2010 Ford Mustang Unleashes Skateboarding Skills
Green
Trucks
Luxury
Family
Brand
Muscle
See more sites from  HighGear  M E D I A  >>
Compare this car to others like it Try our car compare tool now

2008 Saturn Outlook Safety Review

November 5, 2008

SAFETY | 9 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Five stars, front impact and side impact; four stars, rollover
NHTSA

Standard safety features include antilock brakes, rollover-sensing stability control
Edmunds

Safety equipment includes front, front-side, and three-row side-curtain airbags
Kelley Blue Book

In the world of family cars, safety generally rates among the most important vehicle characteristics. Fortunately for Saturn and prospective buyers, the 2008 Saturn Outlook scores incredibly well in crash tests, and it offers some tantalizing safety features.

The 2008 Saturn Outlook has been crash tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), one of the two major crash-testing authorities in the United States, and the Saturn Outlook's scores are impressive. In both driver- and passenger-side front impact tests, the 2008 Saturn Outlook scored a perfect five-star rating. In addition to the impeccable front impact ratings, the Saturn Outlook also earned a perfect five-star rating in both side impact tests conducted by the NHTSA. The only category where the Saturn Outlook didn't earn a perfect score was in rollover protection, where the Saturn Outlook received four out of five stars. The 2008 Saturn Outlook has not yet been tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). TheCarConnection.com will revisit the Outlook’s safety score when the IIHS data is available.

As impressive as the crash ratings are, they tell only part of the story. The 2008 Saturn Outlook also comes equipped with quite a few safety features, including standard "antilock brakes, rollover-sensing stability control," and "GM's OnStar service," according to Edmunds. Other reviews read by TheCarConnection.com show that the 2008 Saturn Outlook offers a wealth of airbags, which Kelley Blue Book says include "front, front-side, and three-row side-curtain airbags." ConsumerGuide also mentions that "daytime running lights" come standard on all 2008 Saturn Outlooks.

For such a large vehicle, the 2008 Saturn Outlook offers impressive visibility, with the notable exception of parking maneuvers. ConsumerGuide says that the Saturn Outlook offers "fine outward visibility thanks to big mirrors and unobtrusive rear headrests," and Cars.com adds "rear visibility is fair, especially if the third row's head restraints are folded forward." However, the view directly to the back is a bit compromised, but the Saturn Outlook makes up for that with a "sonar rear parking." Then again, Cars.com points out that the sonar "pales in comparison to a rearview camera, which some competitors offer."

Conclusion

Drivers can take comfort in the 2008 Saturn Outlook's superlative crash-test ratings.

SAFETY | 9 out of 10Expert Quotes:Five stars, front impact and side impact; four stars, rolloverNHTSAStandard safety features include antilock brakes, rollover-sensing stability controlEdmundsSafety equipment includes front, front-side, and three-row side-curtain airbagsKelley Blue Book In the world of family cars, safety generally rates among the most important vehicle characteristics. Fortunately for Saturn and prospective buyers, the 2008 Saturn Outlook scores incredibly well in crash tests, and it offers some tantalizing safety features. The 2008 Saturn Outlook has been crash tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), one of the two major crash-testing authorities in the United States, and the Saturn Outlook's scores are impressive. In both driver- and passenger-side front impact tests, the 2008 Saturn Outlook scored a perfect five-star rating. In addition to the impeccable front impact ratings, the Saturn Outlook also earned a perfect five-star rating in both side impact tests conducted by the NHTSA. The only category where the Saturn Outlook didn't earn a perfect score was in rollover protection, where the Saturn Outlook received four out of five stars. The 2008 Saturn Outlook has not yet been tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). TheCarConnection.com will revisit the Outlook’s safety score when the IIHS data is available. As impressive as the crash ratings are, they tell only part of the story. The 2008 Saturn Outlook also comes equipped with quite a few safety features, including standard "antilock brakes, rollover-sensing stability control," and "GM's OnStar service," according to Edmunds. Other reviews read by TheCarConnection.com show that the 2008 Saturn Outlook offers a wealth of airbags, which Kelley Blue Book says include "front, front-side, and three-row side-curtain airbags." ConsumerGuide also mentions that "daytime running lights" come standard on all 2008 Saturn Outlooks. For such a large vehicle, the 2008 Saturn Outlook offers impressive visibility, with the notable exception of parking maneuvers. ConsumerGuide says that the Saturn Outlook offers "fine outward visibility thanks to big mirrors and unobtrusive rear headrests," and Cars.com adds "rear visibility is fair, especially if the third row's head restraints are folded forward." However, the view directly to the back is a bit compromised, but the Saturn Outlook makes up for that with a "sonar rear parking." Then again, Cars.com points out that the sonar "pales in comparison to a rearview camera, which some competitors offer." ConclusionDrivers can take comfort in the 2008 Saturn Outlook's superlative crash-test ratings. 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK STYLING | [7 out of 10] Cars.com: "Styling garners enthusiastic responses, and it's never confused for anything but an SUV" Edmunds: "Outlook's cabin is both functional and pleasing to the eye" ConsumerGuide: "Gauges are large, clear, and conveniently backlit" ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The 2008 Saturn Outlook competes with some of the roomiest carlike crossover vehicle models, which bring many of the advantages of a minivan, including fuel economy that's much better than traditional truck-based SUVs, though none of these vehicles boasts rugged off-road ability. The Ford Taurus X has a lower seating position and feels more like a wagon than the Outlook, with a lower cargo floor that's easier to access. The Taurus X also ranks very high in safety. The Toyota Highlander has recently been redesigned, with a sleeker appearance and revamped interior appointments. Then there's the Pilot, which has a simpler, boxier appearance but good performance from its V-6 powertrain. The CX-9 has a sportier look and feel, and it appeals to those who want to drive a little more enthusiastically. The Outlook's fuel economy is comparable to that of other mid-size crossover vehicles. One negative for the Outlook is pricing; the base XE model is a good value, but pile the XR with options and it can approach $45,000, which is as much as some same-size luxury-brand models.

Next Steps:

Check Insurance Rates

for the 2008 Saturn Outlook

Check Financing Rates

for the 2008 Saturn Outlook

Check Local Classifieds

for a 2008 Saturn Outlook near you

See the Saturn Outlook in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007

Comments (0 total)

Be the first to post a comment

Post a comment

Post anonymously, or
(Required)
(Required - will not be published, sold or shared)
(Optional - your 'posted by' name will link to the URL)

Remember Me?

I have read TheCarConnection.com's privacy policy