mmon

NEWS photo Mike Wakefield

LIKE many European cars, ihe LS has Its power window buttons in the centre con-
sofe rather than on the doors, and a handbrake lever in the centre console too.

From previous page

optional.

Like the smaller Saturn S-
Series cars, L-Series models
have a fully independent sus-
pension, MacPherson struts in

‘front and multi-links at the
rear. Also standard are front
and rear stabilizer bars and
P205/65R.15-inch radials.

Anti-lock brakes witis elec-
tronic traction control are
available as optional equip-

ment on all LS and LW mod-
els.

Interior

The L-Series’ conservative
exterior styling carries
through to the interior design
which is simple and straight-
forward. The LS offers an
attractive, conventional instru-
ment panel with large round
instruments includin
tachometer anc a well-
tioned central contro! panel.

AUTOMOTIVE
SeRCES ere. .

Like other Saturns, the LS has
a horizontal fan control. All
LS sedans have an oil-change
status m<nitor that alerts the
driver when it’s time for an oil
change, and when equipped
with traction control, a but-

Technical Data

2600 Satu LS? sedan
Base price (LS).

Price as tested (LS1).
Freight charge
TYDG..cseccsssers

$19,255
$21,620
$720

four-Goor, mid-size sedan

Layoul................transverse front engins/iront-wheel-drive
Engine....................2.2-litre four-cylinder, DOHC 16 valves

HOFSOPOWE...........secscceseeee
TOP QUE.....s0s-ssescescessscessensnsess

sessneseeteecereeeed a? @ 5,800 r.p.m.
wee 1 35 lb.-ft @ 4,400 rpm.

THOS ..eesescccssssccnecsscsseecesststsssecesesteraeesereesnseereene 1 SO/BOR 15
Curb Weight... esccssenscscecssecseeeeeel O20 KQ (2,910 Ib.)

Wheelbase........

Trunk capacity
Fuel consumption

seestecsesnensesenseserrseeens®s 00 MM (106.5 in.)

4,836 mm (190.4 in.)
1,753 mm ( 69.0 in.)
1,432 mm (56.4 in.)

495 litres (17.5 cu. ft)
0.8 1/100 km (26 m.p.g.}
)

sesenseerenenerereesereeeeneee Highway: 6.5 1/100 km (43 rn-p.g.

ton on the dash that allows
the driver to turn off the all-
speed traction control system.

Like many European cars,
the LS has its power window
buttons in the centre console
rather than on the doors, and
a handbrake lever in the cen-
tre console too.

The five-passenger LS
sedan has well-bolstered cloth
front seats, and a three-person
rear bench seat. Legroom and
headroom are adequate for
five adult passengers.

My ooly complaint about
the interior is the size of the
interior storage compart-
ments. The door pockets,
map pocket, and centre arm-
rest/storage bin are all rather
small.

The trunk, on the other
hand, is the biggest in its
class: a full 495 litres (17.5
cubic ft.) In addition, the
standard 60/40 split folding
tear seats provide a pass-
through opening to store
longer objects.

For safety, LS and LW
models have standard dual
front airbags, height-
adjustable front head
restraints, and fixed rear out-
board head restraints. There
are four three-point seatbelts
and a centre rear lapbelt, rear
seat child seat tether anchors,
and rear door child locks that

| COLLISION SPECIALISTS

for Foreign & Domestic

NORTH SHORE’S
HIGHEST VOLUME

ALL MAKE

i.€.8.C. VENDOR

require a key or a screwdriver
to adjust. L-Series models also
offer a PASSLock and-theit
system and a valet key to
restrict access to the trunk.
Side airbags are not available.

Quict performer

The first ime I pulled 0 out
of the driveway onto the
street, I was impressed with
how quiet and smooth the
four-cylinder engine was. In
fact, at first I wasn’t sure if {
was driving a model equipped
with the 3.0-litre V6. The
four-cylinder engine has brisk
off-the-line performance,
respectable passing power,
and comfortable highway per-
formance. In fifth gear (1 had
the manual transmission), the
2.2-litre four-cylinder engine
turned over 2,700 r.p.m. ata
steady 100 km/h — a com-

iy comfortab

fortabie and quiet engine
speed.

Atidle however, the
engine exhibited a curious dis-
tant “rating” sound which
disappeared once TE put my
foot on the gas.

The standard five-speed
manua! transmission was a ti-
fle clunky, though acceptable
for everyday driving needs.
Shifting from first to second
year was stiffer than average,
but perhaps that was because
my brand new test car had less
than 100 km on it.

I didn’t have an opportu-
nity to test the four-speed
automatic transmission, but I
know that the automatic
transmission on the SL sedans
is better-than-average, and [
would expect Saturn to keep
up the tradition. .

The LS sedan’s ride was
uncommonly smooth and
comfortable. Combined with
its quiet engine, the LS feels
more like ar: entry-level luxu-
ry car. The LS proved stable
in spirited handling thanks to
its fully independent suspen-
sion, wide track, and standard
195/65R-15 inch tires.
Under heavy braking, the
standard front disc/rear drum
setup proved sure-footed and
controllable,

Outward visibility is very
good, particularly to the rear
side-view when changing.
lanes. LS sedans have an extra
third rear side window which
increases visibility.

Good value

When compared wich its
intended competitors, the
Honda Accord, Toyota
Camry, Mazda 626, Subaru
Legacy, and Nissan Altima,
the LS sedan is decidedly

See Cheaper next page

*¢ Quality Workmanship

© Trustworthy Service © © 1.C.8.C. Vendor

° BCAA. Approved © oeabialonS heir es
{Oh, and you can,take your parents)

Watch fer the Disneyland® contest in
the Feb. 17, 16, 20 and 25 issues _

Enter as ker
as you like!

oot s Disnevleny Reskdage and guiphiy © Disney 1, As

ase nee tee

The Home of the Hifetime :
~ Guarantee => |

i Akornative transportation asrungsd.
B
ra aay Moco Z rend 6 TALKING .x ESTIMATES «

TAYLORMOTIVE SERVICE LD.