Saturn SW

Which Saturn SW version to buy

If the numbers are the filter, the second-generation 1.9 MT at 126 hp is the only version that combines the stronger engine, the shortest measured 0–100 km/h (9 s), and a measured mixed figure (7.4 l/100 km). It is 38 kg heavier than the 100 hp 1.9 MT of the same generation (1112 kg versus 1074 kg) and 26 hp stronger, so kerb weight per horsepower drops from 10.74 kg/hp to 8.83 kg/hp.

If the numbers are the filter, the second-generation 1.9 MT at 126 hp is the only version that combines the stronger engine, the shortest measured 0–100 km/h (9 s), and a measured mixed figure (7.4 l/100 km). It is 38 kg heavier than the 100 hp 1.9 MT of the same generation (1112 kg versus 1074 kg) and 26 hp stronger, so kerb weight per horsepower drops from 10.74 kg/hp to 8.83 kg/hp. That is the largest specific-output gain in the catalogue.

The same 126 hp engine with 1.9 AT (second generation) is the only version with a measured gross weight (1550 kg) and the highest measured top speed (180 km/h). It is also the thirstiest measured car: mixed 7.8 l/100 km versus 6.9 for the 100 hp 1.9 MT. You pay 0.9 l/100 km mixed and 2.0 s on 0–100 km/h (11 s versus 9 s) for the 4-speed Automatic.

Buy the 100 hp 1.9 MT when fuel and kerb mass matter more than the extra 26 hp. In generation 2 it is the lightest measured SW (1074 kg), the most economical measured car (city 8.1 / highway 5.9 / mixed 6.9 l/100 km), and 1.5 s slower to 100 km/h than the 126 hp 1.9 MT. The 100 hp 1.9 AT is the weakest documented Automatic: 11.5 s to 100 km/h, top speed not measured, fuel not measured, kerb weight not measured.

Generation 1 does not give you 0–100, top speed, or mpg for any version. Ground clearance is 145 mm there versus 140 mm in generation 2 (5 mm more). The 126 hp 1.9 MT is 10 kg heavier in generation 1 (1122 kg) than in generation 2 (1112 kg). If you need measured performance, generation 2 is the only place those figures exist.

Generations: what actually changed

2 generation (1996-01-01 to 2001-12-31). Estate 5-door, four versions. Clearance 140 mm on all four. This is the only generation with 0–100 km/h on every version and with mpg on three of four. Kerb weights: 1074 kg (100 hp 1.9 MT), not measured (100 hp 1.9 AT), 1112 kg (126 hp 1.9 MT), 1120 kg (126 hp 1.9 AT). Gross weight is measured only on 126 hp 1.9 AT (1550 kg), so payload on that version is 430 kg.

1 generation (1993-01-01 to 1995-12-31). Estate 5-door, four versions, same two engines and the same Manual/Automatic split. Clearance 145 mm on all four. 0–100 km/h not measured, top speed not measured, city/highway/mixed not measured on every version. Kerb: 1074 kg (100 hp 1.9 MT), not measured (100 hp 1.9 AT), 1122 kg (126 hp 1.9 MT), not measured (126 hp 1.9 AT). Gross weight not measured on all four.

What generation 2 did not change: 1901 cm³, Gasoline, 4 cylinders Inline, No boost, Front, transverse, Distributed injection (multi-point), 82 × 90 mm bore × stroke, fuel 80, 49-litre tank, independent spring suspension front and rear, ventilated disc front / drum rear, FWD. Wheel sizes not measured in either generation.

Saturn SW2 engine vs 100 hp: same displacement, different output

Both engines are 1901 cm³ Gasoline, 4 Inline, Front, transverse, No boost, multi-point injection, fuel 80.

Specific output: 100 / 1.901 ≈ 52.6 hp per litre; 126 / 1.901 ≈ 66.3 hp per litre. The 126 hp unit makes 26% more power and 10 Nm more torque, but peak torque is at 4800 rpm versus 2400 rpm on the 100 hp unit. The 100 hp engine is the low-rpm torque choice; the 126 hp engine is the high-rpm power choice.

