2009 Saturn Sky Red Line vs 2009 Pontiac Solstice

By JENNY WHITE
Cox Newspapers

Friday, June 19, 2009

2009 Saturn Sky

The weather was perfect.

A little windy, sunny, but not too humid.

And not too hot to ride with the top down on the Saturn Sky Red Line I got to test drive a few weeks ago.

The best part of test-driving this car – there’s no back seat.

That means, no kids while I’m enjoying driving with my hair blowing in the wind and listening to the stereo much louder than usual.

It’s pretty indisputable – the Saturn Sky is a good-looking car.

It’s very muscular with a wide, brawny stance that sloops down in the front and stays meaty in the rear.

My tall husband felt the Sky had more room for him than some competing convertibles we’ve had like the BMW Z3 and the recently driven Pontiac Solstice (see accompanying review). I checked and technically, the Sky isn’t larger than either of these coupes.

With the top up, you’ve got 38.4 inches of headroom and 42.7 inches of leg room.

Where the Sky does lack room is the trunk area. Of course, when you pack in the convertible top, there’s not much room for anything else. But there’s less room than in most other coupe/convertibles. The Sky’s trunk provides just 5.4 cubic feet of space with the top up and practically none with it down.

But, really, who cares about trunk space with a convertible?

As far as I could tell, the top was pretty easy to put up and down, but I needed a second person to assist. I think it would be possible for one person to do, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

Dropping the top requires the driver to unlatch it at each top corner of the windshield, push a button in the glovebox and fold the whole thing down into the rear deck before forcibly slamming it shut.

A lot of manual ragtops are not one-person friendly and none is as well-designed as the Mazda Miata’s which can be put up and down by the driver, sitting in the driver’s seat.

The 2009 Saturn Sky convertible coupe comes in two variations: base and Red Line.

Standard equipment on both Sky models include 18-inch wheels, a glass window for the cloth soft top, air-conditioning, full power accessories, a six-speaker CD/MP3 audio system and satellite radio.

I got to test drive the Sky Red Line, and it came with a standard turbocharged engine, a stiffer suspension and a limited-slip differential to handle the additional power from the turbo. Along with the significant performance upgrades, the Sky Red Line also boasts specialized interior and exterior trim pieces that add a little punch to the already impressive look.

Major options you can upgrade with include a seven-speaker 225-watt Monsoon audio system with in-dash CD changer, as well as a Premium Trim Package that includes leather seat inserts, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, metallic interior trim and steel pedal covers. Two limited-edition versions in Ruby Red and Hydro Blue come are available.

I loved driving the Sky, and it was properly powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that pumped out 260 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque.

Mileage was not too bad. I got about 25 mpg, with mostly highway miles.

I thought the Sky Red Line had a little less communication with the road, as compared to the Pontiac Solstice I got to drive the next week.

However, the Sky was a more comfortable ride, and visibility is much better in the Saturn offering.

The base price for the Sky Red Line I test drove was $31,630. With the automatic transmission, chrome wheels, upgraded audio system and leather seats, the price went up to $35,010.

For someone wanting a well-priced, spirited convertible coupe, the Sky is a great option. The price is right for this coupe/convertible.

2009 Pontiac Solstice

“Why do you keep getting cars we can’t all fit in?” asked my son when I got the second two-seater convertible in a month.

I thought, “Because the test vehicle guy knows I am four-months out from giving birth and knows how cool it is to take off with no kids in the car every now and then.”