“A Saturn? Really? A Saturn?”

Not long ago, when General Motors killed off its Oldsmobile division, many in the industry thought that Saturn should have been the one to go. Launched in 1990 as a stand-alone GM product with stand-alone dealerships, Saturn benefited from a slick marketing campaign and a “no-haggling, sticker-price-only” sales approach.

Saturn became known for its dent-resistant plastic body panels, too-bright daytime running lights, frumpy styling, a loyal, but small, owner base and a reputation for quality service. There are even stories about owners who stop in at the local Saturn dealer just for the free jelly donuts.

Generally speaking, customers like Saturn so much that it consistently ranks with Toyota, Honda, and even Lexus, in J.D. Power and Associates’ dealer-satisfaction surveys.

But, over the years, Saturn has had a difficult time keeping up with competitors like Honda, Toyota and Nissan. New products were infrequent and uninspiring; the L-series has been discontinued and the ION will be later this year.

Now, Saturn is no longer a separate company and, thanks to GM product czar Bob Lutz, there’s renewed interest in the brand. Saturn is reinventing itself with exciting new 2007 introductions (the Sky roadster, reviewed here) and soon-to-arrive products (the Outlook crossover SUV, the Aura sedan and the stunning PreVue concept vehicle). Aura and PreVue are based on the European Opel Astra and Opel Antara, respectively.

Saturn Sky shares the GM Kappa platform with the Pontiac Solstice. While both are two-seat, rear-wheel-drive roadsters with manually operated convertible tops and two-hump rear deck lids, the two sport decidedly different exterior sheet metal. This isn’t a simple case of rebadging the nameplate.

The Sky is more upscale with crisp, chiseled, Corvette-inspired exterior character lines. Where Solstice hints retro with its orbicular shape, Sky incorporates flashy details like forward-canted side vents, chrome-trimmed faux hood vents, large grille openings with chrome accents, large projector-beam headlamps, chrome door handles and chrome detailing about the rear tail lamps.

The upscale intentions extend to an interior that is decidedly less Spartan than Solstice — as it should be for a $3,200 higher base price. The Sky starts at $23,690, but is equipped with standard features like air conditioning, ABS, cruise control, power everything (except the convertible top), keyless entry, floor mats and an alarm. Sky seems to use a better grade of materials than Solstice, including ample “piano black” interior trim and dressy chrome accents. Other differences include a standard lined and insulated top, a softer yet better handling suspension, slightly quieter exhaust and an all-around more refined look and feel.

Gripes? I didn’t much care for the out-of-place silver trim around the shifter; it would look better keyed to the body color. Cabin space is non-existant and those over six-feet tall will struggle to get behind the wheel, let alone drive. The door-mounted power-window switches are closer to your elbow than to your fingers, seats recline with a twist knob that requires you to open the door for access, and cup holders are at the back of the console between the seats (a third one pops from the center console but intrudes into the passenger space). Gauges are small, especially the fuel indicator. It’s rendered even more unreadable by a deep-set location on the dash. There is a small glovebox and an expandable pouch at the front of the driver’s seat. The ignition switch hangs low off the dash, exactly where my knee is meant to be.

The top operates identically to Solstice’s, requiring the driver to exit the vehicle, manually fold the top and slam the rear deck lid. It’s a clumsy operation that’s a little like trying to close a too-full suitcase. Once the top’s down, it looks great.

The powertrain is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 177 horsepower, and five-speed manual transmission — the same as Solstice. A five-speed automatic is available as a $950 option. Zero to 60 takes 6.7 seconds and the quarter mile is covered in 15.8 seconds. Those wanting more should wait for the debut of the 260-horsepower Sky Red Line, scheduled for late fall.

Safety stuff includes four-wheel antilock brakes and front airbags. Side airbags and stability control aren’t offered. Crash-test results are not available.

My well-equipped tester included the optional premium trim package ($750) with leather seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel including audio controls, and dressed up door sills and pedal coverings; and the optional Monsoon premium audio system ($590).

For those of us who like European cars, the resurgence of Saturn with its Opel-based offerings and sporty Sky roadster is good news. The Sky drew plenty of attention everywhere I drove during my weeklong test. People loved it at first sight and without exception wanted to know what it was and who made it. After telling them, I always got the same response: “A Saturn? Really? A Saturn?”