Saturn Aura: GM Gets This One Right

Saturn's First Mid-Size Model

GM's limited funding of Saturn meant that the S-Series was the lone car line offered for its first ten years of business before the midsize L-Series was introduced. Harnessing Opel technology, GM had hoped that the L-Series would capitalize on Saturn's earlier success, but the car never met GM's sales expectations. Indeed, I had previously leased a 2001 Saturn L-Series and was satisfied with the car, but not overly impressed by it. It's odd-looking parking lights and body panel gaps (like the S-Series, the L-Series used polymer side panels) were a disappointment to me although its responsive inline 4-cylinder engine and decent interior room were two positive points about that model. Annual sales never climbed above 90,000 units before GM decided to pull the plug on the line soon after the first 2005 models rolled off of the assembly line. As the L-Series was being put to rest, GM promised a replacement model a year or two down the line, hence the Aura.

As it had done with the Opel Vectra _[2] which was the basis for the Saturn L-Series, GM once again turned to its German subsidiary to help with the design and engineering of the Aura. Although built in the US on GM's new Epsilon platform, the Aura has a distinct European look as evidenced by its sloping C-pillars, large wheel wells, wrap around tail lights and curvaceous grill. Under the hood, engine choices are a 2.4L I-4 or a pair of V6 engines with displacements of 3.5L and 3.6L respectively. The car I drove was a 2007 Aura XR with the 3.6L V6, the same engine developed for the rear wheel drive Cadillac CTS. The Saturn Aura is a front wheel drive sedan.

Inside Shots

Before taking the Aura for a road test, I made sure that I spent ample time sitting behind the wheel and in the back seat to get a feel for the car. Driver legroom for my near 6 foot frame was more than adequate (I liked the eight-way adjustable seat) and the rear seating was comfortable too. As a five passenger vehicle, five average-sized adults can ride in the Aura comfortably.

My test XR came loaded with a six-disc CD, XM satellite radio, Bluetooth enabled and GM's OnStar technology. The leather seating was comfortable and visually appealing, but the faux wood trim was a disappointment. Lots of hard plastics were used for the interior door panels, underneath the dash and for the back of the trunk which features 60/40 split rear seating. Personally, I would have preferred to have seen Saturn incorporate wood and brushed aluminum appointments instead of plastic "woodsy" trim, but they don't. I was also surprised to see that a rear middle seat arm rest was not part of the design.

The dash was easy to read, with three circular panels which gave the interior a sporty appearance. The filtered winter sunlight did not make it difficult to see the odometer and electronic commands and I would hardly expect trouble reading the same on a sunny summer afternoon. The transmission shifter is located between the driver and front passenger with ample storage, cup holders and an adjustable arm rest for the driver nearby.

My youngest son, who rode with us, overheard the salesman mention the auxiliary iPod/MP3 input jacks available to rear seating passengers which would allow him and his brother to listen to their own music. I imagined us taking a long trip this coming summer with the boys busy listening to what they liked while my wife and I battled over the CD player. Special touches such as these made the sedan all the more appealing to me.

Keeping Everyone Safe

The Saturn Aura received a five-star crash safety rating _[3] from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for front and side impacts for front and rear passengers. Passengers are protected by side curtain airbags with two airbags protecting front passengers and two more airbags protect rear passengers, for a total of six airbags. The XR comes standard equipped with four-wheel disk brakes, ABS, traction control, brake assist and more. Many of the same safety features found in the Cadillac CTS are available with the Saturn Aura, but mostly through the top of the line XR.

Storing And Hauling

One area where some cars of this size have been rather skimpy is the trunk, but not so with the Aura. I did not measure the interior, but the amount of room is ample for a car of its size. With 60/40 folding rear seating, larger items can be placed in the trunk and transported from your local hardware store. I took note of the pair of air lifts holding the trunk lid straight up and out of the way. No worrying about banging your head as you reach in and down for packages.

Under The Hood

I chuckled when the hood was lifted as nearly everything was covered in protective encasements including the engine. This isn't a problem for me, as I would probably have Saturn service the Aura as needed. It was the 3.6L engine which caught my attention the most, however. As I took the Aura through its paces, the engine responded by delivering plenty of power when I needed it. Indeed, the Aura can hit 60 mph from a dead stop in just 6.2 seconds _[4], a respectable number for a car in this class.

Several times I pushed the Aura to test its capabilities and each time the engine responded with precision. The variable valve timing helps the Aura perform better as it adjusts the intake and exhaust valves as needed. The engine is mated to a six-speed transverse transmission co-developed by General Motors and Ford.

Exterior Appearances

Although the Aura isn't likely to be confused with a luxury car, it does have an elegant look about it, particularly for XR models. The 18-inch, 12-spoke ultra alloy wheels look handsome and the amount of chrome on the car is tasteful, but subdued. The Aura doesn't have to pretend to be something that it isn't nor does the Aura look cheap -- body panels are tight, exterior colors are rich and attractive and the car looks evenly balanced and sporty.

Special Takes

For 2008, GM introduces the Aura Green Line, the first gas-electric hybrid for the sedan. Utilizing the base 2.4 liter engine, the hybrid offers simpler (and more affordable) technology yielding a car that gets 24 mpg city/32 mpg highway. Although the fuel savings aren't as strong as the competing Toyota Camry hybrid, the cost of the system is much lower. Apparently, General Motors wanted to develop a hybrid system that was affordable while still yielding a decent fuel savings. As of this writing, the IRS has certified a $1300_[5] tax credit for the purchase of a 2008 Saturn Aura Green Line, bringing additional savings to interested buyers.

The Aura is a capable car, just the sort of model Saturn needs to compete in the intensely competitive mid-size car category dominated by the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Other competing mid-size cars include the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda 6, Mitsubishi Galant and the Volkswagen Passat. In addition, the all new for 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, which is built on the same Epsilon platform as the Aura is yet another model competing with Saturn. Clearly, GM needed to get the Aura right and if its looks, performance, and quiet ride are any indication, the Saturn Aura has succeeded and should be considered by driver's wanting a mid-size sedan.