2008 Saturn VUE Review

By  Paul Eisenstein, Executive Editor

2008 Saturn Vue Green Line
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Saturn is laying claims that its new 2008 Vue Green Line will be the most fuel-efficient sport-utility vehicle on the highway. The hybrid version of Saturn’s crossover will get 32 mpg in the EPA’s highway driving cycle, the automaker has announced, or 27 percent more than the standard four-cylinder version of the Vue.

The first-generation Vue Green Line was General Motors’ first true hybrid vehicle. For 2008, GM has completely redesigned the crossover vehicle, improving both its appearance and its performance. The hybrid system has also been tweaked.

In industry parlance, the Green Line is a mild hybrid. Like the Toyota Prius, a full hybrid, the Saturn system will automatically shut down its gasoline engine when the vehicle stops at a light, restarting instantaneously, once the driver touches the accelerator pedal. But the Vue Green Line cannot operate in electric-only mode. Its onboard battery pack and motors serve as a sort of electric supercharger, providing a quick boost of power at launch or during hard acceleration.

Mild hybrid technology is inherently less expensive than full hybrid hardware, and that permits Saturn to bring the ’08 model in at a surprisingly affordable $24,795, the lowest price for any of the current, and fast-expanding crop of hybrid SUVs and crossovers.

The base model, front-wheel-drive Vue XE goes for $21,395, and gets 26 mpg in the newly-revised EPA highway cycle. The gasoline-only, four-cylinder Vue delivers 19 mpg in the city cycle, compared with 25 mpg for the Green Line version.

Though both powertrains share GM’s Ecotec 2.4-liter four, the Green Line is rated at 172 hp, compared to 169 for the standard powertrain.

With either powertrain – Saturn also offers two V-6 options – the Vue is a reasonably roomy two-row crossover, with room for five and up to 56 cubic feet of cargo space, with the rear seats folded flat.

The second-generation crossover is decidedly more attractive than the somewhat clunky original, according to TheCarConnection.com’s complete review. It is quicker and better handling, as well, with Saturn engineers emphasizing stability during hard cornering.

Under the skin, the ’08 remake is a virtual twin of the Antera, sold in Europe through GM’s Opel division. Old and new Vues share a 106.6-inch wheelbase, but the 2008 edition is slightly taller and wider. The new model has abandoned Saturn’s traditional plastic body panels in favor of conventional steel. But that translates into notably tighter fit and finish.

The new Green Line edition, which goes into production this month, is actually the first of what could soon be a trio of Vue hybrids. Within the next several years, Saturn is expected to add a version using General Motors’ new “two-mode” hybrid system. The technology is designed to deliver even better highway mileage, and will also allow the Vue to be driven in electric-only mode.

Eventually, perhaps by the beginning of the next decade, Saturn hopes to add a plug-in hybrid powertrain. This technology incorporates a lithium ion battery pack, larger and more advanced than the current nickel-metal hydride batteries. It would be able to be plugged into a conventional electric outlet, permitting the vehicle to run on battery power alone, even at highway speeds, for up to around 25 miles, enough to handle most motorists’ daily commute.

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Saturn Aura Green Line Under $23K by Marty Padgett (3/20/2007)
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