Saturn Reviews & Ratings

2008 Saturn Aura Green Line Review

By P.J. McCombs
January 30, 2008 - 50,765 Views

In recent years, General Motors has had something of a change of heart regarding hybrids. In 2004, “Car Czar” Bob Lutz dismissed hybrid cars as “impractical” and “a fad.” By 2007, Saturn gained a Green Line off-shoot dedicated exclusively to selling such endeavors. While GM doesn’t separate out sales stats for Saturn’s sub-brand, suffice it to say sales suck. This bodes badly for Saturn’s newest green machine: the 2008 Aura Green Line. Does the hybrid version of last year’s North American Car of the Year deserve a chance?

2008 Saturn Aura Green Line Review continued »

2008 Saturn Aura Green Line rating summary and performance review

Posted in Saturn | Car Reviews | 40 comments

Saturn Astra Review

By Justin Berkowitz
December 12, 2007 - 106,107 Views

“GM has never sold a competitive small car in America.” Not true. The imported rear wheel-drive Opel 1900-- the sedan version of the Manta-- was a superb machine for its day. Unfortunately, a rising dollar and a lack of marketing and development vis-a-vis the Japanese competition (Datsun 510) doomed the 1900 to footnoted obscurity. And now, once again, General Motors NA turns to Opel to get back in the small car game. They've brought over the Eurozone’s best selling passenger car: the Astra. Starting this January, you can buy an Astra in America, only with the logo swapped from Opel’s lightning bolt to Saturn’s rings. Should you?

Saturn Astra Review continued »

Saturn Astra rating summary and performance review

Posted in Saturn | Car Reviews | 103 comments

Saturn Vue Review

By Justin Berkowitz
July 25, 2007 - 59,112 Views

Not that Camcordima or Miata drivers have noticed, but GM’s long-neglected Saturn brand has been busy rolling out a raft of new models. I came, I saw, I drove, I despaired. The Aura, Sky and Outlook are fine machines, but even better examples of “80%” cars: GM vehicles that are an interior, gearbox, suspension and/or trunk space away from greatness. So when I saw the all-new, Opel-sourced 2008 Saturn Vue, I thought I knew exactly what was coming my way. I don’t mind saying it: I was somewhat wrong. 

Saturn Vue Review continued »

Saturn Vue rating summary and performance review

Posted in Saturn | Car Reviews | 52 comments

Saturn Aura XE Review

By Megan Benoit
June 25, 2007 - 68,101 Views

You gotta admire the chutzpah of an automaker that asks buyers to “rethink American” by pitting a German derived sedan against cars.com’s third “most American” automobile (Toyota Camry) and a sedan with 70 percent domestic content (Honda Accord). Although Saturn’s ads invites interested parties to a side-by-side-by-side comparison of all three “domestics”, like many intenders, I didn’t have time. So I decided to test the Saturn Aura XE and call it good. You know, if it was.

Saturn Aura XE Review continued »

Saturn Aura XE rating summary and performance review

Posted in Saturn | Car Reviews | 79 comments

Saturn ION Red Line Review

By P.J. McCombs
March 7, 2007 - 94,262 Views

The planet Saturn is a giant ball of gas. When it comes to selling cars to enthusiasts, GM’s “like never before” division is also full of hot air. In 1999, Saturn said their Opel-sourced LS sedan would be fun to drive. It wasn’t. In 2003, Saturn made similar noises over the ION Quad Coupe. Strike two. In 2004, the ION Red Line was supposedly da bomb. Pistonheads lined up none deep. But was the Red Line really at fault? Or was it sabotaged by Saturn’s nebulous image and boy-who-cried-wolf marketing?

Saturn ION Red Line Review continued »

Posted in Saturn | Car Reviews | 106 comments

Saturn Vue Green Line Review

By admin
November 23, 2006 - 52,918 Views

In 1971, U.S. Senator Roman Hruska rose to the defense of an undistinguished Supreme Court nominee named G. Harrold Carswell. "Even if he is mediocre, there are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers. They are entitled to a little representation, aren't they?" And their successors are entitled to wheels befitting their station in life, like the Saturn Vue Green Line.

Saturn Vue Green Line Review continued »

Posted in Saturn | Car Reviews | 41 comments

Saturn Outlook Review

By admin
November 20, 2006 - 105,354 Views

Soccer Moms who adopted fossil-feasting truck-based SUVs for their parental duties know the truth: the genre is falling from fashion faster than Sony’s PS2. Style-conscious sprog schleppers now want a spacious rug-rat mover that doesn’t drain tanker trucks or scream mommy-van. For them, crossovers are The Next Big Thing. They’re eyeing vehicles like the new Saturn Outlook, the first of GM’s all-new Lambda platform-based crossovers (the GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave are set to follow). The Outlook replaces the TWAT-winning Relay minivan-- which isn’t exactly a tough act to follow. Still, will the Outlook break a leg?

Saturn Outlook Review continued »

Posted in Saturn | Car Reviews | 122 comments

Saturn Sky Red Line Review

By Jehovah Johnson
October 31, 2006 - 106,165 Views

The Saturn Sky has been a tremendous success. Not because it’s a great car; the lack of any appreciable trunk space and the model’s less than intoxicating driving dynamics make it a toy with limited play value. But the Sky knocks the ball out of the park in the style department. In fact, the Sky is the most physically appealing GM car has produced since Harley Earl last prowled the halls of The General’s design department. With the advent of the Saturn Sky Red Line, GM’s different kind of sports car gets a chance to redeem itself amongst die-hard pistonheads, to whom the drop-dead gorgeous base model failed to provide the necessary automotive intercourse. Unfortunately…

Saturn Sky Red Line Review continued »

Posted in Saturn | Car Reviews | 120 comments

Saturn Aura XR Review

By Sajeev Mehta
September 8, 2006 - 102,413 Views

Saturn was born “A different kind of company, a different kind of car.” Talk about post-modern irony; GM created the Saturn division to copy Japan’s products, management techniques and manufacturing dexterity. Needless to say, it worked. Friendly Saturn dealers created devoted customers with a “no dicker” sticker and a pretty good range of plastic-paneled cars (the S-Series). And then… nothing much. After leaving Saturn to twist in the wind, losing billions in the process, GM eventually spiked the brand’s independence. And now, finally, the Saturn Aura is here to revive GM’s "import fighter."

Saturn Aura XR Review continued »

Posted in Saturn | Car Reviews | 94 comments

Saturn SKY Review

By Michael Karesh
April 13, 2006 - 25,221 Views

Can GM, master of big iron, build a proper sports car? Not simply something that murders straights and grips like grim death-- the Corvette's got that covered. Rather, a roadster that takes to the bends with the eager playfulness of an overstimulated puppy and the agility of an all-star point guard. Could the Saturn SKY be such a car? I know it sounds crazy: an honest-to-God sports car from GM's shiny happy plastic panel people. And the specs aren't promising: this parts-bin special out-girths the Mazda MX-5 by four inches and 400 pounds. Still, it sure looks promising...

Saturn SKY Review continued »

Posted in Saturn | Car Reviews | 8 comments