Saturn VUE 2008 $14,995

The redesigned Saturn VUE is a compact sport utility vehicle with a new European design that accommodates five passengers and has a generous cargo area., , The VUE is available as either a front-wheel drive (FWD) or an all-wheel drive (AWD) and each has three trims: the XE, the XR and the Red Line. The FWD XE is powered by a 169 hp 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine and the AWD XE has a 222 hp 3.5-liter V6. The XR and the sporty Red Line models have a 257 hp 3.6-liter V6. The FWD XE receives a four-speed automatic and all of the other trims receive a six-speed automatic transmission for their V6 engines. The new exterior design has a much sportier style with taut and curving body panels and a tapered rear roofline. Safety features will include six airbags: front, side and side-curtain. Also standard is a one-year subscription to GM's OnStar safety and security system that includes automatic crash notification that calls for life-saving personnel and equipment in any crash in which airbags deploy and the driver doesn't respond to calls., , The Saturn VUE is redesigned for 2008., , Driving Impressions, , To this point, all of our drives in the second-generation Vue have been in models equipped with the 3.6-liter V6. So equipped, the Vue is plenty powerful, if not as downright fast as the Toyota RAV4. We suspect the 3.5-liter V6 will provide adequate power, while the four-cylinder's appeal most certainly lies in its fuel economy advantage. The 2008 Saturn Vue is as eager and agile as most of its competitors and as comfortable on the highway. Steering, throttle and brake response were all in line with our expectations for the category. The return action of the optional tap-up/tap-down shift lever was frustratingly slow, but that's of little or no concern for most considering a Vue., , Interior, , Especially when outfitted with leather, the 2008 Saturn Vue offers the richest passenger cabin in the category. A generous helping of high-quality materials and contemporary styling combine in a comfortable and attractive interior. We would have liked more lateral support while cornering, but the seats are otherwise comfortable and a definite improvement compared with the previous model's. Backseat passengers are treated to good legroom and, for carrying cargo instead of people, the rear seat will fold flat on a 60/40 split. One tiny complaint: the transmission selector didn't operate as smoothly as we'd have expected., , Exterior, , With its big and bold front end, trendy side vents and sloping roofline, the 2008 Saturn Vue is among the sportiest-looking SUVs in the segment. Moving up the ladder from XE to XR to Red Line, exterior differentiators include body-color fascias, fog lights, a roof spoiler, larger wheels and dual exhaust outlets., , Standard Equipment, , In base trim, the 2008 Saturn Vue features air conditioning, a CD/MP3 sound system with auxiliary input jack, XM Satellite Radio, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, power windows/locks/mirrors, remote keyless entry and auto on/off headlights. Every Vue also has stability control and six air bags., , Optional Equipment, , In addition to upgraded powertrains, the 2008 Saturn Vue offers at extra cost a DVD-based navigation system, automatic climate control, leather seating, heated front seats, six-disc CD changer, premium audio system and remote vehicle start., , Under the Hood, , Every 2008 Saturn Vue XR and Red Line features a 257-horsepower V6 matched to a refined six-speed automatic transmission, with optional manu-matic shifting. All-wheel-drive XE models get a less powerful, less sophisticated V6, while front-wheel-drive XE models get a four-cylinder/four-speed automatic transmission combo. GM has promised to introduce towards the end of 2007 an updated Vue Green Line with a new "two-mode" hybrid powertrain that promises even greater fuel savings., , 2.4-liter in-line 4, 169 horsepower @ 6200 rpm, 161 lb.-ft. of torque @ 5100 rpm, EPA estimated fuel economy: 19/26 (

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