Taking its cue from the Soup Nazi in "Seinfeld," Saturn said no more S-Series wagons for you in 2002. More importantly, 2002 marked the last year of production for the S-Series. This model now had 5 trims: the SC1 and SC2 coupes, and the SL, SL1, and SL2 sedans. Saturn scaled back on the features by taking out power windows in the sedans, along with the leather seats and traction control in the coupes. In addition, Saturn made some cosmetic changes, including a few new colors and floor mats in the SL2 and SC2. Otherwise, everything remained pretty much the same for the 2002 S-Series. The SL, SL1, and SC1 all use a 1.9-liter, 100-hp inline 4-cylinder (I4) engine, with the SL2 and SC2 using a 124-hp version. Gas mileage typically goes from 27 mpg in the city to 38 mpg on the highway. Coupes seat 4 and give you 11.4 cubic feet of cargo space, while sedans seat 5 and give you 12.1 cubic feet.

Drivers would have liked to see more interior room, less road noise, and more options. Industry experts agreed that the 2002 Saturn S-Series took a step back by actually giving consumers less for their money. In any event, this compact model lasted for over a decade and gave its fans a satisfactory and affordable vehicle. Saturn would replace the S-Series with the Ion in 2003. Consumers could only hope that the new model would address the lingering issues left behind by its predecessor.