The Saturn Vue Green Line provides SUV utility and compact car fuel economy thanks to a gas-electric hybrid drivetrain that gets about 5 miles per gallon more than the conventional Vue. And with a sticker price of less than $25,000, you won't spend too much money at the dealership to save money at the pump.
ABOUT THE SATURN VUE GREEN LINE:
Body style:
compact sport utility vehicle
Price:
Base MSRP $24,795
Drive:
Front wheel
Seating:
Two in front, three in back
Engine:
2.4-liter four cylinder with gas-electric hybrid system
Transmission:
Four-speed automatic
Miles per gallon of fuel:
25 city, 32 highway
WHAT'S SPECIAL:
The electric motor/generator system cuts gas consumption by providing power boost during acceleration and shutting off the engine when at rest at a stoplight or fast-food drive-through line.
WHAT WE LIKE:
While many cars these days come with satellite radio, few are set up to manage the 200+ audio options. I've got 280 channels and just six presets? The Saturn Vue Ñ all GM vehicles, for that matter Ñ probably has the best setup on the road, allowing for 36 presets.
WHAT ISN'T THERE:
Sports car handling. The Vue's steering is nimble enough when navigating a parking lot, but beyond that feels vague and disconnected from the road. The Honda CRV and Toyota RAV 4 Ñ competitors of the Vue Ñ have much crisper handling.
YOU OUGHTA KNOW:
The Vue is an SUV with a basement, of sorts. Lift up the floor of the rear cargo area and there are numerous cubbyholes handy for things you either want to hide from view or things like flares or a flashlight that you want to be sure to keep in the car but need to frequently access. Cargo hook rails in the rear provide great flexibility in securing cargo.
EXTRAS:
he entry-level Vue is equipped with just about everything you need for safe, comfortable driving: cruise control, power windows and doors, automatic headlights, stability control and an array of air bags that includes side curtain air bags for head protection. Most lower-priced cars have a tire pressure monitor that just alerts you if a tire is soft, but without telling you which one. The Vue's system provides an air pressure reading of each tire.
MORE HYBRID OPTIONS:
The 2009 Saturn Vue Green Line will be powered by an improved two-mode hybrid system with a 3.6-liter V-6 engine that GM says will deliver an estimated 50 percent fuel economy increase over the conventional V-6 Vue. That means car buyers later this year will have a choice of two hybrid Vues.
ABOUT SATURN:
Saturn executives have told dealers to expect a slight sales increase this year, Automotive News reported. The boost will come on the momentum Saturn has built with several new products such as the Aura sedan, Outlook crossover and the Astra hatchback. Saturn leaders also said that dealers can expect higher average transaction prices this year.
AND ANOTHER THING:
Saturn announced in January it may begin building a plug-in hybrid Vue providing more electric-only driving in 2010.
