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:

• 

  I like my Alero - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By rplank - April 23 - 7:56 am

  Leased it because it was cheap and seemed solid compared to the imports in the same price range. I have 30000 miles on it and not a problem. 4 cylinder has adequate power for the gas milage it gets. I just bought a new 2002 Alero because of the rebates and incentives. If it wouldnt of been cheap I would of gone with an import only for resale value, not because I like them better than the Alero.

• 

  Pretty car, poorly built - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By tnm - April 8 - 10:00 am

  Ive had this car for nearly 3 years now. I regret my purchase. The Alero has nice styling, decently performs, but is very poorly built. Rotors warp easily, the doors leak, the A/C leaks into the dash, door panels warp easily, the dashboard creaks/squeaks, and now a recall for the hazard flashers. Body panel fit is lousy, and the switchgear is cheap. Do yourself a favor and look elsewhere.

• 

  Average - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Willie - April 1 - 10:20 pm

  The Alero is fun to drive, but it gets horrible gas millage, it is horrible in the snow, and its speakers rattle with every hint of base in a song.

• 

  Great Car - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By pookysmom - March 31 - 6:33 pm

  I enjoy driving my Alero. I havent had any major problems with it so far. Im thinking of giving it to my son after Im done with it.

• 

  Watch out for 80000, its a doozy!! - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Robyn - March 12 - 10:36 am

  I love the way my car looks and handles (its the 3.4L v6 coupe) I do not like the way the intake manifold gasket fails, the dash peels or the control arm bushings squeak. Nice power (can beat the boys at a light, is quick off the line)and huge sunroof, but can prove costly when repairs are needed.

• 

  A Powerful Pleasant Suprise! - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By us_blueskirt - February 18 - 2:00 am

  This car was purchased 3yrs old with about 40K mi...In 11 mos Ive put another 20k+...Multiple trips from E TN to FL, VA, TX, GA, and DC; plus a 40mi comute to work every day. This is a fantastic little car in city and OTR! It feels like driving a sporty car. It responds better if you keep an almost religious maintenance schedule. Great handling and power getting on and off the interstate and around these mountain curves. I run this car very hard and Im very pleased with it so far. As I set out for another trip to TX..there is not a single doubt that this little car will get me there and back with pleasure!

• 

  2001 Alero GLS 4 door - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By 3and14 - February 18 - 2:00 am

  Purchased an Alero GLS in Feb 2001 and have not regretted it in the nearly 3 years since. The handling and braking with the performance suspension is excellent, although the steering is a little quick at highway speeds. The car has been very reliable with the exception of brake pads and rotors that wore out prematurely (22K), a common Olds problem. For the money, this seemed to be the best choice at the time and nothing has made me question that decision. Too bad Olds is going away as whats left in GMs lineup for the foreseeable future doesnt do it for me.

• 

  Great Car - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By rjwolps - February 5 - 10:00 am

  I love my Alero. I have had it a little over 2 years and have about 65,000 miles it. It runs great and I get about 34 mpg on the highway. It is very comfortable and fun to drive. It is a very good car for the money. The only complaint is the same compliant that I have had for other Olds products - the brakes. They dont last and the rotors warp too easialy. I have a lot of miles on my car, but they are almost exclusively highway miles. The original brakes should have lasted a lot longer than about 40,000 because I dont use them that much.

• 

  Not Bad... - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By tburts - January 18 - 4:56 am

  I purchased my Alero in 08. Checking the head gaskets prior to purchase is essential since they go bad on the 3.4 V6. Had some minor issues after purchase such a water leak on passenger side console. A cheap foam patch from the dealership corrects this problem. There is also the occasional problems with wheel bearings. Also, the rear defrost system failed due a failure of a control module in the rear of the car. Apart from some rust issues, car is pretty reliable for the most part.

• 

  Overall--I really like the 4 door GLS - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By richinatlanta - January 6 - 2:00 am

  I did a lot of travel in 2000 and ended up renting the Alero several times. I really liked the layout of the interior and when I got a GLS version, the 6 cylinder had plenty of power. I was able to find exactly the model I wanted at a local dealer when GM was offering incentives, so I got a fully loaded 2001 silver model. The problems have been minimal in my opinion, and the build quality is ok for an American car, much better than I remember after owning several foreign models. Make sure to get the handling package option. I would recommend the car based on my experiences.