USED & NEW CARS AUTO PARTS INFORMATION 2007 2008 ONLINE - FIND CHEAP AUTO PARTS

The Saturn story has always led with value. There are few other showrooms where a customer can get more bang for the buck. The SC1 coupe tested here is a perfect example.

Added to that value story is Saturn's focus on customer relations, generally not matched in those other showrooms. And the SC1 offers a unique look that's clean, sleek and a little daring.

The great looks happened two years ago when the coupes got completely new aerodynamic skins and a handsome new interior. New, yet they managed to carry over some of the styling cues from the distinctive look of the 1991-1996 originals.

The coupes are on the same 102.4-inch wheelbase as the Saturn sedans and wagons. These cars are stable at high speeds. They offer a good ride quality and decent headroom.

The SC1, priced from $12,385, comes with a 1.9-liter, four-cylinder single overhead-cam engine that produces 100 horsepower at 5000 rpm and 114 foot-pounds of torque at 2400 rpm. Our test car had the standard five-speed manual transmission, but a four-speed automatic is optional.

The SC2 uses a double overhead-cam 16-valve version of the same engine, which produces 124 horsepower. The SC2 also comes with more comfort and convenience features, bigger wheels and more aggressive tires, which add about $1,300 to the cost of an SC1.

Our test car had a $1,930 option package that included power locks with remote keyless entry, power windows, air conditioning, cruise control and a power right-hand mirror. An optional anti-lock braking system packaged with traction control added $695, which brought our Saturn SC1 to $15,010.

Model-to-model comparisons are difficult to make because different manufacturers roll items into packages, but it's possible to get a base Chevrolet Cavalier or Plymouth Neon with air conditioning for less than a Saturn SC1.

The SC1 is low slung, so getting in is a bit like dropping in. Getting out is somewhat of a climb.

The interior is plain, but not unattractive. The cloth is good quality and the pattern pleasingly subtle. The interior theme is ovoid shapes and rounded corners, with a modular center pod for audio and climate controls.

Simplicity is repeated in the instrument cluster, which includes a speedometer, tachometer and a temperature gauge. The steering wheel is adjustable up and down.

There is no lidded console, just an open catch-all tray. Two cupholders sit in front of the shift lever, one with a removable ashtray insert.

With the low seating position and high window ledge, shorter occupants may feel like they are sitting a bit deep in the SC1.