Friday Fleet Notes: 4.25.08

This Friday's fleet notes come packed with insightful takes on the Saturn Astra, Infiniti EX35, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic EX-L, and Toyota Matrix XRS. Our staff had plenty to say, both good and bad, about the vehicles, so be sure to check out their posts, then link to the expert reviews after the jump.

2008 Saturn Astra

• This was a bummer for me. I was soooo looking forward to driving this car, but when I got behind the wheel I was again greeted by anemic acceleration. However, unlike the Corolla, the Astra XR is supposed to be a fun-to-drive machine. I did not experience much fun. It handled well but felt heavy. The automatic transmission was a dog, and do I need to mention the controls? A fellow reviewer called them hieroglyphics because the symbols are so hard to translate. There’s no USB or AUX-in capability either, not even as an option. Eegads. It was nice-looking, though, I’ll give it that. — David Thomas, senior editor

Weekend Athlete: 2008 Saturn Astra Two-Door

Saturn sponsors a number of races I've participated in, and they've brought this car to a number of them as a promotion. I've really wanted to try it out. It looked like a fun, useful car that would fit my needs. After driving it, it's not all that I'd hoped for, but it's not a dog either.

Midsize Cars Improve in Side Crash Tests

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently concluded crash tests on seven midsize sedans and discovered that while they had improved in side crash tests, they still lacked enough head protection to earn top marks in rear crash tests.

Tested were the 2008 model year Chevrolet Malibu, Dodge Avenger, Infiniti G35, Kia Optima, Mitsubishi Galant (which was updated for the 2009 model year on sale now), Nissan Altima and Saturn Aura.

Only the Kia Optima did not earn the top score of “good” for side impact crash tests – it received the second highest nod, “acceptable.” However, the Optima was the only car in the test to receive a “good” score in rear crash tests.

The difficulty in scoring the top rank in rear tests involves head and neck protection for those rear-end collisions that produce whiplash. The IIHS claims that those types of accidents and injuries lead to losses of $8.5 billion annually. Most vehicles need to equip active head restraints to pass this test.

The Audi A3, A4, Honda Accord, Saab 9-3 and Subaru Legacy – with optional stability control – earned good ratings in all tests previously and earned the IIHS’ Top Safety Pick designation for midsize cars. 

A full chart of how the cars scored is below.

Saturn Goes Social

It seems the world is abuzz with social media these days. Or should that be atwitter? Either way, major companies are taking note, including GM’s Saturn brand. Once known for its customer get-togethers in the hills of Tennessee, the company is moving into today’s Web 2.0 world with imsaturn.com.

The social website allows people to sign in and join the community by creating their own pages, similar to Facebook or MySpace. As I’m writing this post, there are 215 members on the site, which launched sometime last week.

We’re not sure if the world needs more social websites, but Saturn seems to be a logical car brand to do it. What do you think?

OnStar Adding Live Directions to Nav Systems

When GM rolled out turn-by-turn directions for navigation-less models, we were impressed with the thrifty idea even if the execution wasn’t pretty. Now the company is making the obvious leap to adding live operator-provided directions to models equipped with factory-installed navigation systems.

Yep, using Destination Download you’ll be able to call an OnStar operator and get them to send directions to your navigation screen instead of having to type them in yourself.

Saturn, Honda Draw Green Shoppers Online

Compete.com — a free web tracking website — had an interesting blog post today about which car-brand websites green-conscious web surfers go to the most. Naturally, you would think Toyota would be No. 1, seeing as it sells more hybrids than anyone else, but as it turns out Saturn attracts green-conscious buyers in larger percentages than any other site. Based on Saturn’s overall traffic, it had the highest percentage of visitors who classify as environmentally conscious, as defined by Compete. Honda’s website gets the most green consumers overall, though. Toyota and Ford come in a close second and third, respectively.

So what does this say about the brands? For one, it doesn’t seem green sales equal green interest on the web, or Toyota would dominate. What do you think? Check out the full blog post and let us know in the comments below.

