All very, as you say, "premium". But does the Saturn drive any different than the Pontiac?
For starters, the five-speed automatic contrasts with the stick-equipped Solstice I drove last year. As in the Solstice, the 177 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque four-banger really needs revs to make power, so a slushbox wouldn't be the car zealot's first choice. When cruising, the

(Photo: General Motors)

autobox only exasperates the engine's drone at low revs. Conversely, when being caned, it's especially coarse. Again, just like the Pontiac. Saturn claims the Sky's exhaust has been retuned, but it's hard to tell. The Sky's steering is fairly accurate, but on-centre feel is still not what it should be. On level pavement, the Saturn roadster rides just like the Pontiac roadster as well: calm and smooth. There are similar copious amounts of grip from the similar 18-inch rubber, and ultimately, the same likelihood to understeer. Where the Sky does differ from the Solstice is when the road becomes rough. It's then that the suspension tuned for ride earns stars for soaking up bumps that would surely be felt in the Pontiac. But go hard in a turn with a sharp undulation where the suspension is at full compression and the Saturn will step out more readily than the Pontiac. You can blame that on the extra bit of suspension travel.

Has Saturn fixed any of the Pontiac's, er, packaging foibles? If you're referencing the silly top that's still a prolonged, three-step process? No. Or a rear trunk that acts more like a glovebox? No. Or the window switches and cup holders that are still for contortionists only? No. Or the lack of any cockpit storage space for your cell phone, wallet, notepad or stick of gum? No.

Is the Saturn Sky worth the premium pricing over the closely related Pontiac Solstice?

(Photo: General Motors)

It all depends on where your priorities lie. The difference in the two car's styling--the Pontiac's softly rounded forms versus the Saturn's sharply sliced edges--is purely a subjective decision. The Sky's interior upgrades alone are certainly worth the additional bucks, but the Saturn's softer suspension compromises towards ride quality versus handling. So what to do if driving capabilities in your Kappa roadster are a priority? The base Solstice with a stick seems obvious. But an even better value may be the 260 h.p., 260 lb-ft of torque 2.0-liter turbo-four Solstice GXP at $34,910.