What is the horsepower of a a 1992 Saturn SL
Executive summary
The 1992 Saturn SL (part of the S‑Series) did not have a single horsepower rating—early S‑Series sedans came with two different 1.9‑liter four‑cylinder engines: the lower‑output SOHC version rated around 85 horsepower and the higher‑output DOHC/LL0 unit rated roughly 123–124 horsepower, depending on trim (SL/SL1 vs. SL2/SC) [1] [2] [3].
1. A two‑engine story: why “the horsepower” is ambiguous
Saturn launched the S‑Series with several trims in 1992, and those trim choices determined which 1.9‑liter engine was fitted; consumer and reference sites consistently report a two‑tier power split—an economy‑oriented SOHC four rated near 85 hp for the base SL/SL1 lineup and a DOHC LL0 mill making roughly 123–124 hp for the SL2 and sportier SC trims—so any claim of a single horsepower number for “a 1992 Saturn SL” omits important trim detail [1] [2] [3].
2. The lower‑power option: the ~85 hp SOHC engine
Multiple automotive listings and trim comparisons identify the base SL and SL1 versions as using a 1.9‑liter SOHC 8‑valve engine producing about 85 horsepower, a configuration aimed at fuel economy rather than performance and documented across used car spec pages and enthusiast summaries for the 1992 model year [1] [4] [5].
3. The higher‑output option: the 123–124 hp DOHC LL0 engine
The SL2 and SC models used a DOHC variant of Saturn’s 1.9‑liter I4—commonly referred to as the LL0 engine—which most technical sources and engine‑family writeups rate at approximately 123–124 hp (124 hp cited repeatedly) and about 122 lb‑ft of torque; this is the engine that appears in upper‑trim S‑Series cars and is the origin of the higher horsepower figures seen in KBB, Wikipedia and engine reference pages [2] [3] [6].
4. Why sources sometimes show slightly different numbers
Discrepancies such as “123 hp” vs. “124 hp” stem from rounding, model‑year cataloging and the difference between manufacturer ratings and independent testing; authoritative spec aggregators (KBB, Edmunds, CarsDirect) and engine histories generally converge on roughly 124 hp for the DOHC LL0 and ~85 hp for the SOHC 1.9, so the spread is small but meaningful for identifying which engine is under the hood [3] [7] [8] [2].
5. How to determine which applies to a specific car
Determining the correct horsepower for an individual 1992 Saturn SL requires checking trim badges, owner documentation, or the VIN/engine code: the SL and SL1 trims usually imply the lower‑output SOHC 85 hp engine while SL2/SC indicate the DOHC 123–124 hp unit; used‑car listings and spec pages (Edmunds, CarsDirect, KBB) reflect this trim‑based split and can confirm the factory spec for a given VIN or option set [7] [9] [5].
6. Bottom line for readers focused on performance or restoration
For anyone tracking performance, parts, or restoration, treat the 1992 Saturn SL as one of two distinct powerplants: plan for about 85 hp if the car is a base SL/SL1 with the SOHC 1.9, and plan for about 123–124 hp if the car is an SL2 or SC equipped with the DOHC LL0 engine; consult the vehicle’s trim, VIN or an official spec source to lock down the exact rating before buying parts or making performance comparisons [1] [2] [3].