2001 Saturn L300 review from North America

Water pump went bad, replaced under warranty.

Knocking noise during turns: replaced steering column (under warranty).

The lightweight plastic body and beefy V6 engine add up to quick, nimble performance that might not be expected from its looks. Strong acceleration even on steep hills, and firm braking.

I always thought that heated seats were kind of ridiculous, but I was sold once I tried them. Very comfy on cold days!

My car had been a display model in a regional auto show, and dressed up by Saturn with 17" alloy wheels and Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires. Exceptional handling from this upgrade; the tires stuck to the road like glue and offered outstanding control in evasive maneuvers. However it's an uncommon and expensive size to replace, so have recently switched back to the stock 15" wheel using Yokohama Avid H4S tires; so far performance is comparable, if a bit noisier.

A minor gripe: brakes didn't need replacement until about 55,000 miles, but this model usually requires new rotors as well when brakes are done- an expensive trade-off for greater longevity of brake pads, but overall not a big deal. This is apparently common with lots of cars now.

My Saturn dealer (San Francisco, CA) has been excellent, and the service department is top notch. I am looking into a VUE or other Saturn for my next car, although it is a few years off.