2008 Saturn Outlook Quality Review

Not only is the 2008 Saturn Outlook spacious and comfortable, but its overall quality is a welcome improvement for a GM vehicle.

The 2008 Saturn Outlook crossover can "seat up to eight passengers," according to Automobile, and reviews read by TheCarConnection.com show that it does so in impressive comfort.

Up front, ConsumerGuide reports that the Saturn Outlook features "supportive seats," and "among the largest midsize SUVs, Outlook's cabin feels especially roomy." Edmunds says that "the first- and second-row seats should be comfortable for almost anyone," and Car and Driver declares "all three rows of seats offer near-minivan levels of space." On the XR trim of the Saturn Outlook, Cars.com finds that buyers "can option second-row captain's chairs," which lowers total seating capacity to seven. Even the backseats of the 2008 Saturn Outlook, traditionally the bane of anyone who's undergone puberty, are roomy--ConsumerGuide attests that "third-row accommodations are far better than even some large SUVs, and there's adult-size room for even mid-distance trips."

In addition to great people room, the 2008 Saturn Outlook offers impressive amounts of cargo room. Edmunds reviewers are impressed that "luggage capacity is 19.7 cubic feet with all seats up and a class-leading 117 cubic feet with all rear seats down." ConsumerGuide agrees, awarding the Saturn Outlook a perfect 10 in the cargo category and reporting that there is "good room behind the 3rd row," along with "generally good cabin storage," which "includes a large glovebox, multilevel console bin, and roomy door pockets." Practicality is further enhanced by the "Smart Slide second-row seat that flips and slides in one motion to provide exceptionally easy access to the roomy third row," according to Kelley Blue Book.

Improved materials and build quality are clearly visible on the 2008 Saturn Outlook. Automobile says that interior quality "is along the lines of the new Chevrolet Silverado -- which is to say, much better than past GM offerings but still not as refined as we'd like." Cars.com is a bit more forgiving, saying that the Saturn Outlook's "surfaces aren't all soft to the touch, but they are low gloss and look more expensive" than previous editions, though they mark down the Saturn Outlook for "some rough seams on the molded plastic parts." In terms of the other materials, Edmunds reviewers feel that "the faux wood in XR models is convincing enough, and the overall quality of interior materials is impressive." Overall, Kelley Blue Book best sums up reviewer sentiment: "although there are some larger expanses of plastic up front, the quality is such that it isn't a distraction."

One of the Saturn Outlook's most frequently mentioned characteristics is its superb noise suppression. Motor Trend writes that the 2008 Saturn Outlook is "hush-quiet," so much so that "with the Outlook at speed, you can almost hear your fingers rubbing against the leather steering-wheel rim." Car and Driver also says that the 2008 Saturn Outlook is "extremely quiet inside at speed."