Owners give this generation Saturn S-Series (1996-1999) a 4.3 out of 5 rating, which is higher than most, and 94% recommend it. These figures are based on 335 consumer reviews, like these:
What Owners are Saying About the 1997 Saturn S-Series
"It's easy enough to maintain."
"I drive in the city and on the highways around several states. The car is just right for me. My dog travels in the back seat. I think the trunk is very roomy for the size car. It does have trouble on hot days keeping the car cool, but even that doesn't deter me from wanting another. I was very sad to hear they were not going to make the Saturns any more. No other car has been as dependable or economical for me. I really like the car!!"
"best vehicle ever owned"
"my SL2 has stood up to everything I have thrown at it, (after a 4.5 months of not driving the car started without help) The only problem I have had with my car was that it has trouble with snow that is more than 2" deep"
"Practical, durable, and economical"
"I bought my 1997 SW1 wagon in November of 1996 and am still driving it today (Jun 2012), coming up on 200,000 miles. I had dealer maintenance done up until Saturn closed its doors. The car has terrific fuel economy (I get 30 to 35mpg with a mix of highway and city driving) and reliability. I've been through four batteries, three sets of tires, and one alternator but everything else is original equipment. Over nearly 15 years, this has made for a low overall cost of ownership. The polymer panels still look good after more that 14 years, and from the outside the car doesn't show its age. On the down side, road noise is a little higher than average, and the car's low profile does limit driver's field of vision somewhat."
Overall 1997 Saturn S-Series Quality
User sentiment suggests the overall quality of the 1997 Saturn S-Series is above average for its class. Owners rated the 1997 Saturn S-Series quality a 4.4 out of 5.
1997 Saturn S-Series Reliability
The 1997 Saturn S-Series receives an average consumer rating of 4.3 overall and a 4.6 for reliability, which means owners consider its reliability to be above average.
Favorite 1997 S-Series Features
According to drivers of the 1997 S-Series, here are some of its best features:
1997 S-Series SC2 Coupe 2D - city 21 MPG - hwy 31 MPG
1997 S-Series SL Sedan 4D - city 24 MPG - hwy 36 MPG
1997 S-Series SC1 Coupe 2D - city 23 MPG - hwy 33 MPG
1997 S-Series SL1 Sedan 4D - city 23 MPG - hwy 33 MPG
1997 S-Series SL2 Sedan 4D - city 21 MPG - hwy 31 MPG
1997 S-Series SW1 Wagon 4D - city 23 MPG - hwy 31 MPG
1997 S-Series SW2 Wagon 4D - city 21 MPG - hwy 31 MPG
1997 Saturn S-Series Safety Features
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Year | Vehicle Depreciation* | Resale Value | Trade-In Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | - | $1,640 | $805 | ||
2022 | $87 | $1,553 | $722 | ||
2023 | $58 | $1,495 | $646 | ||
2024 | $27 | $1,468 | $733 |
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2-Year Forecasted Depreciation
*Depreciation for the last 12 months of the private party resale value.
Annual Depreciation is an estimation of what your vehicle's value might be over time based on an average of similar vehicles. Estimations are calculated by comparing Kelley Blue Book Private Party Values of vehicles similar to yours over time, as well as forecasts from Manheim Auction data comparing current and projected auction values against current Kelley Blue Book Private Party and Trade-In Values. This is not a guarantee of actual depreciation. Local weather conditions, market factors and driver performance will also impact your vehicle's actual depreciation.
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Curb Weight | 2415 lbs. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
EPA Passenger | 84.1 cu.ft. | ||
EPA Total Interior | 95.5 cu.ft. | ||
Fuel Capacity | 12.2 gallons | ||
Front Head Room | 38.5 inches | ||
Front Leg Room | 42.6 inches | ||
Max Seating Capacity | 4 | ||
Minimum Ground Clearance | 5.6 inches | ||
Overall Length | 180.0 inches | ||
Front Shoulder Room | 53.4 inches | ||
Towing Capacity, Maximum | 1000 lbs. | ||
Trunk or Cargo Capacity | 11.4 cu.ft. | ||
Turning Diameter | 37.1 feet | ||
Wheel Base | 102.4 inches | ||
Width with mirrors | 67.3 inches |
Alloy Wheels | Available | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Moon Roof/Sun Roof | Available | ||
Number of Doors | 2 doors | ||
Rear Spoiler | Available |
City | 21 mpg | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Highway | 31 mpg | ||
Combined | 25 mpg |
Drivetrain | FWD | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Transmission Type | Automatic |
Horsepower | 124 @ 5600 RPM | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Torque | 122 @ 4800 rpm | ||
Engine | 4-Cyl, DOHC, 1.9 Liter | ||
0 to 60 | 9.6 seconds |
Basic | 3 years / 36000 miles | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Powertrain | 3 years / 36000 miles |
![]() Used 1997 Saturn S-Series | ![]() New 2025 Porsche 718 Cayman | ![]() New 2026 BMW M4 | ![]() New 2026 BMW M2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KBB.com Rating | N/A | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.4 | |
| Consumer Rating | 4.3 | 4.8 | 4.3 | N/A | |
| Fuel Economy | City 21/Hwy 31/Comb 25 MPG | City 21/Hwy 27/Comb 24 MPG | City 16/Hwy 23/Comb 19 MPG | City 16/Hwy 23/Comb 19 MPG | |
| Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | |
| Seating Capacity | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | |
| Basic Warranty | 3 years or 36000 miles | 4 years or 50000 miles | 4 years or 50000 miles | 4 years or 50000 miles | |
| Horsepower | 124 @ 5600 RPM | 300 @ 6500 RPM | 473 @ 6250 RPM | 473 @ 6250 RPM | |
| Engine | 4-Cyl, DOHC, 1.9 Liter | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.0 Liter | 6-Cyl, Twin Turbo, 3.0 Liter | 6-Cyl, Twin Turbo, 3.0 Liter | |
| Drivetrain | FWD | RWD | RWD | RWD |