1997 Saturn S-Series Interior Review at Automotive.com
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1997 Saturn S-Series Review: Interior

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1997 Saturn S-Series Review

Value and fun in a design home run.
Interior
The SC1 is low slung, so getting in is a bit like, literally, dropping

in. And getting out is something of a climb.

One tester's initial reaction to the interior was "plain, but not

unattractive." Good summation. The cloth is good quality and the pattern

pleasingly subtle. The theme is ovoid shapes and rounded corners, with

a modular center pod for audio and climate controls.

Simplicity is repeated in the instrument cluster which has a speedo,

a tach, a fuel gauge and a temp gauge. Period. We've always held that sporty

cars should have a few extra instruments in keeping with the sports car

heritage. But that means extra cost, so if you want a tachometer you need

the SC2. The steering wheel is adjustable up and down, so what instruments

are there are visible to all.

There is no lidded console, just an open catch-all tray. Two cupholders

sit in front of the shift lever, one with a removable ash tray insert.

The seating position is close to the floor, the window ledge high, so

shorter occupants may feel a bit deep into the SC1.

We found the seats rather uncomfortable, even on short runs. The bottom

cushion is short front to rear and lacks support for even average-height

occupants. Similarly, lateral support for back and thighs is less than

we would like.

The driver's seat fore and aft travel has been increased an inch this

year. With that seat in position for a six-foot driver, a six-foot rear

passenger found his knees virtually under his chin. The rear seats are

little more than padded depressions, so don't sentence friends to extended

periods back there.

But let's not make too much about the back seats. This is a small sport

coupe built for fun, not rear seat comfort. Sedan and wagon models have

more rear seat room, though this is not a strong suit in terms of the best

in this class. Next Page



1997 Saturn S-Series