Can Going Green Include Your Choice of Automobiles? (Compete)

Cars.com Faceoff: 2008 Mini Cooper S, Saturn Astra, Volvo C30

In one of the toughest Faceoffs in recent memory, Mike Hanley, David Thomas and Joe Wiesenfelder matched up three premium hatchbacks. It was a tough fight, with each car having strengths that won us over. The Volvo had the style, the Mini the go-kart goods and the Astra the practicality. Check out the winner and let us know if you think we got it right.

Cars.comparison: Premium Hatchbacks

Presidential Cash Back from GM

GM has been steady, if not spectacular, in doling out cash back incentives offers over the last six months. Those incentives are getting a sudden spike this week, according to Bloomberg News: The automaker is offering an additional $1,000 cash back on 15 models in an attempt to further boost sales in the typically difficult winter climate.

The promotion includes the 2008 Saturn Vue and Aura, bumping those vehicles’ offers to $2,500. Also receiving rebates, according to Bloomberg, are Buick Lucerne, Chevrolet Silverado, Pontiac G5, and 2007 Corvettes.

The sales are timed to coincide with Presidents’ Day, and if there’s a better way to honor American history than buying a Buick Lucerne or a Chevy Silverado, we’ve yet to hear of it.

For a full list of incentives, check out Cars.com’s Incentives Page and Top 10 Rebates list.

Reader Review of the Week: 2008 Saturn Vue

The winner of this Reader Review of the Week impressed us by taking a different perspective on shopping for a new car. Struck with the foreign idea of buying a new vehicle for more than $40,000, “Loves Technology” from Pittsburgh, Penn., wanted to take a look at all those models that were previously out of reach, price-wise. Yet with brands like BMW, Lexus and Infiniti now real possibilities, our reviewer found that perhaps there is less to a good name than he thought. The 2008 Saturn Vue not only impressed him, but he could load one up with options and still come in under the price of some of those higher-end competitors.

New Saturn Astra Arriving at Dealerships

This is what happens when an automaker sets a firm date for a car’s sale: It doesn’t always happen exactly as planned. Saturn assigned a sale date of Jan. 2 for the all-new Saturn Astra compact hatchback, but we heard reports from readers saying it simply hadn’t arrived, even though they had ordered one.

Today, Saturn confirmed to Cars.com the Astra started arriving at dealerships late last week — a week late — and are now showing up in local inventories.

Readers should know it does take some time for any new model to show up in all its varying trim levels and colors across the country. The Astra is also being imported from Europe — it’s built in Belgium — so time to the dealership will be longer than it is for most domestic cars.

2008 Detroit Auto Show: Saturn Flextreme Concept

• Looks like: GM built an aerodynamic Chevy Volt
• Defining characteristics: Wind-cheating shape, E-Flex electric drivetrain with diesel-powered generator
• Ridiculous features: Two Segways stowed under the cargo floor
• Chance of being mass-produced: E-Flex is well into production development, but what the cars will look like is anyone's guess

Like all Saturn production models except the Outlook, the Flextreme concept has a sister in Germany. Opel rolled out its version of the concept, under the same model name, at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2007. Both use a version of the E-Flex series-hybrid drivetrain introduced in last year's Chevy Volt. As in that concept, these are electric cars that run off a lithium-ion battery for up to 34 miles and are equipped with a generator to keep the car going up to 444 miles if the battery poops out. The difference is that the generator here is powered by a diesel rather than a gasoline engine. GM emphasizes that ethanol and fuel-cell versions will be part of the eventual offering.

A new and significant tidbit is Saturn's claim that the battery will recharge within three hours, where previously a vague "overnight" estimate was cited. The difference is consequential; any employer who offers electrical outlets in the parking lot effectively doubles the commuter's electric-only range. Someone who lives up to 30 miles from work theoretically could drive to and from work — and even bust out for lunch — without ever burning petroleum.

