2008 Saturn VUE (see Antara/Captiva): GM's Best New Vehicle?

YSSMAN · Jun 12, 2007

I was at the Saturn dealer looking for the new comparison groupings they are supposed to be doing, and I came across the new Saturn VUE (also known worldwide as the Antara and the Captiva) for 2008.

I have to say, I'm stunned by the awesomeness of this vehicle. But first, some photos:

(Please keep in mind, this is a mid-level XE, not the top-line XR)

They aren't the best photos, but thats the best the ol' RAZR could do. There are some better photos on GMI, and I can get them if you guys want...

===

Anyway, I'm shocked by how good this SUV is inside and out. Soft-touch plastics abound, good fit and finish, good panel gaps, just awesome stuff. The seats were incredibly comfortable, felt like they came out of a Honda, and altogether seem as though they will make for a very comfortable spot on a long drive. Furthermore, the price was excellent. That model there was only $23,000 and seemed to have most of the bells and whistles I'd want, and furthermore, that does have the 3.5L (224 BHP) V6 and the six-speed automatic... Something Honda doesn't have in the CR-V.

I'm impressed. I'd love to hear what others think of the new Saturn, Opel, Vauxhall, or Holden versions as well...

1X83Z · Jun 12, 2007

Is the 3.5 the Honda engine still, or the GM one?

YSSMAN · Jun 12, 2007

Thats the GM unit as seen in the rest of the Epsilon lineup. The old Honda unit only made 218 BHP, if memory serves...

1X83Z · Jun 12, 2007

It made 250 and was notably better. It was the crappy GM engine that made only 181 horsepower in this thing. A horrible day for Saturn - say goodbye to the best product they ever made.

YSSMAN · Jun 12, 2007

It was actually 248 BHP with the Honda V6, but I'm not picky...

Either way, they do offer the range-topping 257 BHP V6 from the CTS in the VUE as well. Matched with the six-speed automatic, its good for a pretty respectable 7.5 second run to 60 MPH (the RAV4 smokes it though at 6.3 seconds). Thank the hefty weight of the SUV for that, but it still isn't bad. But, even if the Honda version had extra power, it didn't really make it any faster than the new XR, and wasn't more fuel efficient either (keep in mind EPA tests changed for '07 and '08).

...But, no one is going to miss this:

...Even a trip to Glamour Shots doesn't save the old VUE from its own uglyness...

(Same can be said of the Tribeca. BTW, you've seen the new Tribeca, right?)

===

You've got to sit inside the new VUE to appreciate it. If I think of it, I'll take the 5.1MP camera to the dealer later this week...

Joey D · Jun 12, 2007

The VUE isn't bad, but I still can't help saying it looks like it comes from a Korean car company with it's exterior styling.

YSSMAN · Jun 12, 2007

Well, it kinda did...

Keep in mind that GM has decided that their cars aren't going to be market-exclusives anymore, so this VUE (Antara, Captiva, etc) is one of the first world-market models. All of the engineering was done between Opel and Saturn if I recall correctly, and the styling duties was indeed shared with Opel, Saturn, Holden, and Daewoo. So, there is a bit of Asian-market styling preferences thrown in, but IMO, its miles ahead of the outstandingly ugly Honda CR-V...

On the CR-V for the moment; I had no idea they didn't offer a V6, I had just always assumed they would given Toyota and Nissan in the segment.

Joey D · Jun 12, 2007

I would really like to drive one, my girlfriend's mom has a 06 VUE and it's one of the nicer small SUV's I've been in. I would imagine the 08's are even better.

YSSMAN · Jun 12, 2007

I'm sure of it. If my friend would have been at the dealer yesterday, I probably could have taken it out for a spin, but I couldn't find him.

...Car and Driver really liked the XR they tested, and while I do fancy it quite a bit, I think the XE would keep most people happy. Sure, the 0-60 times aren't as rip-roaring as that of its older sibling, much less the competition, but its got enough oomph to get it moving.

I do wonder why they left the 3.9L with cylinder deactivation and E85 capability out. Combined with the 6-speed automatic, it would have made some impressive fuel numbers.

