color on our Blackberry-colored test car took on a caramelized look – orange even – which made the harsh dash grain stand out like a sore thumb. More than once did we hear the term "elephant skin" used to describe the grain pattern on the dash and plastic interior trim.

Aside from the displeasing color, the Saturn's interior was packed with little creature comforts that made driving it a real pleasure: cushy, dual-heated bucket seats, cigarette lighter cubby in the center console, oversized map pockets and fake wood trim accents.

While the front seats were comfortable for long stints, the same cannot be said for the back, as legroom and foot room weren't impressive. Nevertheless, Saturn designed the rear of the LS2 with the family in mind, as back seaters receive two cup holders, tweeters in the doors, a 12-volt powerpoint and child safety seat anchors.

Engine and Transmission
The strong point of the Saturn is the powerplant, and strong it was, with the standard- issue 182-horsepower, 3.0-liter V6 garnering second place overall in the performance trials and a healthy first in zero to 60, quarter-mile speed and time. On our road test evaluations, the Saturn won equal praise for its great powerband, quiet running at highway speeds and the throaty snarl emitted from the tailpipe when the throttle was put to the floor.

While we wished a five-speed manual transmission were available, the standard electronically controlled four-speed automatic surprised us with sharp downshifts on command and smooth up shifts with no hesitation in either direction. On twisty roads, we almost thought the transmission was directly connected to our brain, smartly downshifting to the precise gear we wanted without a single balk. To say we were impressed would be a gross understatement.

Suspension, Ride andHandling
In the handling department, Saturn strove for a European feel, but in reality it's undersprung to the point where the suspension soaks up every ripple in the road while allowing for a lot of body roll in the twisties.

Out on the highway, the suspension did an admirable job of smoothing out little irregularities, but any harsh bumps were transmitted directly to the cabin, leaving occupants looking for a kidney belt. On an uneven stretch of pavement, we found the Saturn pitching from side-to-side, creating a resonance within the underpinnings that was only broken by changing into a smoother lane.

When pushed in the canyons, the Saturn rode on the bump stops in tight hairpins, almost refusing to transfer weight from one side to another until we were in the middle of an opposite turn. Backing off a bit brought the Euro-response back.

A lack of connectivity was also exhibited by the steering, where response was sluggish. Point the Saturn in the direction you want to go and the car responds a moment later. Very little road feel was present through the wheel, which further left us wondering what was happening underfoot. And while this trait is accepted and desired by a fair amount of drivers, we wish Saturn had built in a little more communication between the driver and the car.

The Saturn received less than average rankings in our road test evaluation, as well as in handling tests, posting a dismal eighth place in the slalom course. While Saturn has dialed the LS2 for highway driving, we'd like to see the spring rates increased for a little sportier feel and a reduction in the wallowyness of the suspension.

Conclusion
Saturn is on the right track for building the perfect family car. With a solid foundation – a strong powerplant, plenty of features and a low price point – the LS2 is ripe to take on Honda and Volkswagen head-to-head. Saturn packs a lot of bang for the buck into their vehicles, and with a no-dicker-sticker, would-be buyers only have to pick color and options and write the down payment check.

Unfortunately, the build quality issues cannot be ignored, and while some people will ignore the ill-fitting bodywork and accept the creaks and groans that emanate from throughout the cockpit, this is the 21st century. New vehicles shouldn't squeak like a hard wood floor in an old house.

Editors' Comments
It's no wonder that Saturn is cutting the production of these cars. With the way things are now, there's no way that it can compete with the Accord or Camry. Sure, it's fast and it rides pretty well, but the interior – come on, does anyone think that beta-carotene overload orangey brown is a good idea? I don't. The exterior is poorly assembled as well. If Saturn even hopes to do better with the new marketing campaign, they need to screw in everything better. – Liz Kim

The LS is obviously a rush job to appease dealers who waited too long for development dollars to build a larger, Saturn-only sedan, Sourcing it from Opel keeps it from sharing a domestic GM platform, but the end result is under-whelming in a highly-competitive marketplace. Saturn buyers aren't stupid. No wonder they had to cut production at the plant. – Christian Wardlaw.

Stereo Evaluation - 2000 Saturn LS2