The Flextremes aren't merely sisters; they're twins. The badges are different, but they otherwise share the same look — that of a jelly bean with four hidden doors and cameras in lieu of side mirrors. It's not as interesting a shape as the Volt, but it's likely to avoid the aerodynamics shortcomings that have put the Chevy back on the drawing board. The rounded nose puts the headlight clusters and upper grille behind flush-fitting plastic windows, which cuts down on drag and, well, makes the grille not really a grille. GM says the crescent headlight shapes hint at the future look of Saturns — and Opels.

Check out more photos below.

GM Continues Year-End Incentives

There's plenty of hype about year-end sales deals, and it's easy for deals to get lost in the shuffle. The Event of a Lifetime? Sounds a bit dramatic. Red Tag Sales Event? Better get shopping — those tags are red! For some, they’re just another unwelcome level of anxiety around the holidays — a mad rush to make cars fly out dealership doors before the year's over. But do they pay dividends?

For the consumer, at least in GM's case, the answer is no. Despite fussing over its December Red Tag Sales Event, the manufacturer is keeping offers going through March 3. Many of those offers — especially on 2007 models — are nearly identical to last month's deals, meaning consumers who sat things out in December have an extra couple of months to breathe deeply before buying.

Check out all of GM's deals — like $2,750 off a 2007 Saturn Vue, or 0.0% financing on a 2007 GMC Acadia — on Cars.com's Incentives page.

2008 Detroit Auto Show: 2009 Saturn Vue Green Line 2 Mode Hybrid

• Competes with: Ford Escape Hybrid, Mazda Tribute Hybrid, Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V
• Looks like: The regular Vue and other Vue Green Line, with a few tweaks
• Drivetrain: 3.6-liter direct-injection V-6 with four-speed automatic, two 55-kilowatt electric motors and a 300-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery
• Hits dealerships: Late 2008

In addition to having one of the longest model names you'll find, Saturn's 2009 Vue Green Line 2 Mode Hybrid also has the second application of GM’s two-mode "full" hybrid system, which first appeared on the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon and has since spread to other full-size GM SUVs and pickups. This makes it the first instance of 2 Mode in a front-wheel-drive model, too.

Saturn boasts that this car is the world's most efficient V-6 SUV, which is a fudge, because the only other hybrid V-6 SUVs are larger: the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and its Lexus sister, the RX 400h. More impressive is the claimed 50% improvement in mileage over the gas-only Vue. Less impressive, however, is the fact that they're comparing it to the gas-only Vue XR V-6 — which has exhibited disappointing fuel economy to start with — not the four-cylinder Vue or the other Vue Green Line. 

Wait? There's another Vue Green Line? Yes, Saturn will continue to sell the existing Green Line, a "mild" hybrid that improves efficiency by roughly 10% by turning off the engine at stoplights and some other basic hybrid tricks. The original Green Line uses a four-cylinder gas engine. The new 2 Mode version uses a direct-injection 3.6-liter V-6.

Of the 50% combined-mileage increase, Saturn says the greater benefit is in city driving, where it says drivers will see an improvement between 55 and 75%; the highway mileage boost is 15 to 25%. Certified EPA mileage figures haven’t been given yet, but these percentages would turn the Vue XR FWD's 16/23 mpg city/highway and 19 mpg combined ratings to roughly 25 to 28 mpg city and between 26.5 and 28.75 mpg highway, with a combined rating of almost 29 mpg.

For comparison, the four-cylinder Vue rates 19/26 and 22 mpg combined. The current Vue Green Line is rated 25/32 and 28 mpg combined. So why pay what’s sure to be a considerable premium for the 2 Mode when the simpler Green Line's combined mileage is so close? Saturn says the point is that the 2 Mode delivers this mileage with no sacrifice in acceleration (0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds) or towing (3,500 pounds). More photos below. 

Recall Alert: 275,000 Cadillac, Pontiac, Saturn Cars and Crossovers

Today, GM announced it would recall 275,936 vehicles in the U.S. due to a faulty seal. The recalled vehicles include:

• 2005-07 Cadillac CTS
• 2005-07 Cadillac STS
• 2005-07 Cadillac SRX
• 2006-07 Pontiac Solstice
• 2007 Saturn Sky

The company said it had received a “higher than normal” number of warranty claims for the faulty seal, which can leak fluid, leading to a loss of control. One crash has been reported, in which the rear wheels locked due to a leak. In another incident, a driver was injured when his vehicle lost control.

