Overview & Reviews

Following a string of truly forgettable small-car efforts in the 1980s and '90s, Oldsmobile celebrated its centennial anniversary by introducing the all-new Alero to compete with the popular and well-established import competition of the day. While it failed to truly capture the hearts and minds of consumers or chalk up many conquest sales, Olds' small car story ended on an upbeat note with a stylish and decently designed effort.

Available as a sedan or coupe, the Oldsmobile Alero was considered by most to be a sporty-looking car thanks to its bulging wheelwells, sleek greenhouse, fluted side panels and large jewellike taillights. The front-drive Alero was also relatively entertaining to drive. Buyers could choose four-cylinder or V6 power. Initially, the Alero came with an automatic transmission only, but a five-speed manual eventually made an appearance.

Handling was nicely balanced and braking was strong. Inside, an artfully designed two-tone dash faced comfortable front seats that were firm and supportive. All controls were easy to see and use, with large knobs and buttons. Unfortunately, all-around refinement didn't match that of the leading imports.

The phase-out of the Oldsmobile brand spelled the end for the Alero. For a shopper interested in an affordable used coupe or sedan from the early 2000s, the Oldsmobile Alero should do nicely as long as one is aware of the car's faults and lame-duck heritage. Service can be handled at select GM dealerships -- you might want to focus on Pontiac, as the Alero was mechanically similar to the Grand Am.

Most Recent Oldsmobile Alero

The Oldsmobile Alero debuted in 1999 as a replacement for the slow-selling Achieva. Coupe and sedan body styles were offered, as were three main trim levels: entry-level GX, midgrade GL and top-line GLS. GX and GL models came standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that made 150 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. Optional on GL and standard on GLS was a 3.4-liter V6 that made 170 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque. The only transmission choice at the time was a four-speed automatic.

Incremental improvements saw it through the next several years. A year after the car's debut, Olds offered a sport-tuned suspension package for the GL. For 2001, an optional five-speed manual transmission became available on four-cylinder models, and the car's antilock braking system was updated. If you're looking at four-cylinder Aleros, take note that for 2002 Oldsmobile replaced the 2.4-liter engine with a quieter and more fuel-efficient 2.2-liter engine. It made 140 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque.

Inside, we found the Oldsmobile Alero offered a user-friendly control layout and seats that were generally comfortable -- though materials quality throughout was a step or two behind that of competing imports; even the leather in the GLS looked and felt too much like vinyl. For those with lots to carry, though, both the coupe and sedan offered a generous 14.6 cubic feet of trunk capacity.

Although neither engine was particularly quiet, the four-cylinder provided adequate power in most situations while the V6 delivered spirited performance. The Alero's suspension tuning was firm and allowed some fun around twists and turns, yet ride quality remained smooth enough to make the Olds suitable for weekday commuting. The steering offered little in the way of road feel, however, and the brakes were strong but could be difficult to modulate due to an overly stiff pedal.

User Reviews:

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  WOE MULE!! - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By inkeyjr - June 14 - 10:00 am

  I have been an Olds owner for exactly one year and 3 weeks and already I have racked up a ton of miles. The car is addictive to drive and the acceleration is awsome. Only one thing, the interior is mighty cheap as well as a few minor electrical problems that have started to occur when I hit the 50,000 mile mark. Overall, Id say that this vehicle is great engine wise) however it is not intended for people who want to steer away from speeding tickets.

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  Its been good to me! - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By chridan - May 25 - 2:00 am

  This car has been great! Have had it almost 4 years and havent had any problems with it.

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  jojo - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By auntjojo - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Its a good little car ,but i have had clogged fuel injectors at under 14000 miles ,also a defective battery replaced. The interior design was a bit chintzy some cup holders and small plastic parts pop out of place easily.I like the design of the outside but i am very mad that it didnt do well in frontal crashes (poor rating) i would have reconsidered the purchase if i had this info before hand!

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  The performance is horrible! - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By oklahoma man - May 18 - 12:26 am

  This is a nice car. However, the performance stinks! It takes forever for the the throttle response to kick in. Its like they took this heavy car and put a go cart engine in it! Its loud but not powerful at all! Barley gets up to speed on the highway. I tried to go around a Sunfire and couldnt even do it! But every time I turn the key I know it will start. Oh and the handling is terrible too. And they dont make any performance or upgrades for this car! Nothing!

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  My First Car - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By survboiurbvs - May 4 - 2:00 am

  This was my first car. I have always drove my parents cars which are both German and cost a lot more than my Alero. The Alero is not a sports car, but I like it a lot. The steering is great and its fun to drive around town and on short road trips. Mine is one and a half years old and has 45,000 miles and it works great.

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  pros and cons of the alero - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By sazisarah - April 1 - 10:00 am

  Love the way the car looks , although it is alittle slow on intitial take off but does fine when passing

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  first olds buyer - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By satisfied user - March 26 - 10:00 am

  own a final 500 edition.only three weeks old, fun to drive.Nice interior,quick for small six cylinder.GM making mistake discontinuing this car.

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  OK, I guess - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Scott - January 27 - 9:26 pm

  When I bought this I did not know the resale value was going to plummet into the ground, so its a good thing its a fairly dependable car. It gets decent mileage, but I hate the interior design, specifically the center console. Its as if it were an oversight that only one person would have anything to drink in the front, and the rear cupholder is cheap and keeps pulling out of its sockets. However, it has decent "zip" and has ample trunk room.

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  great potential, but falls short - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Ned Flanders - January 11 - 12:43 pm

  Very high feature content at a great price. I bought a left over 99 GX in 2000. I have 32K miles on it and the only problem were warped rotors that were replaced under warranty. Bottom line, for what I needed; a new, stylish, cheap commuter car that I will likely run into the ground its perfect. A fully loaded model would not be a good value.

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  alero - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By darla l pierce - January 3 - 10:00 am

  i drive 60 miles round trip to work five days a week and have never had any trouble except for a flat tire, its a great vehicle but i need to get another car because of the amout of miles i have put on it, i would recommend this car to anyone, it gets at least 30 miles to the gallon and rides great, i love this car and hate to think of getting a new one but i know that i need to. its just the right size for me (one passenger usually) but its also great for the family, there are 4 of us.