Here’s another good alternative to the large sport utilities that can cost a small fortune to refuel: It’s the redesigned Saturn Vue compact crossover for 2008.
General Motors introduced gasoline-only versions of the second-generation Vue last summer, and the next-generation Green Line gasoline-electric hybrid model arrived a few months later.
The Vue’s redesign incorporates some of the elements of the PreVue concept that Saturn showed off at the 2006 New York auto show. This new design, with a sloped roofline, has a European flavor, but also some styling cues from the Saturn Sky roadster.
It’s based on the Opel Antara, built in Belgium by GM’s German subsidiary.
GM also no longer builds this vehicle – or any Saturn for that matter – at the plant in Spring Hill, Tenn., that was built in the late 1980s for the sole purpose of making Saturns.
The new Vue is built in Mexico alongside the Chevrolet HHR retro-styled compact wagon. The Tennessee plant is being readied to make a new Chevy large crossover, the Traverse.
As for the European styling, that’s part of a move to help position Saturn as a more-upscale brand, aimed at people who have outgrown their earlier, economical Saturn cars and now want something a bit nicer.
The Vue, introduced in 2002, competes in a crowded field of compact crossovers including the Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner/Mazda Tribute, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi Outlander, Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent.
This newest Vue has seating for five, which is normal in this class even though the RAV4 and Outlander offer a third-row seat, giving them a capacity of seven.
Base prices run from $21,250-$29,350 plus $625 freight. Models offered range from the base four-cylinder XE with front-wheel drive, to the well-equipped, sporty Red Line model with a 3.6-liter V-6 engine and all-wheel drive.
In between are the XE and midlevel XR four-cylinder and V-6 models, as well as the Green Line hybrid.
Our test vehicle was the XR model with all-wheel drive, 3.6-liter V-6 engine, and six-speed automatic transmission (base price $26,800 plus freight).
The hybrid model begins at $24,170 (plus freight), which allows it to compete head-to-head with Escape/Mariner hybrids, which also begin in the mid-$20,000s.
Sporty ride and handling are the hallmarks of the new Vue, but the sportiest one, the Red Line, tops out above $30,000 with most available options added.
Our tester was up above $30,000 as well, because of several options packages, including one that brought leather upholstery, and another that tacked on a navigation system. Total sticker was $31,845, including freight and options.
I also have driven the Red Line model, which comes with the same 3.6-liter V-6 engine as found in our XR model. It’s rated at 257 horsepower.
While that additional power makes the XR and Red Line more fun to drive, it also takes a toll on fuel economy. EPA ratings for that engine are as low as 16 miles per gallon city/22 highway with the all-wheel drive.
The base XE model, with a 169-horsepower four-cylinder test vehicle, with a four-speed automatic, had plenty of zip for everyday use. And its EPA ratings are 19 city/26 highway.
The hybrid has the best mileage, of course – 25 city/32 highway. It combines a four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, and recharges its own batteries whenever the gasoline engine is running or the car is decelerating.
Among the gasoline-only models, the middle engine is a 3.5-liter V-6 with 222 horsepower and 219 foot-pounds of torque, standard in the XE all-wheel-drive model, and not offered in any other trim levels. It’s connected to the four-speed automatic used in the four-cylinder models. EPA ratings are 15 city/22 highway.
Saturn no longer offers the Honda-built V-6 engine that was the uplevel powerplant in the previous Vue. The new model’s V-6 engines are GM-built.
The base XE model comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, but the XR gets 17-inch alloys. The Red Line has 18-inch wheels. All of the V-6 models have dual chrome exhaust outlets.
Red Line models have a more-aggressive appearance, which includes a large lower air opening in the front, along with projector-beam fog lights. At the rear are a spoiler and trapezoid-shaped exhaust tips.
The suspension is lowered from that of the other models, as well. Red Line badging lets everyone know what this model is. The Red Line’s automatic transmission has manual tap up/down gear shifting, and a special sport-tuned suspension.
In all models, the interior has been redesigned and refined, with many new features that GM says are “uncommon in the segment.”
Those include the optional eight-way power driver’s seat; standard flip-down second-row armrest; standard AM/FM/compact-disc audio system with MP3 playback; optional automatic climate control; the optional navigation system with voice recognition; heated front seats; and a convenience package that adds rain-sensing wipers, remote start, a universal garage/gate opener, and a heated windshield washer.
Equipped with a towing package, the V-6 Vue can pull trailers weighing up to 3,500 pounds.
The vehicle’s electronic stability control includes a special trailer anti-sway system, which automatically adds braking and decreases engine power if the trailer begins oscillating.
RV aficionados will be glad to know that all models of the Vue can be towed behind a motor home with all four wheels on the ground.
Safety features, besides the stability control and antilock brakes, include front seat-mounted side air bags and roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for both rows of seats.
There is lots of interior storage, including a large, illuminated glove box, a slide-out storage bin under the front passenger seat, a rear cargo system with upper and lower side rails, and storage under the rear cargo area. The rear seat has a 60/40 split-folding feature that allows for expansion of the cargo area. To assist with entry and exit, there is a passenger grab-handle above each door.
2008 Saturn Vue
The package: Compact, five-passenger, four-door, front- or all-wheel-drive, four-cylinder or V-6 powered sport utility vehicle.
Highlights: Saturn’s first venture into SUVs, the Vue debuted for 2002, and entered its second generation for 2008. It has been extensively redesigned, both inside and out, and no longer offers the Honda V-6 engine, which has been replaced by a choice of two GM V-6 engines. The Red Line performance edition continues as the most interesting model, and a reworked Green Line gasoline-electric hybrid version also is offered.
Negatives: Manual gearbox no longer available for better fuel economy and lower price; back seat is tight for three people.
Engine: 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder; 3.5-liter V-6; 3.6-liter V-6.
Transmission: Four-speed automatic (four-cylinder models); six-speed automatic (V-6 models only).
Power/Torque: 169 HP./161 foot-pounds (I-4); 222 HP./219 foot-pounds (3.5 V-6); 257 HP./248 foot-pounds (3.6 V-6).
Brakes, front/rear: Disc/disc, antilock.
Length: 180.1 inches.
Curb weight: 3,825-4,325 pounds.
Cargo capacity: 29.2 cubic feet (behind rear seat).
EPA fuel economy: 19 miles per gallon city/26 highway (I-4); 15/22 (3.5-liter, all-wheel drive); 16/24 (3.6-liter, front-wheel drive); 16/22 (3.6-liter, all-wheel drive); 25/32 (Green Line hybrid).
Fuel capacity/type: 19.2 gallons (front-wheel drive); 16.7 gallons (all-wheel drive); regular unleaded.
Base price range: $21,250-$29,350 plus $625 freight.
Price as tested: $31,845 (XR 3.6-liter V-6 AWD, including freight and options).
Major competitors: Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sorento, Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner/Mazda Tribute, Toyota RAV4, Jeep Liberty, Honda CR-V, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Pontiac Torrent/Chevrolet Equinox, Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi Outlander, Subaru Outback.
On the Road rating: 8.3 (of a possible 10).
The automotive columns of G. Chambers Williams III have appeared regularly in the Star-Telegram since 1995. Contact him at chambers@star-telegram.com.