The seal will be replaced for free, and the recall will begin in February 2008. Owners can call Cadillac at 800-982-2339, Pontiac at 800-620-7668 and Saturn at 800-972-8876 for more information.

GM Announces Recall (BusinessWeek)

Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Saturn Astra

General Motors is finally bringing a highly successful European compact car stateside, in the form of the Saturn Astra. Based on the Opel Astra, which GM sells under different names all across the globe, it replaces the affordable Ion sedan and coupe — although with a heftier price tag because, well, it’s a better car. Cars.com reviewer Joe Wiesenfelder takes the Astra for a spin to see if it can overcome the price challenge, and to see if it can compete with rivals like the Honda Civic and Mazda3.

2008 Saturn Astra Expert Review (Cars.com)

Saturn Tweaks Vue Airbags, Now Tops Side-Impact Tests

Crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety are so important to gaining sales that automakers will tweak an existing design to get a top rating. That’s exactly what Saturn did after its new Vue SUV earned just an Average rating — the second best — in side-impact crash tests conducted by IIHS. To get a top rating of Good, Saturn redesigned its side curtain airbags to protect the heads of rear passengers. After the change, it passed a subsequent test.

Interestingly enough, in the original test there were no injuries even though the airbags didn’t deploy accurately enough. The redesigned airbags will be installed in all Vues produced after December 2007, or from January 2008 on. You can find the build date of a Saturn Vue on a sticker on the driver’s door jam, near the tire ratings. Dealers should also be able to find the build date on the vehicle’s invoice.

With these changes, the 2008 Saturn Vue gets the IIHS' highest honor as a Top Safety Pick.

Recall Alert: Chevy Equinox, Pontiac Torrent, Others

GM is recalling 69,000 vehicles for various issues. The biggest chunk of the recall involves 57,100 2007-model-year Chevy Equinox and Pontiac Torrent SUVs. The recall is safety-related, but not a defect, per se. The company will install additional safety foam in models not equipped with side airbags or sunroofs. The change will help lessen the chance of head injuries in a crash.

GM is also recalling 20,514 2001-model-year Saturn L-Series cars over a timing chain in the engine that could separate when the engine is running.

Rounding out the recall announcement are 11,974 2001-model-year Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks equipped with 8.1-liter V-8 engines. A faulty sensor can cause the engine in these trucks to stall.

GM Recalls Pickups, SUVs (Detroit Free Press)

Cars.com Small SUV Faceoff

Last year we had the Toyota RAV4 take on the Honda CR-V and Mitsubishi Outlander in a battle royal of cute utes. The Toyota won, which means it now has to defend its title against two newcomers: the Nissan Rogue and the Saturn Vue. It was stiff competition, but in the end the winner was an easy choice. Check out the results.

Cars.comparison: Small SUVs, Take II

2008 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid Prices, Mileage

When the 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid SUV goes on sale in mid-November, it will get the best highway mileage of any SUV on the market. Priced at $24,170 — not including a $625 destination charge — it will also cost less than the competition, mainly Ford’s Escape Hybrid, which comes in at $25,655. The Vue Green Line’s mileage is rated at 25/32 mpg city/highway for the front-wheel-drive model, compared to the Escape’s 34/30 mpg. The Escape easily beats it on combined and city mileage, but we’re still impressed at the price for the Vue, which has a significantly superior interior and cargo area. We don’t know what the tax credit will be for the Vue Green Line, but there will be one when it goes on sale.

For the greenies out there who think this is still not enough mileage, Saturn will launch another hybrid Vue later in 2008 using the company’s new two-mode hybrid system. This system will reportedly get 45% better mileage than the non-hybrid XE, which is rated at 19/26 mpg, and we’re guessing it will be more money too. Saturn also says it’s planning on introducing a plug-in hybrid version of the Vue, presumably based on technology the company is developing for the much-hyped Chevy Volt.

