2007 Saturn Sky Engine

The Pontiac's wraparound IP has given way to Sky-specific center and gauge stacks. Some surfaces are finished in an alumalook plastic, some are chrome, while others yet are done in "piano black"--a fancy term for shiny black plastic. A six-speaker CD audio system and power windows/mirrors/locks are standard.

While the ancillary bits are hard to reach, the important stuff is well placed and feel good to the hand. Our tester included the $750 Premium Package, which means leather seat inserts, a leather-trimmed steering wheel with audio controls, stainless-steel pedal covers, and metallic-finished sill plates. You won't confuse this interior with that of an SL55 AMG, but it's dressier than the Solstice's and looks and feels more upscale.

As noted, the chassis and powertrain architecture are unchanged: a 2.4-liter, 177-horse Ecotec four, a five-speed manual or auto transmission, standard four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, and 18-inch wheels. The damper settings have been recalibrated for a smoother ride, and the jounce bumpers allow a skosh more suspension travel. Any negative impact on the Sky's handling should be minimal, if it's even measurable. Another modest revision in the name of a more sophisticated persona is a quieter, yet deeper, exhaust note.

Save for the visuals, the smoother ride, and the richer voice, the driving experience is much the same as the Pontiac's. You sit low in the car, and the high beltline makes you feel cosseted. The shifter is short, stubby, and well connected to the transmission. The main gauges are easily viewed through the steering wheel.

The Ecotec four isn't as sweet as Mazda's 2.3 or the best from Honda, but it is a willing workhorse. There's a nice plate of torque available from 3000 to about 5000 revs--its peak occurs at 4800--and the engine is reasonably smooth up to about 5500. As you pass 6000, it begins to thrash somewhat, which is too bad because you have to rev it to 6600 to get all 177 horses out of it. The five-speed manual is a good partner, although there's too much rpm falloff on the 2-3 shift; slightly closer gear spacing or a six-speed trans would cure this.