Saturn Vue Receives Praise

The Saturn brand’s lineup has been revitalized by General Motors and the carmakers effort did not go unnoticed as the current lineup of the import fighting brand has been praised by many. In fact the redesigned Saturn Aura was named the 2007 North American Car of the Year earlier this year by automotive journalists. Another redesigned model in Saturn's lineup is the Saturn Vue.

The Vue also has its share of praises. Thanks to collaboration with German carmaker Opel, the new Vue is considered light-years away from its forerunner. In both styling and performance, the Saturn Vue is completely different from its best selling predecessor.

Car and Driver, the automotive enthusiast magazine has this to say about the new Vue: “Aside from the sexy Sky roadster (re-badged as the Opel GT), the 2008 Vue (Opel Antara) may be the best-looking of the current Saturn lineup. The high-arcing roofline, the sporty beltline, and the thicker D-pillars compromise visibility a touch, but it's about style, man. Nobody chops the top on his '32 Ford five inches and then complains about visibility.”

The new Vue was designed with European styling which it needs to take on the likes of the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 for supremacy in their segment. The almost boxy Vue of the past gave way to a more rotund vehicle which makes it look bulky. The new headlight configuration complements the grille which in turn is accented by the Saturn badge.

With the crossover segment becoming more and more competitive and car buyers depending more and more on the web and publications for information regarding vehicles, favorable reviews will go a long way in promoting a particular vehicle.

Edmunds.com, the leading online source for automotive information has this to say about the redesigned Saturn Vue: “The 2008 Saturn Vue has the same 106.6-inch wheelbase as before, but it's a little wider and a little taller. More important, the curvaceous new bodywork has a clean, polished Euro-style look, especially in the Polar White of our test vehicle. Black side vents and dual stainless-steel exhaust tips add to its daring new persona.”

The Saturn Vue’s standard engine is a 2.4-liter Ecotec engine with variable valve timing. This feature allows the engine to consume less fuel. The Ecotec engine can produce as much as 169 horsepower. For those who needs more power than what the small internal combustion engine offers, they can use Saturn cold air intake systems which are available in the market.

Aside from the 2.4-liter engine, General Motors also offers a 3.5-liter V6 engine with an output of 222 horsepower. Another engine choice is the slightly bigger 3.6-liter double overhead cam V6 engine with an output of 25 horsepower.

The 2008 Saturn Vue is being produced at General Motors’s assembly facility in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.

The Vue will be offered as a hybrid in the near future as the demand for environment friendly and fuel efficient vehicles increases. The hybrid Vue known as the Green Line uses General Motors’ mild hybrid powertrain. It essentially means that while the vehicle’s engine is supported by an electric motor, the electric motor cannot power the Vue alone. Although that may be the case, its fuel efficiency has also been praised in the automotive circle. Another plus for the Green Line is that it is priced relatively lower than hybrid vehicles in the market. The bottom-line of course is that the Vue Green Line is suited for those who wants a hybrid vehicle but does not want to shell out a fortune in buying one.