Saturn Astra on Sale Jan. 2, 2008

All signs pointed to Saturn’s new hatchback – an upscale Ion replacement — going on sale late in the fall of 2007. Think before Thanksgiving. Now, those longing for one of the all-new two- and four-door hatchbacks will have to wait through a few more holidays — until Jan. 2, 2008, when the car will officially go on sale nationwide.

To satiate those of you waiting anxiously to test drive an Astra, there are a number of presale drive events throughout the country. Saturn has a microsite — yes, two in one day — that gives dates and locations.

Related
More Saturn Astra News (KickingTires)

UAW Strike Against GM Ends, Everyone Happy

We’re not sure what exactly was holding things up over the weekend that led to the GM strike that lasted two days, but all sides seem to be happy today. The main sticking point, it turned out, wasn’t the UAW taking over retirement health care management — stay awake one more second — it was GM providing some kind of reassurance that there is job security for UAW members.

Oddly enough, this morning there are still no specifics on how GM managed to offer job security in an industry that is seeing increasing competition not just from Japan and Korea but from China as well.

GM says this deal helps reduce the gap in costs between foreign nameplate cars made in America with its own products. There’s roughly $200 per vehicle that domestics pay more than imports that use non-UAW labor. We’ll keep an eye on new car prices to see if they dip $200 or if the company adds more features. We’re not holding our breath on the former.

GM, UAW Reach Tentative Deal; Strike is Off (The Detroit News)

GM Extends Financing for 2006 Models

GM has beefed up its incentives programs, extending 0.0 APR financing offers on most models in its family — including Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, Hummer, Pontiac, Saturn and Saab — to 60 months. The bad news is that the zero-percent-for-60-months-on-every-model offer only applies to 2006 models, which are often hard to find. On many of those models, GM has added an additional $1,000 cash bonus to those financing offers.

Customers also have the option of bigger cash rebates without the financing deal. Cash back ranges from $500 all the way up to the 2006 Cadllac STS’ ever-generous $9,000 offer. All offers expire Oct. 1.

For a complete rundown of GM and other manufacturer incentives, see Cars.com’s incentives page. You can search new car inventory, including new 2006 models, on Cars.com here.

Friday Fleet Notes: 9.7.07

Friday Fleet Notes returns with a solid batch of cars we’ve recently reviewed. This week’s installment features second thoughts on the new Nissan Altima coupe, Hummer H3 Alpha, Saturn Vue Red Line and Honda Ridgeline, giving added insight for folks who didn’t get enough from the original review.

2008 Nissan Altima Coupe

I recently spent another day or so with the 2008 Altima SE coupe reviewed in July by David Thomas. I like it now as I did then, and it got me musing on the issue of continuously variable automatic transmissions, which the Altima teams with its 3.5-liter V-6. This is one of the best CVT executions out there — a technology that hasn’t grown on me as much as I’d expected. As a class, they tend to have a delay when accelerating to pass, and they often rev the engine faster than expected under light acceleration. This results in more noise than many are comfortable with, and I think it increases the perception of lag, because surely this thing should be going faster with all the noise it’s making. Part of it is driver adjustment and part of it is a legitimate drawback.

First Drive: 2008 Saturn Vue Red Line

A few months ago, I was introduced to the all-new 2008 Saturn Vue and was relatively impressed with the package on my XR tester. It had a nice V-6 engine, a high-quality interior and a utilitarian cargo area. When the Vue Red Line arrived in our fleet I was expecting a car similar to the XR, only better — or at least faster. The only thing better about the Red Line, though, were the seats.

Aesthetically, the Red Line features a huge front bumper and lower grille. Teamed with a lowered suspension, they give the SUV a go-fast look, but Saturn didn’t add any extra horsepower to the Red Line. Why not make it a go-fast SUV in the speed department, too?

