2008 Saturn VUE

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By  Bengt Halvorson, Editor

2008 Saturn VUE XE
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 2008 SATURN VUE STYLING | [8 out of 10]

Edmunds: "Handsome interior and exterior European styling"
Cars.com: "One of the most aggressively styled SUVs on the road"
Consumer Guide: "Everything is well laid out and easy to see"

The 2008 Saturn Vue is a completely redesigned compact SUV that is derived from GM's European subsidiary Opel. Accordingly, the Saturn Vue features distinctly European styling that helps it stand out on American roads.

The redesigned 2008 Saturn Vue is available "in three trim levels," according to Edmunds, and those trims are: "base XE, midgrade XR and sporting Red Line." All trims of the Saturn Vue 2008 sport aggressive styling, and Cars.com says that "the Vue is one of the most aggressively styled SUVs on the road, looking neither too masculine (Dodge Nitro), too boxy (Hummer H3) nor too odd (Honda CR-V)." Most reviews read by TheCarConnection.com show the styling to be a hit, and reviewers at The Detroit News rave about this "crossover with character." Kelley Blue Book points out some specific characteristics, writingnoting that "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." Cars.com mentions "the large chrome grille and teardrop-shaped headlights are probably the most masculine attributes" of the Saturn Vue, while "the downward-sloping roof, ending in a radically angled rear hatch, exudes European design."

The accolades don't stop at the exterior of the Saturn Vue 2008, either. InsideRegarding the interior, Consumer Guide reviewers love thatgush, "Everything is well laid out and easy to see," including "large and clear gauges" and an "available navigation system" that "absorbs audio functions but doesn't complicate their use." Kelley Blue Book also praises the "generous helping of high-quality materials and contemporary styling" on the Saturn Vue that, which "combine in a comfortable and attractive interior." Cars.com also reserves high praise for the interior, where reviewers think "the metal on the wheel and interior door handles was a very elegant touch, and just the right amount as to not overwhelm the cabin.," according to reviewers. Also in, the interior of the Saturn Vue arebears "an array of chrome-accented round shapes, from the gauges to the air vents to the climate controls," thatwhich Edmunds feels "lend a sense of classic style to the cabin."

Conclusion: The 2008 Saturn Vue reemerges as a stylish alternative to competing compact SUVs.

2008 SATURN VUE PERFORMANCE | [7 out of 10]

Edmunds: "Braking is about average for the class"
Car and Driver: "Wheel motions are quickly dampened without any hint of abruptness"
Cars.com: "Performance excels in most areas important to everyday driving and comfort"

The 2008 Saturn Vue rides well and actually accelerates with gusto, especially in Red Line trim.

The 2008 Saturn Vue lineup offers three different engines,: one four-cylinder and two V-6 versions. Edmunds says that the base Saturn Vue "XE is powered by a 2.4-liter inline-4 (169 hp and 160 lb-ft of torque)," while the "XE V6 has a 3.5-liter V6 (215 hp and 220 lb-ft)" and "both the XR and Red Line trims feature a powerful 3.6-liter V6 (257 hp and 248 lb-ft)." Engine performance on the four-cylinder is decidedly less impressive than on the V-6 versions, but it does getachieves better fuel economy than its six-cylindered siblings. Kelley Blue Book writesavers that "the 3.5-liter V6 will provide adequate power, while the four-cylinder's appeal most certainly lies in its fuel economy advantage." Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com are unanimously impressed with the powerful 3.6-liter V-6, which Consumer Guide saysproclaims is "strong and refined." Cars.com reviewers claim that there is "ample acceleration (it manages zero to 60 in an impressive 6.7 seconds)," while Edmunds writesdeclares that "with the 3.6-liter V6, this Saturn scoots."

The three available engines on the 2008 Saturn Vue pair up with one of three different transmissions. Edmunds says that the four-cylinder engine is "mated to a four-speed automatic transmission," while the 3.5-liter V-6 benefits from "a six-speed automatic transmission," and the 3.6-liter V-6 gets a "six-speed automatic" with a "manual-shift feature." Edmunds also adds that front- or all-wheel drive is available on each trim. The transmissions receive mixed reviews, with Consumer Guide findingcommenting that "the transmission upshifts smoothly but tends to delay downshifts." With the manual shift feature on the six-speed automatic, Kelley Blue Book says "the return action of the optional tap-up/tap-down shift lever was frustratingly slow." The one recurring complaint regarding the transmission wais that it "has a tendency to hunt between gears when going up even slight inclines," in the words of Consumer Guide.

