2000 Saturn L-Series Review
Price Estimate: $1,148 - $1,793





+6
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Customer-focused dealers, European ride and steering, wagon availability.
Cons
- Lack of established service and repair history, ultra-conservative styling.
What’s new
The L-Series is a new midsize line of sedans and wagons that was developed for Saturn customers moving up from the smaller cars. Offered in three trim levels, with two engines and manual or automatic transmissions (depending on model), the L-Series is based on the European-market Opel Vectra platform, and consequently carries a distinct import feel.
Edmunds says
It costs thousands less than comparably equipped Accords and Camrys -- and it looks, drives and feels like it.
For sale nearby
8 listings
- Photos not available
- 91,748 miles
- No accidents, 4 owners, personal use only
- 18 City / 24 Hwy MPG
- Champion Auto Sales (849 mi away)
Close
Located in Memphis, TN
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
20 Combined MPG (18 City/24 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 1G8JW52R8YY677946
Stock: 677946
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 08-21-2025 - Photos not available
- 169,533 miles
- No accidents, 3 owners, personal use only
- 19 City / 28 Hwy MPG
- National Motors Spokane (935 mi away)
Close
Located in Spokane Valley, WA
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
23 Combined MPG (19 City/28 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 1G8JU82FXYY642208
Stock: Y642208
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 08-16-2025
Vehicle overview
While Saturn enjoys strong customer loyalty with its line of small cars (almost 50 percent return to buy another Saturn), GM researchers found that when owners move on, they most often move up to a midsize vehicle. So a medium-sized entry makes perfect sense for both Saturn and its loyal customer base. Enter the 2000 Saturn L-Series, American-built Opel-based sedans and wagons designed and priced to compete with top imports such as Toyota's Camry and Honda's Accord.
With an overall length of just over 190 inches, the L-Series slots nicely in-between the segment-leading Camry Sedan and the redesigned 2000 Ford Taurus. Available as base LS, midlevel LS1 or top-line LS2 Sedans as well as fully equipped LW1 or upmarket LW2 Wagons, all models include air conditioning, four-wheel independent suspension, theft-deterrent system, and front disc/rear drum brakes (disc/disc standard on LS2 and LW2; ABS with traction control is optional).
Inside, the L-Series features a spacious interior with logical, easy-to-use controls. Seats have been designed for all-day comfort. Sedans offer 18 cubic feet of trunk space, which is a full 4 cubic feet more than you'll find in either Camry or Accord. And with rear seats folded, cargo capacity in the wagon is a generous 59 cubic feet. Unlike other Saturns, the L-Series has steel quarter panels (remember, this is built off an Opel platform); nevertheless, engineers were able to fit Saturn's signature dent-resistant polymer panels on the doors and fenders.
A pair of DOHC four-valve engines are offered: an all-new, Saturn-exclusive 2.2-liter, 137-horsepower four-cylinder with twin balance shafts, and a 3.0-liter, 182-horse V6. The four is standard on LS, LS1 and LW1 and comes with a five-speed manual transmission. An electronically controlled four-speed automatic is optional. The V6 is available only in the LS2 and LW2 and must be mated to an auto box. (Sorry, no V6 stick for sport sedan or sport wagon wannabes!)
The L-Series will be built in Saturn's new assembly plant in Wilmington, Del. How many are built and sold depends on consumer demand, of course, but offering a midsize model opens Saturn up to 41 percent of the total U.S. vehicle market, which isn't a bad thing. Competitively priced, the only question marks hanging over the debut of the L-Series are build quality and just how well this Euro-designed platform holds up to the rigors of American roads and consumers.
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota
$193/mo for L-Series LS2
L-Series LS2
vs
$165/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
Saturn L-Series Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
2000 Saturn L WINS !
4.75 out of 5 starshodman, 01/20/2014
2000 Saturn L-Series LS 4dr Sedan
I bought my 2000 Saturn L sedan just before Thanksgiving 1999. It was brand new from the dealer .
The car had 7 miles on the odometer, and ran perfectly.
It still runs exactly perfectly today, with 168,000 miles.
It has been probably the most trouble free car I have ever owned.
The only repair has been a new power steering pump at 40,000 miles, and the Saturn dealer went havers with me … on the bill.
Other than that one repair, only routine maintenance has been necessary.
Amazing !
My wife won't let me sell the car !
Good, solid wagon
4.25 out of 5 stars54x12, 10/30/2008
2000 Saturn L-Series LW2 4dr Wagon
We were looking a functional, reliable wagon and Saturn gave us one. The car has worked well for us over the last 115,000 miles and has required about $1,500 of unschedule repairs over the last 50,000 miles. For the last four years the car has been used to assist in various household projects that other folks would use their F150 truck for: hauling flagstone, sand, crushed rock, … sheetrock and plywood. It has given us no problems at all. We driven it on trips to northern Quebec with mountain bikes on the roof and it runs great at highway speeds with enough power to pass on hills. It corners very well for a wagon and the paint after eight years still looks fine.
This car is amazing
5 out of 5 starskeiter, 11/09/2011
2000 Saturn L-Series LS1 4dr Sedan
This car is amazing. I bought this car in April 2003 with just over 40,000 on it for $12,500. It was worth every penny. It has has been in a wreck when some lady pulled out in front of me and slammed on her breaks, and I smashed the front of the car and did $2500 in damage. I replaced the shocks but that was my fault because I would hill hop. The AC went out in it in the summer and the … heater broke in the winter, and the speakers blew, but other than that I haven't had any problems with the car and I'm currently over 206,000 miles on it. It runs as great now as it did the day I bought it even though I once went 8,000 miles between oil changes..
If you can buy any other vehicle, buy it; don't buy an L-Series Saturn!
3 out of 5 starsfuzzybeard2016, 12/31/2010
2000 Saturn L-Series LS1 4dr Sedan
My wife bought this car as a low-mile 1-owner back in 2002. I realize that (nearly) 9 years of wear and tear can be hard on a vehicle, but considering the luck we've had with the powertrain in the past 3 years, I'm wondering if my wife ran over several black cats in succession after hitting a truck filled with mirrors...
To put it bluntly, I'm ecstatic that GM shuttered the Saturn … Division. Don't get me wrong, the cars are great *until* things start to fail on them; couple that with an inordinate number of "special" parts that need "special" dealer-only tools to do a basic R/R, and dealers that are as pleasant to deal with as an organized crime syndicate...it was a recipe for failure.
2000 L-Series Highlights
Sedan
LS
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 24 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $160/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 17.5 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Safety
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalAcceptable
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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