- The output of the Sc2 engine was 125 horsepower at 5,600 RPMs, or revolutions per minute. The engine was mated with the standard five-speed manual transaxle. A four-speed automatic transaxle was optional for this vehicle.
The Sc2 engine produced more power at the same RPM level as similar displacement GM engines that were used in GM's 1981-1989 J platform cars. The J-Car's 1.8-liter, DOHC engine produced 84 horsepower at 5,200 RPMs. The overhead-valve, 2-liter engine produced 90 horsepower at 5,600 R.P.M. - Saturn stated on its website that the 1.9-liter engine could deliver 90 percent of its power off the line because the engine was heavily tuned for torque. The torque output of the engine was 122 foot lbs. at 4,800 RPMs. The engine utilized a four-valves-per-cylinder design. Each cylinder has two intake valves and two exhaust valves. The valve train allowed the engine to be responsive and still maintain the fuel efficiency of a four-cylinder engine. The four-valve-per-cylinder design was nothing new to GM. The Quad 4 engine was introduced in 1988. It was the first GM engine to use such a valve train.
- The Sc2 engine used two overhead cams to drive the intake and exhaust valves. This twin-cam design reduces the inertia that is present in overhead-valve engines. Extra parts needed to drive the valves, such as push rods, are eliminated. The overhead cams allow for more precise valve timing. This is another feature that the Sc2 engine shared with its Quad 4 cousin.
- The engine block and head were constructed from alloy instead of cast iron. The alloy construction made the engine lighter. If the Sc2 engine were matched with a similar-displacement, cast-iron engine block that generated the same power, the Sc2 engine would have the better power-to-weight ratio.