The Beginning Years

The first generation SL and SW were made from model year 1991 to 1995. The first Saturn to leave the assembly line in the Spring Hill, Tennessee factory was on July 30, 1990, the same day that then-CEO of GM, Roger Bonham Smith, retired. It was maroon with a tan interior.

Originally there were two available trim levels. The SL1 trim level featured a SOHC 1.9 L I4 LK0 engine that was rated at 85 hp (63 kW), which was upgraded to the 100 hp (70 kW) L24 engine for the 1995 model year. The two engines were mechanically identical, save for the upgrade from TBI to sequential MPFI. The SL2 trim level featured a DOHC 1.9 L I4 LL0 engine that was rated at 124 hp (92 kW). Both the SL1 and SL2 got 29 mpg_-US (8.1 L/100 km; 35 mpg_-imp) city, 35 mpg_-US (6.7 L/100 km; 42 mpg_-imp) Highway.
1991-1992 model year Saturns featured the base "SL" available with a manual transmission only, an "SL1", "SL2", and "SC".

For model year 1993, the line expanded to include the SW1 and SW2 wagons, which were mechanically identical to their SL1 and SL2 counterparts. All models received an interior redesign for 1995. All S-Series cars were offered with either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic transmission. The automatic featured a performance setting which gave crisper shifts at a higher RPM, and a setting for traction in which the transmission would stay in 2nd gear from a stop for more controlled take-offs. The Saturn transmissions in the DOHC-equipped vehicles were geared to enhance acceleration, while the SOHC-equipped model transmissions were geared toward economy.

The S-Series had a 12 US gallons (45 L; 10 imp gal) fuel tank, which means that both cars got around 384 miles (618 km) on a single tank based on average of 32 mpg_-US (7.4 L/100 km; 38 mpg_-imp). Owners of the base model typical report real-world fuel mileage of about 38–41  mpg_-US (6.2–5.7 L/100 km; 46–49 mpg_-imp) on the highway with the manual transmission.