Saturn Prices All-New Astra Hatchback

Instead of hearing about pricing for the new Astra two- and four-door hatchbacks through the standard channels, we were forwarded a brochure from Saturn’s regular old website, Saturn.com. On the last page of the brochure is a breakdown of pricing for the three available models, which start at $15,995 and top out at $19,820, including destination charges.

However, the base XE model’s low tag of $15,995 doesn’t include air conditioning, which is a $960 option, bringing the total to $16,955. We’re a bit dismayed car companies are still trying this tactic to keep advertised prices low, when in reality buyers won’t be able to find said $15,995 Astra on a dealer lot.

The low-end price still doesn’t compete with the Dodge Caliber or Mazda3, but at the top level it’s almost identically priced to the competition. For the full list of prices and options, read below. The new Astras will go on sale this fall. Don’t forget to tell us if you think the price is right.

Related
More Saturn Astra News (KickingTires)

Ch-Ch-Changes: 2008 Saturn Aura, Now with Four Cylinders

When General Motors debuted the Saturn Aura sedan last year with a base V-6 engine and a more powerful V-6 optional we were perplexed. If a company is going to sell a mid-size sedan to compete with the Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, how could it not offer a lower priced four-cylinder option? GM explained its new Chevy Malibu would offer a full range, leaving Saturn with some exclusivity with a still-affordable V-6 lineup.

GM has changed course, however. For the 2008 model year the Aura will come with a four-cylinder engine in the XE-4 model. The XE-6 will also be made with the same standard 3.5-liter V6 it did last year. There is also a hybrid version of the Aura called the Green Line. That raises another question. The Saturn Green Line gets 24/32 mpg in city and highway driving while the EPA lists the new four-cylinder XE at 22/30. Will shoppers pay more for so little improvement at the pump? Prices and availability have not been announced but expect the new XE-4 to cost less than the 2007 XE which started at $20,345.

Ch-Ch-Changes: 2008 Toyota Prius

Toyota is battling with Saturn over the title of the most affordable hybrid on the market. The 2008 Prius reclaims that title with a stripped “Standard” version that will start at $20,950. There will also be the better equipped “Touring” model, which starts at $23,220. Neither price includes a $660 destination charge.

Saturn’s Aura Hybrid isn’t a full hybrid like the Prius, but the Aura enjoyed the honor of being the lowest priced hybrid when it debuted at $22,045 earlier this year.

The 2008 Prius will arrive at dealers in August and, besides the new trim designations, remains basically unchanged from the 2007 model.

Related
More Forecast News (KickingTires)
Saturn Prices Aura Green Line Hybrid Sedan (KickingTires)

GM Adds iPod Adapter to Some Cars

A big trend in the automotive industry is to offer optional iPod adapters that not only plug portable players into car stereos, but also display track information and allow drivers to control the iPod through the stock stereo. GM is getting into the game a bit late and on a limited basis by offering its new Personal Audio Link on the Chevy HHR, Chevy Cobalt, Pontiac G5, Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky only, at a cost of $159.

The price may sound expensive, especially because it doesn’t include installation, but it’s priced comparably to other manufacturers out there. Scion of course includes similar iPod links as standard equipment. We’re a bit surprised that this GM adapter isn’t available in more vehicles across its brands, but perhaps more current models will be added. Future models like the upcoming 2008 Cadillac CTS have iPod integration built-in. 

Reader Review of the Week: 2008 Saturn Vue

Regular readers already know the 2008 Saturn Vue is a completely different vehicle than the 2007 it replaces, but the everyday car shopper might still think the two are somehow related. Take our award-free Reader Review of the Week winner, “New Vue Owner,” from Maryland. He went to the Saturn dealer to drive both the ’07 and ’08 and figured it all out quite quickly. His pros and cons seem in line, too.

Consumer Reports Praises New Saturn

General Motors’ decision to take its Saturn division off life support by giving it some viable new products is paying dividends.

Consumer Reports, which traditionally doesn't fawn over domestic vehicles, says the 2007 Saturn Outlook crossover is among the best models from GM in years and that it gives both the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander a run for their money.