Valves per cylinder: 2 on 100 hp, 4 on 126 hp. Compression: 9.3 versus 9.5. Peak power rpm: 5000 versus 5600.

Specs table: every named version

Drive is FWD on all eight. Boost is No on all eight. Fuel is 80 on all eight. Tank is 49 litres on all eight.

2 generation — 1.9 MT, 100 hp. 1901 cm³ Gasoline, 4 Inline, 2 valves/cyl, Front, transverse, Manual 5, FWD. 100 hp / 74 kW @ 5000, 155 Nm @ 2400. Kerb 1074 kg, clearance 140 mm, wheels not measured.

2 generation — 1.9 AT, 100 hp. Same engine. Automatic 4. 0–100 11.5 s. Top speed not measured. City/highway/mixed not measured. Kerb not measured. Clearance 140 mm. Wheels not measured. Gross not measured.

2 generation — 1.9 MT, 126 hp. 1901 cm³ Gasoline, 4 Inline, 4 valves/cyl. Manual 5. 126 hp / 93 kW @ 5600, 165 Nm @ 4800. Kerb 1112 kg, clearance 140 mm, wheels not measured. Gross not measured.

2 generation — 1.9 AT, 126 hp. Same 126 hp engine. Automatic 4. Kerb 1120 kg, gross 1550 kg, clearance 140 mm, wheels not measured.

1 generation — 1.9 MT, 100 hp. Same 100 hp engine as later. Manual 5. Kerb 1074 kg, clearance 145 mm. 0–100 not measured, top speed not measured, mpg not measured, gross not measured, wheels not measured.

1 generation — 1.9 AT, 100 hp. Automatic 4. Kerb not measured, clearance 145 mm. 0–100, top speed, mpg, gross, wheels: not measured.

1 generation — 1.9 MT, 126 hp. Manual 5. Kerb 1122 kg, clearance 145 mm. Performance and mpg not measured. Gross not measured. Wheels not measured.

1 generation — 1.9 AT, 126 hp. Automatic 4. Kerb not measured, clearance 145 mm. Performance, mpg, gross, wheels: not measured.

Performance: 0–100, top speed, what the extra 26 hp buys

Measured 0–100 km/h exists only in generation 2:

• 1.9 MT 126 hp: 9 s
• 1.9 MT 100 hp: 10.5 s — 1.5 s slower
• 1.9 AT 126 hp: 11 s — 2.0 s slower than the 126 hp Manual, 0.5 s faster than the 100 hp Automatic
• 1.9 AT 100 hp: 11.5 s

The Automatic costs 1.0 s on the 100 hp engine (11.5 versus 10.5) and 2.0 s on the 126 hp engine (11 versus 9). The 126 hp Automatic is still 0.5 s quicker than the 100 hp Automatic, so the extra 26 hp does not fully offset the 4-speed Automatic, but it does beat the weaker Automatic.

Top speed, generation 2 only:

• 1.9 MT 100 hp: 150 km/h
• 1.9 MT 126 hp: 160 km/h — 10 km/h more
• 1.9 AT 126 hp: 180 km/h — 20 km/h more than the 126 hp Manual, 30 km/h more than the 100 hp Manual
• 1.9 AT 100 hp: not measured

Generation 1: 0–100 not measured and top speed not measured on all four versions. Do not infer those cars are slower; they were not measured in this dataset.

MPG and tank: SW2 mpg as measured litres per 100 km

Tank 49 litres on every version. CO2 not measured, eco class not measured.

Measured consumption (generation 2 only):

The 126 hp 1.9 MT uses 0.6 / 0.3 / 0.5 l/100 km more (city / highway / mixed) than the 100 hp 1.9 MT. The 126 hp 1.9 AT uses 1.3 / 0.6 / 0.9 more than the 100 hp Manual. Mixed 7.8 versus 6.9 is a 13% increase.

