The latest, and perhaps most significant, addition to the Olds family is the 1999 Alero. Targeted to compete head-on against top-selling compacts such as Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, the Alero needed to be perfect from the start.
After a week-long test in all types of driving conditions, the Alero GLS sedan compared very well with its import competition.
The combination of a solid and quiet structure, excellent handling characteristics, roominess and sensible interior layout, all at an attractive price, make this car a must-see for those shopping in this size category.
As an added bonus, the car ranks high on the fun-to-drive scale, due to an outstanding chassis and suspension combination geared for maneuverability.
Alero has a very distinctive look, which drew approval from just about everyone. In fact, most were amazed when they learned this was an Oldsmobile.
Alero intentionally bears a strong family resemblance to the Intrigue and Aurora, both inside and out.
Two body styles, a two-door coupe and four-door sedan, and three trim and equipment levels (GX, GL, and GLS) are available for a broad range of budgets. Pricing ranges from $16,850 for a base GX coupe to about $22,000 for the fully-optioned GLS sedan. A long standard equipment list includes automatic transmission (a manual is not offered), air conditioning, four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock and all-speed traction control.
Power comes from a 2.4-liter double-overhead-cam 4-cylinder (150 horsepower) engine for the GX and GL models. A 3.4-liter, 170-hp V-6 is optional on the GL and standard with the GLS.
Those models also benefit from the addition of variable-effort rack-and-pinion steering and a tire inflation monitoring system.
The test drive was through wet and dry conditions, slow-moving parking lots and over several hundred miles of fast interstates, and the Alero handled it all easily. The V-6 offers plenty of torque for quick acceleration, and because of its greater flexibility, most buyers are likely to prefer it to the 4-cylinder. The 4-speed electronic automatic performs admirably, with very positive gear changes.
The Alero's design ingenuity shows when it came to structural stiffness and noise reduction. For example, its engine and transmission are mounted on a separate hydroformed cradle, which in turn is mounted to the body without any rubber insulators. This results in added stiffness to the body structure for greater agility and less vibration.
An optional sports suspension package on the GLS model includes a stiffer front anti-roll bar, and slightly stiffer springs and firmer struts.
From the driver's seat, it took only few moments to become completely familiar with the accessory controls, which can be easily operated without taking your eyes off the road. Small touches show designers put a lot of thought into making the interior convenient. These include canting the console-mounted gear shifter toward the driver, the hand-operated parking brake, a dashboard-mounted ignition switch and a thick steering wheel. The front bucket seats provided above-par comfort over long-distance drives, though they could use a bit more side bolstering. Even for those over 6 feet tall, the rear seat allows adequate knee room, even with the front seat moved rearward.
To stretch cargo capacity, the 70/30 rear seat folds for access to the nicely-sized trunk. Throughout the interior, extra storage bins are placed at convenient locations and the nice-sized glovebox will hold more than just the owner's manual and a few tiny items.
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