The compact Saturn Vue sport-utility vehicle is the best thing offered by the General Motors division that made its mark by offering people a pleasant buying experience. But a nice sales environment isn’t enough and Saturn is faced with making its product more competitive in the mid-range segment currently ruled by the Japanese manufacturers with the Koreans in hot pursuit.

The Saturn Vue appears to be the vehicle that could break out and be a big hit. This observation is largely informed by my recent experience with the 2004 model that sports the addition of a powerful new engine mated to a state-of-the-art transmission. To show how aggressive Saturn is on the product front, it should be noted that the new V-6 engine is sourced from Honda, which makes exceptional engines. The only other engine choice is the original 143-horsepower inline four, which really isn’t a viable alternative for anyone who needs to climb a hill or carry more than a small load. 

The Honda engine is a jewel and delivers 250 horsepower, which is tops in the segment. The engine can propel the Vue from zero to 60 miles per hour in just seven seconds, which in terms of a real world driving means that you have all the power you’ll need to accelerate onto fast-moving expressways. Nor will you have to fear many SUVs in a boulevard showdown. Saturn was smart enough to install an advanced five-speed automatic transmission in the 2004 model, which has the computer intelligence to capitalize on the engine’s torque curve to improve performance and gas mileage. 

The Saturn has a distinct design and looked quite nice in a metallic forest green, which was a nice departure from the relatively restrictive color palate now in vogue that favors only a few colors such as silver, black, white and shades of red. The interior was well designed with controls that were easy to use. 

On the road the Vue performed beyond my modest expectations. Of course, effortless power cures a lot of ills. The ride is compliant and handling was at least competitive in the segment. The Vue actually felt quite stable for an SUV when pushed a bit on mountain curves. It was also quiet and virtually free of offensive wind or mechanical noise. 

Saturn has its own method of construction that features a steel spaceframe and polymer panels that are relatively dent free—a nice feature for heavy use as a real utility vehicle. The Vue offers 64 cubic feet of cargo area, which should well serve small families or singles. The front passenger seat folds flat for carrying very long objects, maybe even a surfboard. Although the Vue is in the compact category, the interior feels less constrictive than many competing compact SUVs. 

At this point the only problem with the new Vue is the price. We’ve come to expect Saturn prices in the low twenty thousands. With a list price of $27,000, sticker shock is inevitable. On the other hand, there is no denying that our test vehicle had premium content. In addition to the Honda engine and five-speed transmission, the Vue had an all-wheel drive system that adds about $700 to the
list price, leather seats at $700, a power sunroof that lists at $725 and a spiffy audio system and XM Satellite radio that adds nearly a grand more. If I were running a Saturn store, I’d fill the lot with two-wheel-drive models and leave off
the fancy stuff, which will lighten the price by about $4,000 and should be more palatable to the young buyer in the company’s marketing crosshairs. In fact, the only really necessary option is the curtain side-impact airbags at a very reasonable $395.
 

Vehicle: Saturn Vue AWD V-6
Price as tested: $27,055
Engine:
Type: 3.5-liter V-6
Horsepower: 250 @ 5,800 rpm
Torque: 242-ft. lbs. @ 4,500 rpm
Fuel economy, automatic transmission 
City - 19 mpg
Highway - 25 mpg
Curb Weight: 3.630 lbs.