Range arithmetic on mixed figures and the 49-litre tank (distance = 49 / mixed × 100): about 710 km for 100 hp 1.9 MT, 662 km for 126 hp 1.9 MT, 628 km for 126 hp 1.9 AT. The 100 hp 1.9 AT mixed figure is not measured, so range for that version is not measured.

Generation 1 mpg: not measured on all four. Oil type is not in this dataset (not measured).

Weight, clearance, dimensions

Wheel sizes: not measured on all eight versions.

Kerb weight per horsepower where kerb is measured:

• Gen 2 1.9 MT 100 hp: 1074 / 100 = 10.74 kg/hp
• Gen 2 1.9 MT 126 hp: 1112 / 126 = 8.83 kg/hp
• Gen 2 1.9 AT 126 hp: 1120 / 126 = 8.89 kg/hp
• Gen 1 1.9 MT 100 hp: 1074 / 100 = 10.74 kg/hp
• Gen 1 1.9 MT 126 hp: 1122 / 126 = 8.90 kg/hp

The 126 hp Manual in generation 2 is the best measured mass-to-power ratio. The Automatic adds 8 kg versus the 126 hp Manual in generation 2 (1120 versus 1112) — 0.06 kg/hp. Generation 1’s 126 hp Manual is 10 kg heavier than generation 2’s (1122 versus 1112). The 100 hp Manual kerb is identical across generations (1074 kg).

Gross weight: 1550 kg only on gen 2 1.9 AT 126 hp; not measured on the other seven. Payload on that one car: 430 kg.

Ground clearance: 145 mm (generation 1) versus 140 mm (generation 2). The older cars sit 5 mm higher. If clearance is the reason to pick generation 1, that 5 mm is the entire measured chassis difference; performance and mpg for generation 1 remain not measured.

Reliability, problems, and what the data does not say

This catalogue does not measure reliability, ignition-switch faults, or oil grade. Those searches are real; the numbers here are not. What the data does show is mechanical sameness: the same 1901 cm³ Gasoline layout, same FWD, same brakes (ventilated disc front, drum rear), same independent spring suspension, same 49-litre tank, same fuel 80, across eight versions. Choosing “the reliable one” from these rows is not possible. Choosing the one with documented performance is: generation 2.

Which version: a number-only ranking

1. Need measured pace and the strongest engine, and you will shift: generation 2 1.9 MT 126 hp — 9 s, 160 km/h, 8.83 kg/hp, mixed 7.4. 2. Need Automatic and still want 126 hp: generation 2 1.9 AT 126 hp — 11 s, 180 km/h, mixed 7.8, only measured gross (1550 kg). You give up 2.0 s and 0.4 l/100 km mixed versus the 126 hp Manual. 3. Need lowest measured fuel and lowest kerb: generation 2 1.9 MT 100 hp — mixed 6.9, 1074 kg, 10.5 s, 150 km/h. You give up 26 hp and 1.5 s versus the 126 hp Manual, and gain 0.5 l/100 km mixed. 4. Need Automatic at 100 hp: generation 2 1.9 AT 100 hp — 11.5 s; top speed, mpg, and kerb not measured. It is the slowest measured 0–100 in the line. 5. Need 145 mm clearance: any generation 1 version. Performance and mpg not measured. Prefer 1.9 MT 100 hp (1074 kg) or 1.9 MT 126 hp (1122 kg) if you want a measured kerb; both Automatics in generation 1 have kerb not measured.

The extra 26 hp is 26% more power on the same 1901 cm³. On a Manual in generation 2 it buys 1.5 s and 10 km/h and costs 38 kg and 0.5 l/100 km mixed. On an Automatic in generation 2 it buys 0.5 s versus the 100 hp Automatic and a measured 180 km/h, at mixed 7.8. That is the whole arithmetic of the Saturn SW catalogue.