GM Stops Saturn Production; What Now?

GM stopped producing new Saturns yesterday after news broke that its deal to sell the brand to Penske Automotive Group fell through. People were shocked in both the executive suites of Detroit and the 350 Saturn dealerships across the country. Add in the thousands of Saturn owners and potential buyers, and there’s a lot of confusion over the future of GM’s formerly “different” car company. Here’s what you need to know if you’re a Saturn owner or potential buyer.

Penske Reaches Deal With GM to Buy Saturn

With Hummer sold off earlier this week, GM has now announced a tentative deal with Roger Penske for the businessman to buy its struggling Saturn brand.

According to Saturn, the deal would save more than 13,000 jobs and keep 350 Saturn dealerships from closing.

Under the deal, GM would continue to make Saturn products — like the Aura, Outlook and Vue — for Penske until 2011.

There’s been no word on whether GM will continue to build the Sky or Astra. The assembly plant for the Sky is due to close this summer, and Saturn didn’t release a 2009 Astra in the U.S.

After 2011, Penske reportedly plans to sell globally sourced vehicles; Automotive News is reporting that Penske will sell Renault Samsung vehicles built in South Korea at Saturn dealerships.

The tentative agreement saves Saturn and its customer-friendly dealers from an almost certain death. GM had previously announced that without a buyer it would close the brand down by the end of this year.

GM, Penske reach tentative deal for Saturn brand (Detroit Free Press) 
Penske plan: Sell Samsung vehicles at Saturn stores (Cnet)

Saturn Vue Two-Mode Hybrid Rated at 28 MPG

Remember the Saturn Vue Two-Mode Hybrid? If you don’t, you’ll never know it, as this Saturn Vue model will never go on sale.

The vehicle was so close to launch that the EPA even tested it: The Vue Two-Mode would have received a 27/30 mpg city/highway, 28 mpg combined rating. That means the ill-fated 255-hp hybrid crossover would have been more fuel-efficient than the 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid (though that model is larger and comes equipped with all-wheel drive), but less efficient than the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid and 2010 Lexus RX 450h.

The Vue Two-Mode Hybrid was part of Saturn’s aggressive hybrid strategy, which was intended to lead to a plug-in hybrid in 2010. The Vue Two-Mode Hybrid was equipped with a powerful V-6 engine and could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds and tow up to 3,500 pounds.

The model would have complemented the Vue Hybrid, which has a 172-hp four-cylinder powertrain and, interestingly enough, achieves the same combined EPA rating – 28 mpg – as its erstwhile Two-Mode sibling would have.

No New Saturns or Hummers after 2009

During GM’s announcement today that Pontiac would no longer exist after 2010, the company also said it would stop producing new Saturns after the 2009 model year and Hummers by the end of 2009.

Previously, GM had said it would build Saturn through 2011. The 2009 model year is currently being sold; GM generally switches over to the new model year during the summer. This means no new Saturns — and likely no new Hummers — will roll off assembly lines after this summer.

While the end of Pontiac may be seen as a sad day to automotive buffs, the same can’t be said for Saturn and Hummer. The two brands don’t have the cachet or fanbase of the 83-year-old Pontiac. However, this accelerated timeline caught the industry off guard.

If you’re thinking of buying a car or SUV from either brand, spokesmen from both companies say that they will be fully backed by GM’s warranty until either brand is sold. That same warranty is also backed by the U.S. government for any GM vehicle sold through May 31.

Both Saturn and Hummer are in the process of being sold to new owners. There are a number of scenarios for each brand, which we detail below.

Recall Alert: 2008-09 Saturn Vue

GM has issued a recall for the 2008 and 2009 Saturn Vue because of a malfunction with the power steering, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall affects 42,408 vehicles that may have a faulty nut securing the power-steering line, which could lead to a fluid leak.

If the fluid comes into contact with hot exhaust components, it could result in a fire in the engine. If you own a 2008 or 2009 Saturn Vue, dealers will inspect the power-steering line, tighten the nut and check if a fluid leak has occurred.

