You know, Saturn isn’t known for exciting sports cars, rather, they’re known for boring, slow, family-oriented sedans. The Sky, however, is a real cool looking sports car that has none of the boring attributes associated with the Saturn name.
It’s a rather new model, introduced in 2007 along with the more powerful Sky Red Line. While nothing has changed for 2008, the Sky Red Line still remains the best looking sports car under 30 grand.
It was designed to be and is GM’s first relevant answer to the Mazda Miata that stole so many hearts. Sort of. While I grant that it outshines the Miata in every visual and performance aspect, for a cheap roadster competitor, it doesn’t carry a cheap price. Just another example of one of GM’s numerous bad decisions. In fact, it is so overpriced that there are so few of them that the Miata doesn’t really need to worry at all.
That’s ’cause it costs around 25 large, and the better Red Line version is around $27,000, but options can easily send it over 30 K. But enough of price. Now to performance:
The 2008 Red Line has about 260 horsepower, though its turbo-charged 2.4 liter Ecotec engine (the most powerful in it’s family), is capable of a lot more, so 300+ should over entirely feasible. It has a modest 260 pound-feet torque, and a drag limited top speed of 141 mph, which is not too bad for a Saturn. In fact, not too bad at all, as it’s 0-60 mph time of 5.2 seconds makes it one of the fastest cars in it’s class— faster than the Audi TT, Porsche Cayman, Subaru Impreza WRX, Ford Mustang GT, and more. Despite this, it still returns a fairly good gas mileage. At 22/31, it has better mpg than the Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, and Honda Accord.
As is expected, the Red Line, costing around $2,000 more than the base, has numerous little upgrades that set it apart. Visual enhancements are subtle but effective; polished wheels and dual exhaust tips, functional vents, a different grill, different gauges and an interior with more pizzazz all add up to impart a classier, more expensive impression. Performance-wise, exclusive to the Red Line is a StabiliTrak stability control, a torque sensing limited slip differential, and a performance tuned suspension. Add this on the base Sky’s features of ABS disk brakes, independent wheel suspension, and coil-over Bilstein shocks, and you have yourself a rather formidable machine.
Overall, however, it is the sheer looks of the car that steals my heart. I would personally go for this over any other car in it’s range, as well as many cars that are higher classed, like a BMW, a Mercedes, a Lexus, a Jaguar, etc. You might not agree, but that’s my take.
Whatever your opinion, there is no denying that the Saturn Sky is a radical departure from the traditional Saturn, it’s a head-turner wherever it goes, and perhaps most importantly, it has got it’s looks backed up with muscle.
Specs
Price: about $27,000
Engine: 2.4 liter inline 4
Top Speed: 141 mph (drag limited)
Horsepower: 260
Torque: 260 pound-feet
0-60 mph: 5.2 seconds
Mileage: 22/31 mpg
You may also enjoy:
