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.

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. 

Best Cash-Back Finds: 12.27.07

Many year-end incentives end on January 2 so we thought it would be a good time to sift through the deals and see what models are actually worth your hard-earned cash-back dollars. For a list of all incentives, click here.

2008 Saturn Vue

• MSRP: $21,250
• Cash back: $2,000
• Percent off MSRP: 9.4%
• Expires: 1/2/08
• 5-Year Ownership Costs
• Cars.com Best New Car for Small Families

The redesigned Saturn Vue is a favorite at the Cars.com offices. It recently won our small SUV faceoff against the Nissan Rogue and Toyota RAV4 and has a relatively upscale interior. It also scored nearly perfect on IIHS crash tests — an airbag redesign will have future Vue’s in fact perfect. The one main fault with the Vue is the seemingly high MSRP on certain trim levels. With $2,000 off that — including the sporty Red Line trim — this is a great deal.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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)

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

2007 Chicago Auto Show: 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line

Saturn sure knows how to name its performance and high speed variants. Nothing speaks to sports car enthusiasts like the red line and nothing says hybrid like the word green. Thus the company’s Red Line and Green Line models. The 2008 Saturn Green Line will debut at the end of 2007 with the same powertrain in the current Vue Green Line. That powerplant uses a few various hybrid technologies to eke out 27/32 mpg city/highway in the current iteration.

A year after this new Vue Green Line debuts, Saturn will release a new two-mode hybrid that will get even better mileage. However, that won’t be rolling out until late in 2008. Until then, greenies will have to be satisfied with this Green Line.

Related:
2006 L.A. Auto Show: 2008 Saturn Vue

2007 Chicago Auto Show: 2008 Saturn Vue Red Line

Saturn is preparing a few models for this year’s Chicago Auto Show. Even though the show doesn’t open to the public until Friday — or to the press until Wednesday — the company is showing some early glimpses of what will be atop the twirling pedestals. The Vue Red Line is the hotrodded version of Saturn’s radically redesigned compact SUV.

The Red Line comes with a 250 hp 3.6-liter V-6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission with manual controls standard. Front-wheel drive is standard with all-wheel drive optional.  The regular, non-Red Line Vue features a V-6 option but that engine produces 215-hp.  There will also be exclusive black interior, leather sport seats with suede inserts and a bunch of Red Line logos inside and out.

The 2008 Vue Red Line will go on sale late summer/early fall.

Related:
2006 L.A. Auto Show: 2008 Saturn Vue