1999 Saturn S-Series Review

Everyone seems knocked out by the new driver's-side rear door on Saturn's sporty coupe.

No wonder. Although one or two extra doors have been hot for several years on extended-cab pickup trucks, the new Saturn is the world's first three-door coupe.

The extra door swings open rearward to a nearly 90-degree angle to allow easier accessibility to the back seat. You first must open the driver's door to open the third door, but it opens smoothly and closes solidly.

It's hard to tell the rear-hinged door is there unless it is opened because there's no center roof pillar and it has no outside handle. Only a hinge line tips you off to its presence.

The handle for the rear door is flush in the door jamb and, when activated, releases the upper and lower space frame-mounted latches.

But while it is easy to open the third door from the outside, it's a hassle to open it from the back seat. Even with an open driver's door, it's hard to find the small third-door handle by feeling for it from inside the car. And you can't see the handle unless you push the driver's seatback forward and then stretch forward.

However, Saturn said most of its coupe buyers seldom have passengers in the rear seat. It also said it could have used a more conveniently designed third-door handle, but wanted to give the three-door coupe about the same prices as the predecessor SC1 and SC2 two-door coupe models.

The base price is $12,445 for the new SC1 and $15,005 for the higher-line SC2. Those prices represent a $150 savings on the SC1 and a $150 increase on the SC2, when compared with similarly equipped 1998 Saturn two-door coupes.

Why isn't the extra door on the passenger side, where it might allow safer rear-seat entry for children?

``Because two-thirds of Saturn coupe buyers are single and most of the rest are childless couples,'' said Saturn spokesman Tom Wilkinson. ``Research showed buyers of our coupe just wanted a third door to let them easily put items such as a briefcase, gym bag or groceries in the rear seat--from the driver's side.''

I used the new coupe's third door in a shopping center parking lot to put a grocery bag in the back seat--and soon found myself talking with fellow shoppers who asked if the door was a custom item.

The three-door coupe still is rare; Saturn dealers only began getting a decent supply in late December, although all Saturn SC1 and SC2 coupes got the third door starting last November.

The third door is making Saturn's coupe more attractive to buyers. The automaker said the new model largely was responsible for a 6 percent sales increase in December. It was Saturn's first month-over-month sales gain since last April.

Industry analysts say Saturn needs the three-door model to spark interest in its line of small coupes, sedans and station wagons. The automaker sold 231,786 cars last year, its fourth straight year of falling sales. Industrywide, sales of all small cars have been sluggish and Saturn hopes its first midsize model--due this summer--also will help sales.

There's more to the new coupe than the extra door. The car benefits from changes made to the mechanically identical Saturn sedan, which make the 1999 Saturns the very first ones with an acceptably quiet interior.

The 100-horsepower four-cylinder in the SC1 provides lively performance with the standard five-speed manual transmission; the optional four-speed automatic saps power and often forces a driver to floor the throttle to stay with fast traffic.

The 124-horsepower four-cylinder in the SC2 allows swifter acceleration with the manual and works better with the automatic.

The economical Saturn coupe has desirable no-rust, ding-resistant body panels. It seats four 6-footers. Front seats move back sufficiently to allow tall occupants to stretch, but there's no surplus of backseat room. The fairly large trunk has a low opening for easy loading. Rear seatbacks fold forward to increase the cargo area but don't fold very flat.

Controls are easily reached, but will Saturn ever get rid of a climate control fan with rough edges?

Both SC1 and SC2 have sharp steering, nimble handling and a decent ride. The SC2 has crisper handling, but a stiffer ride. Braking is good, although Saturn cut costs by replacing rear disc brakes with less efficient drum brakes on the SC2 with traction control. Anti-lock brakes are $695 extra, but come with traction control at no extra cost.

The Saturn coupe isn't as refined as top Japanese small cars. But it's fun to drive and the third door makes it decidedly more practical.