Owners can contact Saturn at 800-972-8876, or the NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.

Saturn Employee Pricing: Good Prices, No Haggling

The No Haggle approach from Saturn has always been a mixed blessing, drawing in folks who don’t want pressure from salesman while turning off shoppers who think they won’t get the best deal. Well, with GM’s new employee pricing program there are some very good deals to be had at Saturn. While the total savings might not “wow” buyers like the ones available on big SUVs and aging models will, remember that Saturn’s entire lineup has been revamped over the past two years. 

While there will be a more fuel-efficient four-cylinder version of the Aura sedan for 2009, the 2008 Aura XR with a V-6 will remain basically unchanged, and it’s seeing almost 18% in total savings. Saturn’s two excellently reviewed — and Cars.com favorites — SUVs, the Outlook and Vue, both have more than 10% in total savings.

The State of the 'Other Hybrids'

The media and car shoppers are going into hybrid hysteria. We reported last week that if you wanted a new Toyota Prius or Honda Civic Hybrid, you’d wait months to get your hands on one. Those are possibly the two most visible hybrids on the market. But what of the other hybrids out there? What others? Well, GM and Ford also sell hybrids, but just because you might not know much about them doesn’t mean they’re sitting around on lots collecting dust.

There are three very alluring hybrid SUVs on the market: The 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line, which for 2009 will just be called the Vue Hybrid; the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid, soon to be replaced by an even more efficient 2009 version; and the 2008 Chevy Tahoe/GMC Yukon hybrid.

The first two are compact SUVs that return mpg numbers that are better than most standard four-cylinder midsize sedans. The 2008 Escape FWD gets 34/30 mpg city/highway and the 2008 Vue — only available in FWD — gets 25/32 mpg city/highway. You pay for the hybrid with the Ford; it starts at $27,445 versus $21,685 for its four-cylinder gasoline counterpart. The hybrid Vue starts less at $25,645 versus $21,525 for the four-cylinder base model.

However, neither model is exactly easy to find.

Saturn Drops 'Green Line' Name for Hybrids

Saturn was one of the first domestic automakers to add a hybrid to its lineup when the Vue Green Line debuted in the summer of 2006. You know, back when gas was less than $3 a gallon. Being Saturn, “the different kind of car company,” it enlisted a name for its line of hybrids, which includes the Vue and the Aura sedan: Green Line. Complete with a little badge, too.

Times have changed and car shoppers don’t have the time to decipher cute little badges as they frantically search for a hybrid to save them from high gas prices. So for 2009 models, Saturn has officially dumped the Green Line moniker.

According to Saturn spokesman Mike Morrissey, “It was simply a practical matter. As we expand our hybrid lineup, the names were getting a bit long. It's hard to write a short sentence about the Saturn Vue Green Line 2-Mode Hybrid."

Speaking for the rest of the editorial team at Cars.com, thank you, Mike.

As for Saturn’s performance lineup, known as Red Line, that name and cute little badge will remain intact for 2009 and the foreseeable future.

Oh, and if you’re waiting for the high-mileage Saturn Vue 2-Mode Hybrid, it will go on sale in early 2009. Until then, the current Vue Hybrid, with its mild hybrid system that returns 25/32 mpg city/highway, is still on sale, mostly lost in the hybrid-hysteria media coverage. That’s better gas mileage than a four-cylinder Toyota Camry or Honda Accord sedan, but slightly behind Ford's Escape Hybrid SUV.

Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line

The mileage gains the 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line can claim over the regular Vue top those of other GM hybrid versions, like the Chevy Malibu or Saturn Aura, but the price differential for the hybrid Vue is also steeper. Reviewer Kelsey Mays spent some time in the Vue Green Line trying to decide if the vehicle made up for the extra cost.

Throw into the mix Saturn's plans to offer a 2-Mode full hybrid later this year, and you've got yourself a range of options to sort through. Read Kelsey's full review to get his thoughts on pricing versus fuel economy.

2008 Saturn Vue Green Line Expert Review (Cars.com)

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.