2007 Saturn Sky First Drive

NAPA VALLEY, Calif. – It was as if the trees leaned in to take a closer look at the 2007 Saturn Sky cruising down the open, two-lane country road. They craned over and met in the middle, making an evergreen tunnel splashed with sunshine and accented by swirling batches of runaway leaves. Along with the rustling murmur of the trees, the cool morning air and acres of grapes stretching out on either side of the car, the scene tickled memories of special moments on special roads in special cars, and served as a timely reminder why it is that we all love springtime.

So long, winter. And hello, summer, won’t you please take a look at this stunner of a car? We did, and found a roadster that will delight most everyone who drives it, while at the same time leaving them wanting for more: more leg room, more power, and ultimately, more of the look and the verve that makes up the 2007 Saturn Sky. Available now at your friendly local Saturn “retailer,” the Sky is well-equipped and competitively priced, though the 2.4-liter, 170-horsepower engine left us hungry for more. That’s coming, in the guise of the turbocharged, 260-horsepower 2007 Sky Red Line, but for now we’re left with the normally-aspirated Sky. From outside and in, however, the Sky is sure to serve as a perfect bookend to its corporate sibling, the Pontiac Solstice.

It’s also the perfect new face for a suddenly energized Saturn. The General Motors brand, known for lousy cars and great customer service, is poised to deliver greatness on both counts starting with this convertible, and the excitement among business managers and product people is palpable. It all starts with the Sky, followed closely by the new Aura sedan, an eight-passenger crossover vehicle called Outlook, a hybrid Vue Green Line sport utility vehicle, and stylish replacements for the Ion and the Vue. In fact, serious money is betting that a derivative of the fun Opel Astra will replace the Ion, a dud of an econocar that you might not recommend to your worst enemy. That would follow form, as Saturn is basing its revitalized lineup on Opel vehicles, or, for you Brits, Vauxhalls. The Sky, for example, takes its style from the Vauxhall VX Lightning concept, and has a twin in the export-only Opel GT announced at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. From our side of the pond, this seems to be a brilliant strategy: give us Yanks upscale, trendy cars based on vehicles we don’t see on every Avis lot, and, in the process, save some cash in the development of an all-new and much-improved Saturn lineup. The one-two punch of stylish and well-appointed cars, with Saturn’s reputation for excellent customer service, is a combination that will surely make car buyers pay close attention.

The Sky, however, should make you pay attention all by itself, especially on a crisp spring morning, with the blue sky above, and the Saturn Sky below.