Saturn L-Series: the mid-size Saturn sedan and wagon

The Saturn L-Series was Saturn’s first move into the mid-size class: a range of sedans and station wagons built in Wilmington, Delaware, from 2000 to 2005. About 406,300 cars were made, but poor sales ended the line early and the car became known for engine, transmission and brake problems.

Saturn L-Series at a glance

Written from the English Wikipedia article on the L-Series.

History of the Saturn L-Series

2000: three sedans and two wagons

The first L-Series was built in May 1999 and the range went on sale for the 2000 model year as three sedans and two station wagons. The sedans were the four-cylinder LS and LS1 and the V6 LS2; the wagons were the four-cylinder LW1 and the V6 LW2. The base LS had no wagon counterpart and came with a five-speed manual, manual windows and locks, air conditioning and a basic radio. The LS1 and LW1 added power windows, mirrors and locks with keyless entry, heated mirrors and other comfort items, while the LS2 and LW2 brought fog lights, the more powerful V6 and a four-speed automatic, which was optional on four-cylinder cars. Anti-lock brakes with traction control were an option across the range.

2001–2002: new names and more equipment

Every model was renamed for 2001 because of a dispute with Lincoln over the LS name, which Lexus was also using: the LS became the L100, the LS1 the L200 and the LS2 the L300, while the wagons became the LW200 and LW300. All cars received a larger 15.7-gallon fuel tank and a shoulder belt for the centre rear seat, and head curtain airbags became available later in the year on sedans. For 2002 anti-lock brakes and traction control became standard, curtain airbags were added on sedans, and a six-spoke chrome alloy wheel, automatic air conditioning and a rear DVD system were offered. The L100 was dropped after 2002.

2003–2005: facelift, then collapse

The 2003 model year brought a facelift front and rear, new taillights on the wagons, standard side curtain airbags, silver dash trim in place of wood, a new alloy wheel design borrowed from Saab and much more sound insulation in the doors, dash and floor. The L100 disappeared and anti-lock brakes became optional again. For 2004 anti-lock brakes and traction control returned as standard, automatic air conditioning was dropped, the manual gearbox was withdrawn and every car had a four-speed automatic. The L200 and LW200 names went too: the whole range became the L300 in three levels, with the L300.1 on a more powerful 2.2-litre Ecotec, the L300.2 with the 3.0-litre V6 and the L300.3 with chrome alloy wheels, a power driver’s seat and the Premium Choice Package offering OnStar, rear DVD or a sunroof at no extra cost. Sales had fallen to about a quarter of the 2000 level, so for 2005 the wagons were dropped and only the L300.2 sedan remained, with a power moonroof as its single option. The last car left Wilmington on 17 June 2004.

Design and features

• Two body styles: sedans and station wagons, the first mid-size cars Saturn built.
• Two engines: the 2.2-litre Ecotec four and a 3.0-litre V6.
• Renaming: LS, LS1 and LS2 became L100, L200 and L300 after a dispute with Lincoln.
• Quality problems: engine and transmission failures and a brake-light recall covering more than 300,000 cars.
• Short life: poor sales cut the range to one model and ended production in 2004.

Saturn L-Series versions

• LS, LS1, LS2: the 2000 model-year sedans, renamed for 2001.
• LW1, LW2: the 2000 model-year wagons.
• L100, L200, L300: the renamed sedans from 2001.
• LW200, LW300: the renamed wagons from 2001.
• L300.1, L300.2, L300.3: the three 2004–2005 levels after the range was consolidated.
• 2005 L300.2: the single model left in the final year.

The L-Series was replaced by the Saturn Aura, and its V6 later appeared in the first Saturn Vue. The smaller S-Series was the car that made the brand. More cars are in the Saturn collection.

Sources

• Saturn L-Series, English Wikipedia: model history, equipment, production, quality issues