One of the major selling points of compact SUVs is that they offer decent cargo capacity in a more frugal package than their bigger brethren. While that may be the case for some compact SUVs, reviews read by TheCarConnection.com show that the Saturn Vue 2008 certainly doesn't sip fuel. The EPA estimates that a front-wheel-drive four-cylinder Saturn Vue will get 19 mpg city and 26 mpg on the highway, while the numbers for the V-6 models vary between 15 and 16 mpg in the city and 22 or 23 mpg on the highway, depending on the configuration. In real-world driving, Consumer Guide reports that "a 2WD Red Line averaged 20.9 mpg in mostly highway driving," while "AWD versions averaged 14.7 mpg in mostly city driving."

What the Vue lacks in fuel economy it makes up for in terms of ride quality. In this category, Consumer Guide says "non Red Line Vue models are among the best compact SUVs." Kelley Blue Book agrees, writannouncing that "the 2008 Saturn Vue is as eager and agile as most of its competitors and as comfortable on the highway." Reviewers at the Detroit News feelattest that Saturn Vue has "well balanced" steering and find the Vue to beit's "an easy vehicle to maneuver in a parking lot or on the autobahn." Edmunds reviewers report that "braking is about average for the class, as the four-wheel vented disc brakes help bring the Vue to a stop from 60 mph in 131 feet."

Conclusion: Strong handling and peppy V-6 engines make for a fun, if not fuel-efficient, ride in the 2008 Saturn Vue.

2008 SATURN VUE COMFORT AND QUALITY | [7 out of 10]

Edmunds: "Big improvements in key areas, including cabin quality"
Car and Driver: "More impressive than interior space are the design and the materials used"
Cars.com: "Seats were supportive and straddled the line between cushy and firm"

The redesigned 2008 Saturn Vue is an order of magnitude removed from the outgoing model in many regards, but perhaps most noticeably when it comes to interior quality and comfort.

According to Edmunds, the 2008 Saturn Vue "is a five-passenger compact SUV," and many reviews read by TheCarConnection.com decry the lack of an available third-row seat. ForRegarding the seats that are in the Saturn Vue, a few complaints ariserear their heads. Reviewers at Automobile Magazine are quick to point out that "the front seat bottoms are too low and too short," though Tthe Detroit News does mentions "there is plenty of leg room in the front (40.7 inches) and the second row (36.9 inches)." Consumer Guide also findsagrees that there is "good headroom and legroom" up front, but they again note that the "short seat bottoms lack long-distance thigh support." As for the rear seats, Consumer Guide writesreports that they offer "excellent headroom" and a "reclining seatback," though once again there aremore with "short seat bottoms, and too-firm cushioning."

Although the 2008 Saturn Vue isn't a huge car, it does offers average storage space and usability. Reviewers rave about the amount of useful space, and those at Tthe Detroit News love all "the small storage containers, including a drawer under the passenger's front seat," which "give the space purpose instead of becoming a black hole for garage remotes." Consumer Guide also writesreports that there is "good space behind the 2nd row," and it "becomes plentiful with the rear seatbacks folded." At Automobile, Magazine reviewers note that "the glove box is huge and there are some clever storage solutions in the rear cargo area." However, overall, Consumer Guide marks down the Saturn Vue down because its "in-cabin storage is meager." In terms of hard numbers, Car and Driver says that "luggage space comes in at 29 cubic feet behind the second row and 54 cubic feet with the second row folded, which is noticeably less than the 36 and 73 cubic feet in the RAV4."

Fortunately, the Vue finds some redemptionredeems itself in the formareas of build and materials quality. Kelley Blue Book offers particularly high praise, writingdeclaring "especially when outfitted with leather, the Saturn Vue offers the richest passenger cabin in the category." Consumer Guide agrees, wristating that the new interior is "a vast upgrade over the previous-generation Vue" and claiming "materials quality and assembly of models tested are arguably the best in the compact-SUV class." Cars.com reviewers add that the materials not only "best other domestics, like the Ford Escape, it's also superior to top imports like the Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Santa Fe and Honda CR-V." Edmunds notes "brushed-aluminum accents on the steering wheel, door panels, parking brake and shift knob further the upscale treatment."

