2002 Saturn SL review from North America

I had a flat tire at 53000 miles, but this can hardly be blamed on the car. It was a terrible tire and I'm just happy it didn't blow out while I was driving.

The brakes started to give a shrill noise while I was driving, but I replaced them and everything is alright now.

I bought this car because I had heard that Saturns are great economy cars that are hard to break down. I had no idea that I would be getting such a quality car for such a low price.

This car, armed with only a SOHC, can quickly speed up to 80 miles per hour, and can dodge between traffic. I drive the car over forty miles everyday, encountering stop-and-go traffic, as well as harsh acceleration and the occasional screeching halt.

Through this, the car remains at top performance.

The interior is relatively luxurious for a car of its price, and the radio works very well. The gearbox is easy to handle, and the engine is surprisingly quiet.

The dent resistant side panels are a good addition as well, and the fuel economy makes my commute easy on the wallet.

Saturns have a tendency to live forever, provided that regular maintenance (oil changes, fuel filter changes, etc), which is very inexpensive for the SL, is provided. I have seen various SLs with odometers reading over 200,000 miles, without an engine exchange.

Safety is phenomenal as well. Saturn takes a Safety First stance when developing its vehicles. Every aspect of the car seems to be designed with safety in mind. For example, a galvanized steel frame surrounds the car, protecting anyone inside. Metal sidebars line the doors to protect from a side collision, and the rear seats are designed to prevent passengers from flying forward (rather, passengers sink into the seat, protecting them from hitting anything.)

The trunk is large, and so is the interior (91 cubic feet of space).

The way I glorify the car makes me feel like a car salesman, but it is truly a great car to own. I'll probably own this car for the next seven years, and it is doubtless that I'll enjoy every mile of it.