This brings up the cost issue. Just how does the L200 compare with the Accord in base price? As expected, Honda's Accord DX is more expensive than the L200, but not by much. An additional $320 buys the Honda albeit with a few less options.
Standard equipment on both is a manual 5-speed transmission, rare in the midsize sedan market. The L200 offers an optional 4-speed automatic while the Accord ups the ante with a 5-speed automatic, part of its fuel economy advantage. The Saturn's automatic gearbox was easy to operate and offered quick, smooth shifts, kicking down to a lower gear immediately when called upon - no complaints. Unfortunately a manual transmission wasn't available to test.
Both cars offer standard air-conditioning, power windows, power locks, cruise control and CD audio while the Saturn makes side-curtain airbags part of its base package - the Accord does not. You can dress up the L-Series with 6-way power leather seats, OnStar communications, a moonroof, ABS/traction control and much more. Actually I was amazed at all the features in my test car. It felt like a small Cadillac rather than any Saturn I'd ever been in before.
While it looks as if the Saturn L200 loses to the Honda Accord in most critical areas there are some things that it holds in its favor. First of all is its dealer experience. Even a good friend, who owns a Saturn SL2 and has had nothing but problems with it, had praise for his dealer's parts and service department. Their sales staff is equally deserving of high marks. Another ball in Saturn's court is its 30 day/2,500 km money back guarantee, 23 days longer than most provincial government's 'buyer's remorse' regulations.