2001 Saturn S-Series Review
2001 Saturn S-Series Review
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Used S-Series for sale
Appraise This CarSaturn S-Series model years
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Dealer sales and service experience, composite dent- and rust-resistant body panels.
Cons
- Poor seating position and comfort, flimsy interior materials, weak standard equipment list.
What’s new
The S-Series sees no change from last year, save for optional head curtain airbags.
Edmunds says
Few cars on the market go a decade without a major redesign -- for a reason.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2001 Saturn S-Series SL 4dr Sedan (1.9L 4cyl 5M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.64 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$152/mo for S-Series SL
S-Series SL
vs
$183/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Vehicle overview
Saturn's small cars have enjoyed quite a following over the years, proving both fun to drive and reliable. And Saturn dealers have almost single-handedly sparked a retail revolution that emphasizes the ownership experience over sales commissions. Unfortunately, we want more from Saturn, such as more comfortable seats and better quality switchgear and interior trim.
Last year, Saturn freshened the looks of its SL Sedan and SW Wagon. The ding-, dent- and rust-resistant polymer exterior panels give SL and SW models a contour line that runs the length of the vehicle for an angular appearance. The SC Coupes come with a driver's-side third door, providing better access to the back seat.
Inside, the small sedans and wagons have a one-piece instrument panel cover, ostensibly to eliminate miscolored plastic pieces and ill-fitting seams, but we still find fault with interior fit and finish. Some componentry from the L-Series cars are shared to reduce costs through parts commonality. The seating position is low to the floor, while the seats themselves feel too flimsy for long-haul comfort.
Two engine choices are on the S-Series roster, a 100-horsepower, 1.9-liter four-cylinder or a twin-cam version of the same that generates 124 ponies, with either a five-speed manual or four-speed auto box. Allow us to suggest the twin-cam engine mated to the manual to make for a less-pedestrian sedan or wagon; they're a must if you plan on spirited driving. Rear drum brakes are standard on all models, with no option for disc brakes.
Sedans can be had as a base SL, midrange SL1 or uplevel SL2; wagons are available as the standard SW1 or high-end SW2. Coupes come as the basic SC1 or sportier SC2. Be aware that the standard equipment list is short on all base versions and that features are not packaged well enough to sell you on the midrange models. That means you may be forced into pricey, high-end versions to get the kind of equipment you really want, which puts the price near or beyond such formidable opposition as the Nissan Sentra and the excellent Ford Focus.
Packaging aside, if you're tired of the haggling quagmire, and you're pretty much set on the car and options you want, Saturn's excellent dealer network, money-back guarantee, customer-first philosophy and reputation for reliability are attractive selling points. But we'd recommend that you shop around - many econoboxes of yore have recently been vastly improved so as to not deserve such an ignominious title.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2001 Saturn S-Series.
5 star(39%)
4 star(32%)
3 star(19%)
2 star(7%)
1 star(3%)
156 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.63 out of 5 stars
Best Car I've EVER Owned!
krose3622, 02/06/2011
2001 Saturn S-Series SC2 3dr Coupe (1.9L 4cyl 4A)
I bought this car used, with a little over 100K, for $2500 (a steal). It has been a life saver of a vehicle... we own an old Chevy pickup (1980's), a 1995 blazer, and a 2000 Pontiac Montana and this Saturn has outlived them all. All of our other vehicles have been in and out of the shop for numerous thins (transmission, blown radiator, bad head gasket) and the Saturn has always been our … primary vehicle, never letting us down. It now has over 152K and has needed nothing besides routine maintenance and brakes. Reliable, GREAT gas milage, handles well in all weather conditions. My boyfriend is 6'2" and drives it to and from work daily. Seats are a uncomfortable though for long trips.
4 out of 5 stars
Nice car if you take care of it
Brandon Ross, 03/30/2016
2001 Saturn S-Series SL1 4dr Sedan (1.9L 4cyl 5M)
It is a very nice car if you take care of it. The engine can run into problems later in its life, but I rebuilt it at 200,000 and haven't had any problems.
5 out of 5 stars
Our Best Car EVER!!!
Jamie, 09/03/2015
2001 Saturn S-Series SC1 3dr Coupe (1.9L 4cyl 4A)
We purchased our 2001 Saturn SC1 in 2003 with 36K miles on it; it has since been reliable for an additional 220K+ miles with only minor repairs needed. Beyond brakes, tires, oil changes, and tune ups we have spent less than $500 on repairs over the course of 12 years. It's also great on gas (manual).
Update: Car is still going strong with only minor repairs needed!
Driving on … regularly salted roads means that the body has reached level of rust that makes it undriveable :( Still our best purchase to date; went 315K miles.
3.25 out of 5 stars
Good little car
dab1983, 09/24/2011
2001 Saturn S-Series SL2 4dr Sedan (1.9L 4cyl 4A)
Bought this car used in 2008 with 105k miles after my 94 SL2 finally died at 204k. 3 years later, it now has 168k miles and is still running strong.
The only issues I've had other than routine maintenance is a bad oxygen sensor that made my car run rough ($70 fix), a passenger power window went out ($100 fix), and an A/C leak ($125 fix).
Other than that, it runs like the day I bought it. … Exterior still looks new with no scratches or dings thanks to those dent resistant panels and I take very good care of the interior so it still looks good as well.
I see a lot of people bashing Saturn on here, but I have owned two Saturns and they both served me well.
2001 S-Series Highlights
Sedan
SL
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $10,570 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 29 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $152/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
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