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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  Good car - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By feet2004 - July 26 - 9:50 pm

  I really like the Alero - I have had some problems with the interior lining on the doors, radiator/coolant system, and the power windows falling into the doors (3 of the 4) - but otherwise, the car has been great. I just took a job which I will be commuting over 80 mi per day, so I will be needing to trade in the alero for a car with a little better gas mileage. If my commute were shorter, I would probably drive this car for a few more years at least.

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  Down with the quickness - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By ken - June 30 - 7:56 am

  I bought my alero in march of 05, it had 73,000 miles now in Oct of 08 117456 no problems replaced front brakes a year ago tops, and one tune- up. V6, power everything 0-60 5.4sec pretty impressive. rides a little rough I thought mine did great in the snow. Unplowed country roads after 8 inches of snow never got it stuck. it is a glorified grand am i would definitely own another one

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  The Contender - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By MrMac - June 3 - 2:00 am

  This is an interesting vehicle. The dealership wont be getting repeat business. The car was delivered with 1200 miles on the odometer and no explanation. The rear passenger-side door has a power window switch for non- existant pw. The salesman didnt know anything about the car, even got the radio wrong. The car is beautiful inside and out. Gray is a little plain but workable. The stereo keeps getting better. Handling is very good for a car this size and price. Interior room is outstanding. Seats are comfortable. Equiment level is high for a stripper. Washer sprayers and hand brake have already gone out. Fix on brakes didnt take.

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  My experiance with this car. - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By dom52 - May 23 - 2:15 am

  Well, i thought this car was pretty cool when i bought it. The interior was super clean, and drove great! Well, until my car would randomly shut off on the road. It happened at least 4 times, brought it to the dealer and they said they couldnt diagnose the problem. Turns out it was the ignition failure(GM recall, but this was over a year ago when this started happening). I then traded this car in, because i just couldnt trust it. Other than that it was a decent car.

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  Not bad, for a First Car. - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Kimberly - May 7 - 5:57 am

  My Alero was my first car. I drove it for over a year before it finally went out on me. While I drove it, it was fine. The wheel baring was bad, made a horrible sound when I made left turns. Acceleration was okay, and shifting gears was fine. My back windows would fall down over time (meaning within a couple minutes of driving) and I had to hold them up with door stops. My driver window didnt roll up or down, and my passenger window worked when it felt like it. Overall it wasnt bad for my first car, but it definitely had its problems. But once it was done, it was done. My timing chain went out and it was too expensive to fix, so I ended up scraping it. Got $25 for it.

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  Fun to Drive in Good Weather - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Jerry Elliott - March 30 - 9:26 pm

  Ive owned this vehicle for 3 years and had no maintenance problems except the usual tires, brakes, and battery changes. The front suspension was a bit squeaky the first year or two but seems to have settled down. The biggest drawback has been this cars performance in the snow. Though it is FWD, the Enhanced Traction System (which can be turned off with the push of a button) actually makes it more difficult to control the slippage and power of the vehicle. Overall, the vehicle is a little noisy, but fun to drive, even on long road trips.

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  Nice Car - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Gardner - March 4 - 10:00 am

  I was in the market for a Subaru....I liked the AWD, Was won over by the alero when i found out about the 5 speed and the gas mileage. I have grown to like this car much much more every day. I wish the interior styling was more like the new German style interior quality. fake and chinsy looking

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  goodbye to the almighty alero - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By manda - February 14 - 10:26 pm

  I have had my Alero for 2 years now. It was my 1st car and at first I loved it. The sound system in it is great but thats about it. I have had to replace both front bearings on it every 6 months and is crazy expensive to do being a college kid. It was a good 1st car to me but I need something more reliable.