MSRP $24,195
As tested $25,355
177 hp 2.4-liter
inline 4-cylinder
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Saturn Sky or Pontiac Solstice? That is the question, and the answer isn't easy. These celestially inspired convertibles turn the same basic platform into two distinctly different rides. The Saturn's angular shell and generous chrome accents lend a more modern, even futuristic, appearance than the retro Solstice. The Sky's side air scoops resemble the current Corvette's styling, too, which is not a bad thing. In fact, the Sky draws a crazy amount of attention on the road -- we got more whistles and waves than any other car we have reviewed. That's hard to beat at $25K.
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At a few thousand dollars more than the Solstice, the Sky gives some extra bang for the buck. The Solstice's disappointing interior is upgraded here to a simple yet elegant cockpit, worthy of the gorgeous shell that surrounds you. Our black-on-black interior came with the premium trim package -- leather seat inserts, leather-wrapped steering wheel and race-ready stainless steel pedal covers. You also get an upgraded, thicker convertible top compared to the Pontiac, providing a quieter ride. You still need to exit the car to drop the top -- one big advantage of the Mazda MX-5 convertible. Once the top is down, though, all eyes are on this beauty.
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Saturn could have dropped a few extra ponies under the hood, and we can't wait for next year's turbo-charged version. The 2.4-liter 16-valve four-banger churns out 177 horses, but only when the tachometer is near redline. It's almost impossible to kick out the tail, even during aggressive driving, which is half the fun of a rear-wheel-drive sports car. The Sky has a nicely tuned exhaust note that promises more pull than the car actually gives, and it feels slightly heavy at lower miles per hour. Get it up to speed, though, and the real fun begins.
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A true babe magnet for around 25 grand? Money well spent.
-- Chad Doering |
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