Joey D · Jun 12, 2007

Probably just working out the first model glitches...I'm sure we will see a better version for 09. I wonder if they have a diesel option for it as well? That would be pretty nice, a nice diesel with a 6 speed, it would compete against those Jeeps.

YSSMAN · Jun 12, 2007

They haven't said if they want to do a diesel yet in the US, but they offer it in Europe. I'd pick the VUE or the Aura to be the first GM models to get a diesel here in the US in a long, long time. I'd guess that it depend on what Saab decides to do, as their "9-4X" could be the first test to see what diesel does.

Tornado · Jun 12, 2007

It is decent enough, I guess, and a drastic improvement over the old one. But the fact that it weighs so much and has the fuel mileage to show it makes it so it is most definitely not GM's best vehicle.

YSSMAN · Jun 13, 2007

The fuel mileage is disappointing, I'll give you that, and even I was surprised on the hefty nature of the vehicle. But, if we were to assume that the switch to the new EPA gas figures creates a fuel mileage loss of 20%, that would put the highway mileage (currently rated at 22 MPG) up to 26 MPG, just about where the previous Honda-powered model left-off.

...Not bad for overhead valves and 4,000 lbs on the XE model, even better on the DOHC XR...

1X83Z · Jun 13, 2007

Stand by the fact that the old Vue is one of the best SUVs of all time if not the best. Certainly the best small SUV. I'm so sad it's gone.

Engine was rated at 250 from debut until 2007 when the SAE ratings took effect. We're both right.

1X83Z · Jun 20, 2007

I was able to have a long drive in a 2008 Saturn Vue XE today, and I was somewhat impressed. It was fun to drive - despite not being the top model - and it handled decently. Driving position was good and the interior was credible, particularly the steering wheel. The manual shifting mode is the stupid +/- buttons on the side of the gear lever although one thing I like about that mode (and Chrysler's) compared to my Audi's separate gate is that it locks in a gear if the transmission is unable to downshift and then downshifts the second it can. For instance, if you're in 2nd but your RPMs are too high to jump into 1st - but you really want to downshift - just downshift; when your RPMs lower to the point where you can hop into first it does it automatically.

The only two marginal drawbacks to the Vue - aside from the fact that I only got to spend about fifteen minutes driving - were that two people incorrectly identified it as "that big Saturn SUV" (the Outlook) and another replied, when I asked if we had just gotten it on the lot -- "what, that Kia?"

The biggest drawback came about 12 minutes into my 15 minute drive. I was heading up a hill and preparing to make a right turn into, coincidentally, a Saturn dealership, to pick up a customer when the steering wheel locked. I panicked a bit and gave it some gas, but the pedal wasn't responding. The car had completely shut off - with 24 miles on the odometer. I had to pull the handbrake to get it to stop rolling down the hill. Recall time!

Got two shots from when I was driving the thing. They're poor but they illustrate a bit in conjunction with Brad's photos in post one:

Overall my experience was very positive. Before I drove it we had to peel the window sticker off the passenger rear door - that's how new it was.

YSSMAN · Jun 20, 2007

Thats an interesting problem you came across. I haven't heard anything like that on GMI yet, and usually they're the first to pick-up on some of those issues...

The biggest drawback I can see on the VUE is the outrageous curb weight. Maxing out above 4000lbs isn't good in that class, particularly when fuel efficiency is in play. But overall, I'd consider the XE you had there to be the best of the line. The XR seems like overkill on some occasions, and the four-pot model just seems like suicide with that weight (and no manual trans option).

224 BHP OHV V6 + 6-speed Auto FTW!

1X83Z · Jun 21, 2007

Couldn't believe it was a six speed. I had a customer in the car when I kept pressing 'upshift' to see how high it went - I was awestruck when it hit '6.' Go GM!

YSSMAN · Jun 21, 2007

...Now they just need to get on putting the 6-speeder in every car and truck they make...

1X83Z · Jun 21, 2007

Or just cancelling the ones without it!

2008 Saturn VUE (see Antara/Captiva): GM's Best New Vehicle?

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