Consumer Reports’ August issue, which comes out today, includes a test of eight mid- and full-size crossovers and SUVs in which the Outlook scored a "very good" and ranked as the best domestic crossover and third-best crossover overall, behind the top-rated midsize Highlander Hybrid and Pilot. Rating it against full-size SUVs, the midsize Outlook was rated second best behind only the Mercedes-Benz GL450. The Outlook outscored the Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator and Chevrolet Suburban.

GM Offers Incentives for Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend is usually a time when automakers offer sales, specials and incentives on new cars. So far, except for the GM brigade, we haven’t seen many flashy advertisements on automakers’ consumer sites. General Motors is offering zero-percent APR financing combined with $1,000 cash back on select models, listed below, until May 31. Read the fine print, however, as these kind of incentives typically require a qualified buyer, limited financing terms and sometimes a down payment of up to 15 percent.

Buick
2006 and 2007 LaCrosse and Lucerne

Chevrolet
2006 and 2007 Cobalt, Malibu, Impala, Suburban and Tahoe; 2007 Silverado

GMC
2007 Sierra; 2006 and 2007 Yukon

Pontiac
2006 and 2007 G5, G6 and Torrent

Saturn
2007 Ion, Vue and Relay

Friday Fleet Notes: 05.25.07

We’ve got a healthy list of staff reviews this week, as we’ve been flooded with some particularly interesting cars, such as the 2007 Chevrolet HHR Panel and a couple of new models from Saturn. Senior reviewer Joe Wiesenfelder gives his take on the Audi RS 4 and 2008 Saturn Vue that we recently posted full-length reviews of earlier this week.

2007 Chevrolet HHR Panel

I’m not sure who would buy this car. A florist in Malibu? A contractor in the Hamptons? Purely as a delivery skiff, it didn’t impress me. I hauled my mom and her luggage to the airport one morning, and the rubber floormats could’ve used some dividers to keep things from shifting around. We didn’t mess with the dual storage bins behind the front seats, but they seemed large enough to swallow a bag or two.

Not that anyone looking for serious storage would choose this. With a starting price north of $18,000, you could easily ramp up to a Dodge Caravan cargo van — it has more than double the room in back, and with the current discounts the outgoing 2007 model starts in the same price neighborhood.

Granted, the HHR panel has a higher cool factor than the Caravan, but some of its features have more style than substance. The two rear doors unlatch with the push of a dashboard button, but that requires you to climb up front first. I wish the buttons had made it onto the key fob, or — imagine this — Chevy had left the handles on the back doors. The paneled windows, meanwhile, make for a wicked blind spot. My advice: Change lanes reeeaaal slow.

• Kelsey Mays, assistant editor

Cars.com Reviews 2008 Saturn Vue

Last week we brought you some early thoughts on the all-new Saturn Vue from the Suburban Dad and via a photo gallery. Today, the full Cars.com review of the compact SUV went live with our verdict on Saturn’s most significant new model yet.

2008 Saturn Vue Expert Review

Review Preview: 2008 Saturn Vue XR

In our continuing effort to bring you the most up-to-date information on the all-new 2008 Saturn Vue, here is a preview of the review I’m working on for Cars.com. Below is a link to a photo gallery with a number of photographs of our test vehicle. When I’m reviewing a car, I like to use my digital camera to take snapshots of things that interest me instead of just relying on written notes.

Then when I sit down to write the review I have some visual reminders of the placement of controls, the gauge layout, materials and other tidbits I might have forgotten otherwise. I also rely a lot on our staff photographer’s work for exterior and interior styling. So, check out the photo gallery and take a peek at the visual writer’s notepad.

2008 Saturn Vue Review Preview Gallery

Related
Suburban Dad: 2008 Saturn Vue XR (KickingTires)
More 2008 Saturn Vue Photos and Info (KickingTires)
2007 Chicago Auto Show: 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line (KickingTires)
2007 Chicago Auto Show: 2008 Saturn Vue Red Line (KickingTires)

Reader Review of The Week: 2007 Saturn Outlook

The best no-prize award in the automotive blogosphere finds its way to Canada this week. Glenn, a new Saturn Outlook owner, left an informative missive about his new mode of transportation. We always find it interesting to hear real-world stories about the first 500 miles driven or trips to camping sites. You can read Glenn’s full consumer review below, and you can write your own review here.