In addition to improved build and materials quality, the Saturn Vue does a wonderful job of suppressing external noise. Consumer Guide writesremarks that "wind noise is low even in crosswinds," and Cars.com adds "there's almost no engine noise and very little wind or road noise on even the most abrasive highway lanes."

Conclusion: It’s vastly more refined, but the 2008 Saturn Vue has less interior and cargo room than others in its class.

2008 SATURN VUE SAFETY | [10 out of 10]

NHTSA: Five stars, front impact and side impact rating; four stars, rollover rating
IIHS: "Good," frontal offset impact and side impact; "Top Safety Pick 2008"
Edmunds: "Plenty of standard safety features"

With the 2008 Saturn Vue, it's clear that safety was listed asis one of the vehicle's top priorities. The emphasis on safety is clearly seen in both the Saturn Vue's crash -test ratings and its list of safety features.

The 2008 Saturn Vue has been crash tested by both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and results from both agencies awere superb. DuringIn NHTSA tests, the 2008 Saturn Vue earned a perfect five-star rating for both front impact tests, as well as both side impact categories. The only category in which the Saturn Vue scored fewer than five stars was thefor rollover category, where the NHTSA gave it a four-star rating. The IIHS results are equally impressive, as it earned the highest possible rating in each of the IIHS tests. In fact, the Vue performed so well during those tests that the IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick 2008 awardtitle, sayingstating that it  displayed "good performance in front, side, and rear tests."

The Vue is packed with safety features. Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com invariably mention that the Vue's offers "a slew of standard safety features that were not available on its predecessor," according to Cars.com. Edmunds reviewers writereport that those safety features include "antilock brakes, stability control, traction control, front seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and active head restraints." Motor Trend says that the Saturn Vue's safety features, including "seatbelt pretensioners" and "collapsing pedals" allow crash -test dummies to "emerge unscathed (or at least undead) from the worst crashes conceived by any world government." Motor Trend adds "standard stability control with trailer-sway mitigation (a class exclusive) might even help intelligent dummies avoid a crash."

The list of safety features on the Saturn Vue is further complemented by better-than-average visibility, which Consumer Guide says is "good to all directions." Car and Driver reviewers also rave about the "expansive view out the front windshield," which they call "excellent."

Conclusion: The 2008 Saturn Vue performs at the top of its class in safety.

2008 SATURN VUE FEATURES | [8 out of 10]

The Detroit News: "Lots of little features owners will relish"
Edmunds: "Available features include a premium audio system and CD changer"
Kelley Blue Book: "Offers at extra cost a DVD-based navigation system, automatic climate control"

The features list on the entire Saturn lineup has grown in recent years, and the 2008 Saturn Vue represents some of the best features that the company has to offer. Unfortunately, there are someother features that remain conspicuously absent.

The 2008 Saturn Vue comes nicely equipped even in base XE trim. Edmunds reviewers note that every Saturn Vue features "air-conditioning, keyless entry, full power accessories, OnStar telematics," and "steering-wheel audio controls." Kelley Blue Book adds that the 2008 Saturn Vue comes standard with "a CD/MP3 sound system with auxiliary input jack" and "auto on/off headlights." Moving up to the more expensive Saturn Vue XR trim brings standard equipment increases to the tune of "automatic climate control, a power driver seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated mirrors and lighted vanity mirrors," according to Edmunds. Finally, Consumer Guide says that the top-of-the-line Saturn Vue Red Line adds "leather/suede upholstery" and "heated front seats."

In addition to the standard features, reviews read by TheCarConnection.com show that the Saturn Vue 2008 offers some enticing options. The Detroit News is particularly taken by the optional features, writingasserting that "there are lots of little features owners will relish." Kelley Blue Book saysstates that these features include "a DVD-based navigation system, automatic climate control," and "six-disc CD changer" with "premium audio system." For those who prefer to have the sun shining through the roof, Consumer Guide says that a "power sunroof" is available for $850. Unfortunately, like many other GM vehicles, the Saturn Vue 2008 lacks a Bluetooth hands-free cell phone interface, mainly because GM wants to steer customers towards an OnStar subscription.

Conclusion: Bluetooth is becoming ubiquitous inside cars today, but if you can do without it then, the 2008 Saturn Vue is worth a look.