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2008 Saturn SKY

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2009 Saturn SKY

Overview

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2008 Saturn SKY Review

By KBB.com Editors

You can spend two, three or 10 times as much on a sports car with a bigger engine and a fancier badge, but the smiles don't get a whole lot wider than the ones the 2008 Saturn SKY roadster is capable of painting upon your face (although it also can have you grimacing at times). Even though its suspension is slightly softer than that of its Pontiac Solstice sibling, the SKY still grips corners like a small, serious roadster should. Saturn's 2006 introduction of the SKY marked the beginning of a product offensive that would include the three-row Outlook, the Aura sedan, an all-new VUE compact SUV and, completing the 18-month makeover, the 2008 Saturn Astra compact car.

You'll Like This Car If...

Compared with Mazda's topless two-seater, the MX-5, the 2008 Saturn SKY features the more head-turning design. Compared with its Pontiac Solstice sibling, the Saturn offers a touch more sophistication. Compared with whatever else you might be considering, there's a good chance the SKY is more fun.

You May Not Like This Car If...

Potential deal-breakers include the inability to drop the top with anything bigger than a single, soft duffle bag in the trunk, a top that has to be raised and lowered from outside the vehicle and an overall level of refinement that falls short of the MX-5.

What's Significant About This Car?

New standard features include StabiliTrak stability control, a limited-slip differential, driver's-seat power height adjuster, AM/FM stereo with MP3-compatible CD player and speed-compensated volume control, tire-pressure monitoring system, leather-wrapped steering wheel and XM Satellite Radio. A set of new exterior and interior colors allows customers more choices in personalizing their cars.

Driving the SKY

Driving Impressions While the Mazda MX-5 is more refined, more accommodating and arguably more entertaining to drive than the Saturn SKY (and Pontiac Solstice), GM's rookie ragtops still qualify as a couple...

of the most fun vehicles on the road. The SKY belies its relative heavyweight status with responsive steering and cornering that's eager, confident and tenacious, thanks in part to some big, fat tires. Compared to the Solstice, we prefer the SKY's slightly softened suspension that delivers a noticeably smoother ride without giving much away in handling. The Saturn's torque advantage versus the Mazda doesn't translate well to the road—you actually have to work harder at keeping the SKY on its toes—but the 2.4-liter delivers enough oomph to fully exploit the SKY's impressive handling.

Favorite Features

Exterior Styling
Although their choice of form over function saddled the SKY with some significant limitations, at least GM's designers knocked the styling right out of the park. It looks great.

Interior Styling
Tasteful piano black and metallic trim helps give the SKY's cockpit a more sophisticated feel than Solstice (although the glossy black shows dust easily).

2008 Saturn SKY Details

Interior

Although we found some finish and design shortcomings to nitpick inside the SKY, the bigger impression was that of a comfortable and attractive cabin largely well-suited for the type of spirited driving it encourages. A smart instrument panel and control layout, piano black and metallic trim plus available leather seats impart a sophisticated, contemporary ambience. Storage space is a weak point, especially in a trunk that diminishes from 5.4 cubic feet to a mere 2.0 cubic feet with the top down, and isn't nearly as usable as the trunk in the Mazda MX-5, which measures 5.3 cubic feet but is much more sensibly shaped. If you're considering taking along a passenger, carrying some luggage or putting down the top, you can have only two. On even a short weekend road trip, the absurdly small trunk can be exasperatingly limiting.

Exterior

Complementing the SKY's sharp-looking exterior are hood and side vents, projector beam headlamps, metallic-framed taillamps, a reverse lamp placed low in the rear fascia and fender-filling 18-inch wheels. A cloth roof that stows completely out of sight is a big part of the SKY's visual appeal but, unfortunately, means that to enjoy the roadster the way the sun gods intended you have to unlatch the top and rear deck lid from inside, step out of the vehicle, lift the rear-hinged deck lid, push the top down into the "trunk" and close the deck lid with a firm drop-push. Whew. Compared with the MX-5, in which you can raise or lower the top in about five seconds without even removing your seatbelt, this puts quite a damper on spontaneity.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

A 2008 Saturn SKY comes with air conditioning, power windows/locks/mirrors, six-speaker CD sound system, StabiliTrak stability control, a limited-slip differential, AM/FM stereo with MP3-compatible CD, XM Satellite Radio, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power driver's-seat height adjustment, remote keyless entry and cruise control. Safety highlights include front airbags and anti-lock brakes.