Suburban Dad: 2008 Saturn Vue XR

*Editor’s Note: We were originally planning to publish full coverage, including a Cars.com expert review, video and photos, of the all-new 2008 Saturn Vue on May 25, based on a GM embargo. That embargo has been lifted as of today, so we’re bringing you as much information as we can in a timely manner. We’ll alert readers when the full review goes live, but for now check out a take on the vital new Saturn product from our in-house family man.

Saturn is a family-friendly nameplate, so Suburban Dad has gotten time in many of its recent offerings. The best so far is the redesigned Vue. I wasn’t a fan of the last one, or frankly of many of Saturn’s previous offerings, because I thought they were design duds: bland and boring — terms commonly used for Suburban Dads, by the way.

The new generation of Saturns is sharp, with some good interiors, and should remake the company’s image in the eyes of consumers.

As a family-mobile, I liked the Vue. The second row offers plenty of space, keeping my three kids (relatively) happy. The cargo area seemed plenty large despite being one of the smaller ones in the class, and the adjustable and collapsible cargo net with four movable, lockable points is a great idea. Far too often I can’t keep the milk from rolling over the bread or the eggs. With the net able to adjust so that it can even be on a tilt, you can manage your cargo safely.

More 2008 Saturn Vue Photos and Info

As the day approaches when the all-new Saturn Vue will go on sale near the end of this month, we’ve gotten more information on it, including new photos of a Sunburst Orange XR model as well as full specs on the SUV.

We’ll bring you more information in the weeks ahead, as we’re unfortunately not allowed to discuss how the new SUV rides or handles until May 25.

2008 Saturn VUE XR Photo Gallery
2008 Saturn VUE Specifications

First Drive: 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line

I tested Saturn's Aura midsize sedan last year and had a chance to get in its new hybrid version last week. The Aura Green Line shares its hybrid drivetrain with Saturn’s Vue Green Line SUV and gets an EPA-estimated 28/35 mpg (city/highway). That's the same rating as the Honda Accord Hybrid but less than the Toyota Camry Hybrid's 40/38 mpg. If the Aura isn’t already at your local Saturn dealership, it should be arriving shortly.

The Aura Green Line has what’s called a mild hybrid system that supplements the car's four-cylinder gasoline engine with additional power from an electric motor/generator when accelerating. The car doesn't move on battery power alone, like a Prius. The Aura’s total system output is 164 hp, which is adequate, and more importantly it operates seamlessly. If you didn’t know you were driving a hybrid, there's relatively little from the driving experience — apart from the engine shut-off feature when the car comes to a stop — to clue you in to the fact.

Cars.com Gives Saturn Outlook Clean Bill of Health

When senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder tested the all-new Saturn Outlook crossover in December, he discovered a significant hesitation in the transmission. It turns out he wasn’t the only one. Many of our readers noted the same thing, and GM recently addressed the issue with a software upgrade. This week, the GMC Acadia (the sister vehicle to the Outlook) was in the fleet for testing with the recalibrated transmission — identical to the Outlook’s — and Joe deemed it lag-free this time out. 

Read his full take on the Outlook, including his note on the transmission update, here.

Related:
Saturn Tackles Outlook Engine Lag

GM Rolls Out March Incentives

Starting today, March 15, and running through April 3, GM is offering 0% financing and $1,000 cash back on a number of new 2006-’07 Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, GMC and Saturn cars, including the new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickups.

The 0% financing is for 36 months with 2.9% for 48 months and 4.9% for 60 months to qualified buyers.

The two-week deal is to spur sales for the rest of March and includes some interesting new models, besides the trucks. GM dubs the deals the “Spring Sales Event” or “Upgrade Event,” depending on the brand. Keep reading for a list of models.