What is it?
2007 Saturn Aura Green Line
What's special about it?
It might sound like a subway line to the suburbs, but the Aura Green Line is nothing more than a hybrid version of the 2007 Saturn Aura sedan that debuted earlier this year. Unlike the Toyota Prius, however, or the GMC Yukon hybrid which also debuted at this year's L.A. auto show, the Aura hybrid is a mild hybrid.
You see, the Aura has both a gasoline engine and an electric motor like other hybrids, but it can't propel itself on electric power alone. Instead, the Aura Green Line merely uses its electric motor-generator for extra juice on acceleration. The extra power is in addition to the 164-horsepower four-cylinder gas engine. A four-speed automatic is the only transmission.
Like most other hybrids, the Aura Green Line also shuts down its gas engine at stops to conserve fuel and uses regenerative braking to charge its batteries. GM's mild hybrid system also allows the Aura Green Line to retain all of its accessory power even when the gas engine is off. This applies to the air-conditioning as well as the radio, so sitting in traffic in the summer won't turn the Aura into a sauna.
According to Saturn, the cumulative effect of all the Green Line's hybrid help is 25-percent better mileage than a standard Aura XE. That would put the Green Line's EPA numbers around 25 city and 36 highway, which are slightly better than a four-cylinder Honda Accord with an automatic. If this sounds worth it to you, the Aura Green Line will go on sale next spring for around $23,000.
What's Edmunds' take?
Saturn is taking steps in the right direction with the fuel-efficient(er) Aura Green Line. It's still going to be a tough sale, however, as competitive vehicles are posting close to the same fuel economy numbers with gasoline-only engines. — Mike Schmidt
2007 Saturn Aura Green Line
What's special about it?
It might sound like a subway line to the suburbs, but the Aura Green Line is nothing more than a hybrid version of the 2007 Saturn Aura sedan that debuted earlier this year. Unlike the Toyota Prius, however, or the GMC Yukon hybrid which also debuted at this year's L.A. auto show, the Aura hybrid is a mild hybrid.
You see, the Aura has both a gasoline engine and an electric motor like other hybrids, but it can't propel itself on electric power alone. Instead, the Aura Green Line merely uses its electric motor-generator for extra juice on acceleration. The extra power is in addition to the 164-horsepower four-cylinder gas engine. A four-speed automatic is the only transmission.
Like most other hybrids, the Aura Green Line also shuts down its gas engine at stops to conserve fuel and uses regenerative braking to charge its batteries. GM's mild hybrid system also allows the Aura Green Line to retain all of its accessory power even when the gas engine is off. This applies to the air-conditioning as well as the radio, so sitting in traffic in the summer won't turn the Aura into a sauna.
According to Saturn, the cumulative effect of all the Green Line's hybrid help is 25-percent better mileage than a standard Aura XE. That would put the Green Line's EPA numbers around 25 city and 36 highway, which are slightly better than a four-cylinder Honda Accord with an automatic. If this sounds worth it to you, the Aura Green Line will go on sale next spring for around $23,000.
What's Edmunds' take?
Saturn is taking steps in the right direction with the fuel-efficient(er) Aura Green Line. It's still going to be a tough sale, however, as competitive vehicles are posting close to the same fuel economy numbers with gasoline-only engines. — Mike Schmidt
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