But the product they created was anything but revolutionary. In-stead, Saturn vehicles were affordable, reliable appliances. Changes over the ensuing years have been evolutionary rather than revolutionary, and that continues to be the case in 1995.

Despite the make's ordinary look, many Saturn owners remain passionate about their cars. After all, more than 30,000 of them from across the country showed up in Saturn's birthplace of Spring Hill, Tennessee, last June to attend Saturn's giant homecoming. Owners gushed with testimonials about their cars and their car-buying experiences.

One attendee related the tale of rear-ending another motorist who had hit a deer. The state trooper on the scene said it would be impossible to drive the badly damaged Saturn home, but the attendee did - and testified at the homecoming that the car was repaired with no differences in appearance or performance.

Part of the reason for that remarkable recovery is due to the fact that Saturn uses body panels made of sheet-molded compound, a plastic material that wards off dents. It's a great feature for a vehicle that spends a lot of time at the supermarket where parking-lot dents are the daily fare.

Cargo space behind the rear seat totals 24 cu. ft. and can be expanded by folding down the rear seat. Equipped with a roof rack, the Saturn wagon makes a great pack mule for active families who head out on vacation with lots of gear.

The sloping nose and low dash make it easy to see out of the Saturn, and visibility is excellent in all directions.

A welcome improvement for 1995 is the installation of driver and passenger airbags. Thankfully, 3-point front seat belts replace the previous motorized belts, which were extremely annoying.

Also for 1995, the instrument panel has been completely redesigned, the first major interior change since 1991. The new instrument panel uses fewer parts in an effort to reduce squeaks and rattles that plagued early Saturns.

The visibility of the instrument panel is much improved because of the 2-spoke versus a 3-spoke steering wheel. Horn buttons are located on the spokes. The redesigned column stalk has the controls for exterior lamps on the left side and windshield washer/wiper on the right side. The ignition switch has been moved from a perpendicular to an angled position for easier access.

Also aiding visibility of the instrument cluster are the larger analog speedometer and tachometer gauges, which have the fuel and coolant temperature dials located on either side.

Controls for the sound- and climate-control systems are conveniently contained on a large rounded center pod below the instrument panel.

Storage is adequate and includes a bin-type glove box below the passenger airbag. Ashtrays are removable so nonsmokers can toss them and create additional storage space in the center console in front of the shifter.

For 1995, Saturn has refined the fuel-injection system on its basic engine to get increased power, better performance and reduced emissions without sacrificing fuel efficiency. The Saturn wagon is economical - mileage depends on which engine and which transmission, but ranges from 24 mpg in the city to 40 mpg on the highway.

Although acceleration is brisk, it comes only with a determined foot on the throttle. Despite our test car's optional traction control, some torque-steer was noticed while accelerating away from a traffic light, or when full-throttle was applied at low speeds. The 4-speed automatic transmission was a willing partner to such acceleration. Unfortunately, the upshift was a bit slow and herky-jerky.

Normal day-to-day driving with the SW2 reveals few of these pitfalls. When commuting to work or running to the store, the SW2 proved more than capable. There's plenty of power for comfortable cruising and even for the occasional rush hour cut-and-thrust.

One of the biggest criticisms about the Saturn has been engine noise, particularly in the basic SOHC version. More power helps to combat this problem because the engine doesn't have to strain as much to achieve passing speeds or stoplight getaways. And the Saturn engineering team, which has been exceptionally sensitive to feedback from owners, has installed additional noise-insulating material to quiet things down.

But noise is still a problem with both engines. If you take a Saturn out for a test drive, be sure to try hard acceleration. Then make up your own mind.

A Saturn trait that's drawn fairly uniform praise is its handling. Designed to challenge the leading Asian compacts, it proved to be more than a match in its ability to execute rapid maneuvers. The chassis is stiff, and the steering feels very direct at highway speeds. Although a few years have passed since the Saturn's introduction, it's still one of the most nimble cars in its class. Saturns have even been pressed into service as race cars and have performed very well in this role.

The trade for quick response is ride quality that may be a trifle choppy for some tastes, particularly on lumpy roads.

On slippery surfaces, the Saturn delivers good traction, which can be said for most front-drive cars. A traction-control system is available as an option, but only with the automatic transmission and anti-lock brakes (ABS). However, ABS is available only as an option. We'd prefer to see it as standard equipment.

Mission accomplished. The Saturn measures up well on most points, and even excels on a couple. The Saturn wagon provides a Yankee alternative in the small-wagon segment, one that's become increasingly attractive as the strong yen forces Asian prices higher.

Beyond its attributes as a vehicle, there's Saturn's unique relationship with its customers. In this sense, GM's experiment is a model for the entire industry.

If you're in the market for a small wagon, and the showroom experience and dealer service are important factors in your purchase decision, a stop at a Saturn dealership is a must.