Optional Equipment

The 2008 Saturn SKY's options list includes leather seats, rear spoiler, six-disc CD/MP3 Monsoon sound system, color combination override (mix and match as you like) and chrome wheels. Unlike the MX-5, the SKY doesn't offer side airbags or traction control.

Under the Hood

The 2008 Saturn SKY gets its motivation from a modern 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with four valves per cylinder and variable valve timing (intake and exhaust). While the engine delivers almost 20 percent more peak torque than the MX-5's 2.0-liter engine, any performance advantage is mitigated by the Saturn's 400-pound weight penalty. The bigger engine, fat tires and weight difference also take their toll on fuel economy. An optional limited-slip differential can help increase traction. The SKY can reach 60 miles per hour in 7.2 seconds when equipped with the manual transmission.

2.4-liter in-line 4
172 horsepower @ 5800 rpm
167 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/25 (manual), 19/24 (automatic)

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2008 Saturn SKY Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

9.1

Out of 10

Based on 147 Ratings for the 2007 - 2009 models.

Review this car

Value

9.3/10

Quality

9.1/10
Reliability

9.3/10

Performance

9.4/10
Comfort

8.7/10

Styling

9.6/10

Fun car

By JC (PA) on Thursday, December 27, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 55,000

10 7.0

overall rating 7 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 7/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 4/10
Quality: 4/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 3/10
Comfort: 2/10

Pros: "Styling, handeling, power"

Cons: "Lacks storage space, reliabality"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 7

"More power than one would expect from a four banger. Handles very well and is fun to drive. Receive positive comments from other drivers almost every day. I've owned this car for two years and had to replace one of the two fuel pumps and had a $400 problem with the cooling system after the warranty expired."

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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fun

By Automan (NH) on Saturday, April 21, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 48,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 8/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"tight for someone 6'2" but with the seat more vertical, the full length of base travel can be realized Cup holders: equal to a kiddy-car. Roof intrudes on door closing being caught by the window. Quiet, except if you have a cold air intake"

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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Awesome sunny day toy!

By ratsworld (PA) on Monday, April 02, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 37,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 8/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Great performance and amazing looks"

Cons: "broke the cup holder a few times"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Best car I've ever owned for enjoying the summer! Great mileage even when driven hard. I would buy another one if I could."

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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really fun to drive and i get 26 mpg around town

By Mick (NE) on Saturday, March 17, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 6,500

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Looks and mpg"

Cons: "Nebraska winters makes me store car for 6 months"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"best looking sports car made in recent times. Turns alot of heads. Only downside is i can't drive year around in Nebraska."

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I've had mine for a year now...

By thereg1 (NY) on Tuesday, February 21, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 51,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Fun to Drive, Great Looks from EVERYONE."

Cons: "Cup holder local but with this car WHO CARES ???"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"It's a great car. When I bought it I was looking at Z4's and Boxters, I happened to see one these on my car shopping trip and fell in love with it. What a great car. fun to drive, plenty of pep even if it is a 4 cylinder. So light you can't tell."

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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Overall good value,but lacking in interior quality

By Taldren (NJ) on Friday, February 17, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 70,000

10 7.0

overall rating 7 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 7/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 8/10
Quality: 7/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 7/10
Comfort: 7/10

Pros: "fun to drive, good economy, sporty feel"

Cons: "lack of storage, cheap interior"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I wish I could separate the Comfort and Convenience bars. This car is very comfortable, but it certainly lacks in convenience. The body and drive train have been excellent, but the interior isn't on par. The first thing you notice when you sit in the car is the cheap (and constantly breaking) cup holders in addition to the standard cheap Chevy plastic dashboard. Fortunately once you are driving those quickly escape your thoughts. The car has been very reliable thus far. At 70k miles the only issue I have had was with the rims leaking air due to corrosion of the chromed aluminum. Nothing a buzz wheel and some glue didn't fix."

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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See all 147 reviews