2005 SATURN L300 NEW CAR BUYER'S GUIDE

What's New for the 2005 Saturn L300?
Saturn trims the L300 lineup to a single version as it prepares to cancel the car at the end of this model year. The station wagon is dead for 2005, and sedans are sold only in midgrade level 2 trim now that base level 1 and upscale level 3 have been dropped. Once dealer inventory is sold, the L300 disappears for good.

Advantages of the 2005 Saturn L300:

• No-hassle buying experience
• Dent- and rust-resistant door panels
• European driving characteristics

Objections to the 2005 Saturn L300:

• Inexpensive interior materials
• Unimpressive powertrains
• Uncomfortable rear seat

Editor's Advice:
Several aspects of the 2005 Saturn L300 are attractive, such as the dealer experience, the relatively low sticker price and the extensive standard features list. Once you start looking at the car with a more critical eye, however, you may conclude that it's not quite the good value that it's touted to be. Issues such as inexpensive interior materials, unrefined powertrains and questionable build quality are likely to have you second-guessing your purchase time and again, while resale values fall precipitously after purchase. For our money, we'd stick with tried-and-true mainstream sedans such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.