Saturn Aura

First there was the S-series, then the L-series, then the Ion. Saturn cars have always been easy to buy, but not necessarily great to drive. All that is supposed to change with the all-new 2007 Saturn Aura, which boasts European lineage and European road manners. Will that be enough to pull mid-size buyers away from Toyota dealerships? Read on and find out. $21,245 base, $26,919 as tested, EPA fuel economy estimates 20 MPG city/28 MPG highway.

First Glance: Haggle-free buying is no longer Saturn's sole appeal

People generally don't buy a Saturn because it's a great car. Most people look to Saturn because of the no-haggle, no-hassle buying experience: What's on the sticker is what you pay. For people who don't like the negotiation or the high-pressure sales tactics used at many dealerships, the Saturn store is an oasis.

The downside to buying a Saturn has always been, well, you wind up owning a Saturn. Hold on, Saturn owners, don't start sending hate e-mails just yet. I'm not saying all Saturn cars are bad. But Saturn has never really produced a car that blew away the competition.

This is the point where you're probably expecting me to write, "All that's changed with the new Aura." Well, almost. The new Aura is not a class-leader, but it is very, very good. So good, in fact, is that there is now a solid reason to buy a Saturn besides the dealership experience.

The Aura is based on GM's Epsilon platform, which also underpins the Pontiac G6, Saab 9-3, Chevy Malibu, and European-market Opel Vectra. It's the latter with which Saturn wishes to associate the Aura. They want you to think of it as a European car.

The way the Aura handles, which I like, and the dark interior, which I don't, are quite European. But what's with all the chrome? That's not very European! There's chrome around the side windows, chrome on the grille, chrome on the trunk lip, a chrome stripe down the side, even chrome inlays in the taillights . The Aura's shape is a bit bland, but chrome is not the way to fix it.

In the Driver's Seat: Nice materials but depressing color scheme

One thing I didn't care for was my top-of-the-line Aura XR test car's interior color. Black is the only choice for the XR, and the dark Rubbermaid-quality plastic, trimmed with gloss-coated grey and a bit of chrome (ugh, more chrome), makes the interior feel gloomy and depressing. (For what it's worth, I think lots of European cars have the same problem.) The Aura offers tan and grey interiors, but only on the entry-level XE model.

But I can't fault the accommodations: The seats are comfortable (and heated, to boot, which my wife Robin really liked) and everything is within easy reach. The center stack, which houses the stereo and air conditioner (or, in the case of the XR, automatic climate control) is nicely arranged. And the quality of the plastics and fabrics is much better than in past Saturns.

My kids gave a thumbs-up to the back seat, and I too found it roomy and comfortable, though taller occupants will have to watch their head on the Aura's low roofline. The Aura XR comes with a separate stereo tuner and wireless headphones for the rear seat, so the kids could tune into XM Kids or Radio Disney while Robin and I dialed up something more palatable to post-pubescent tastes. The 15.7 cubic foot trunk had cargo nets to hold our grocery bags, and since the Aura uses struts to hold up the trunk lid, you can pack it to the brim and not worry about the trunk hinges squashing your stuff.

On the Road: Yup, it's pretty darn European

The Aura may not be able to out-BMW a BMW on the racetrack, but it has the firm ride and heavy steering you'll find in a German car, and is remarkably responsive. It even uses BMW-style steering wheel paddles for manual shifting of the automatic transmission. And while road noise never seems to be high on the Germans' priority list, the Saturn is commendably quiet.

Power for the Aura XR comes from a 252 horsepower 3.6 liter V6 with variable valve timing and a 6-speed automatic. It's a great engine, quiet and with plenty of power on tap. What more could you ask for?

Well, you could ask for a bit more economy. The Aura XR's EPA estimates are 20 MPG city and 28 MPG highway, and I averaged 20.4 in mixed driving, which I consider decent for a V6-engined sedan with this much power. The entry level Aura XE comes with a smaller engine, but it's only one-tenth of a liter smaller, it's also a V6, and it also comes only with an automatic (a 4-speed). It produces 28 fewer horsepower, but its EPA estimates are no better in the city and only 2 MPG better on the highway. Neither XE nor XR can be had with a 4-cylinder engine.

Saturn does plan on offering a four-cylinder Aura in the guise of the Aura Green Line, which will use the "mild hybrid" system seen in the Vue Green Line SUV. It's called a mild hybrid because it doesn't turn out anywhere near the stellar mileage of proper hybrids like Toyota's Camry and Prius. Which begs the question: Why not just offer the Aura with a good ol' fashioned four-cylinder engine, like all the other Epsilon-based cars?

Journey's End: One giant leap for Saturn

The Aura is a remarkable achievement for Saturn. It's a solid car, well built and exceptionally good to drive on a curvy road. Yes, when it comes to road manners, the Saturn is very European. If only the interior -- at least on the XR model -- were a bit less European, and more Japanese. Or even American.

The Aura is definitely a good deal. The XE gets power everything, air conditioning, CD/MP3 player, front seat torso airbags, side curtain airbags and antilock brakes, all for a shade over $21,000. The XR adds that stellar 3.6 liter engine, electronic stability control and many other goodies for under $25k. My tester had nice-to-haves like heated leather seats, sunroof and power-adjustable pedals, and still came in under $27k.

The problem with the Aura is lack of choice. If you want a V6-powered sedan that offers a lot of value for just over $21k, the Aura XE is a good choice. If you want a performance sedan with lots of toys and trimmings, the Aura XR is also a good choice. But if you want four-cylinder power, or a manual transmission, or a high-tech engine that doesn't come strapped to a depressingly dark interior, Saturn can't help you. Ford, Toyota, Nissan and Honda can. So, for that matter, does Pontiac -- the Pontiac G6 is a similar car that offers a broader selection of engines, colors and options. Of course, it means you'll have to haggle -- but at least you'll get the car that you want. And isn't that the most important thing?

 

Pros:

• Good road manners
• Stellar 3.6 liter V6 in XR model
• It's sold at Saturn's no-haggle, no-stress dealerships

Cons:

• No four-cylinder engine option
• Depressingly dark interior in XR model
• Too much chrome

Who should buy the Saturn Aura:

Mid-size sedan buyers looking for a good-handling V6-powered automatic sedan and a no-haggle buying experience

Who should not buy the Saturn Aura:

Mid-size buyers looking for choices beyond a good-handling V6-powered automatic sedan and a no-haggle buying experience