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What is it?
2008 Saturn Vue
What's special about it?
As the fourth all-new vehicle in Saturn's lineup this year, the 2008 Saturn Vue is another big step toward the brand's revival. It's also the first example of Saturn's partnership with Opel, GM's German subsidiary. From now on, the two companies will sell essentially identical vehicles with minor changes to accommodate their home markets.
With the recent introduction of the larger seven-passenger Saturn Outlook SUV, the 2008 Saturn Vue was kept firmly in the compact SUV segment. When it goes on sale next spring, there will be no third-row seat option, but unlike some of its competitors the Vue will offer both four- and six-cylinder engines as well as a mild hybrid option.
Both the base XE model and the Vue Green Line use a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing. It sends 164 horsepower to the front wheels through a four-speed automatic. A five-speed manual will come later. The Green Line hybrid model adds an electric motor to provide extra power during acceleration, but unlike other "full" hybrids, the Vue Green Line can't run on electric power alone.
One step up the power ladder rests the all-wheel-drive Vue XE with a 3.5-liter V6 producing 215 hp and 220 pound-feet of torque. If that's not enough, the Vue XR and Vue Red Line models will offer 250 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque from a 3.6-liter V6. All six-cylinder models will come standard with a six-speed automatic.
An all-steel unibody chassis provides the base for a MacPherson strut suspension up front and an independent multilink setup in back. Four-wheel antilock disc brakes, traction control and stability control come standard, as does a host of safety equipment including dual-stage front-seat airbags, front-seat side thorax airbags and head curtain airbags covering front- and rear-seating positions.
The Vue's new Europeanized exterior takes its tapered roof line and fender accent molding from the Saturn PreVue concept vehicle which made its debut at the 2006 New York Auto Show. Sixteen-inch alloy wheels are standard on the XE, while the XR gets larger 17-inch alloys.
A revised interior gives the Vue a more upscale feel with features like a standard CD stereo with MP3 capability, and an optional eight-way power seat and navigation system. A flat-folding 60/40-split rear seat and upper and lower rails with storage nets help make the most of the compact SUV's cargo area.
What's Edmunds' take?
Sizewise, the outgoing Saturn Vue was a solid package, unfortunately its cheap interior and lack of comfort features prevented it from challenging the competition. Improving its prior shortcomings, while keeping it in the compact SUV segment, should be a recipe for Saturn success. — Kelly Toepke
What is it?
2008 Saturn Vue
What's special about it?
As the fourth all-new vehicle in Saturn's lineup this year, the 2008 Saturn Vue is another big step toward the brand's revival. It's also the first example of Saturn's partnership with Opel, GM's German subsidiary. From now on, the two companies will sell essentially identical vehicles with minor changes to accommodate their home markets.
With the recent introduction of the larger seven-passenger Saturn Outlook SUV, the 2008 Saturn Vue was kept firmly in the compact SUV segment. When it goes on sale next spring, there will be no third-row seat option, but unlike some of its competitors the Vue will offer both four- and six-cylinder engines as well as a mild hybrid option.
Both the base XE model and the Vue Green Line use a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing. It sends 164 horsepower to the front wheels through a four-speed automatic. A five-speed manual will come later. The Green Line hybrid model adds an electric motor to provide extra power during acceleration, but unlike other "full" hybrids, the Vue Green Line can't run on electric power alone.
One step up the power ladder rests the all-wheel-drive Vue XE with a 3.5-liter V6 producing 215 hp and 220 pound-feet of torque. If that's not enough, the Vue XR and Vue Red Line models will offer 250 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque from a 3.6-liter V6. All six-cylinder models will come standard with a six-speed automatic.
An all-steel unibody chassis provides the base for a MacPherson strut suspension up front and an independent multilink setup in back. Four-wheel antilock disc brakes, traction control and stability control come standard, as does a host of safety equipment including dual-stage front-seat airbags, front-seat side thorax airbags and head curtain airbags covering front- and rear-seating positions.
The Vue's new Europeanized exterior takes its tapered roof line and fender accent molding from the Saturn PreVue concept vehicle which made its debut at the 2006 New York Auto Show. Sixteen-inch alloy wheels are standard on the XE, while the XR gets larger 17-inch alloys.
A revised interior gives the Vue a more upscale feel with features like a standard CD stereo with MP3 capability, and an optional eight-way power seat and navigation system. A flat-folding 60/40-split rear seat and upper and lower rails with storage nets help make the most of the compact SUV's cargo area.
What's Edmunds' take?
Sizewise, the outgoing Saturn Vue was a solid package, unfortunately its cheap interior and lack of comfort features prevented it from challenging the competition. Improving its prior shortcomings, while keeping it in the compact SUV segment, should be a recipe for Saturn success. — Kelly Toepke
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