Review
Introduction
It looks a lot like its German cousin, the Opel Vectra, but the Saturn Aura comes out of GM’s North American operations. Underpinning the Aura is GM’s mid-size, front-wheel-drive platform that is shared with the Saab 9-3, Pontiac G6, Chevrolet Malibu, and the aforementioned Opel/Vauxhall Vectra. Although the Aura looks similar to the Vectra, it shares no sheetmetal with its European relative.
Saturn offers Aura customers three powertrain options. For those seeking a balance of performance and fuel economy, there’s a fuel-efficient 2.4-liter four-cylinder that makes 169 hp and returns 22 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. For those more interested in fuel economy, a mild-hybrid version (formerly known as the Aura Green Line) of the four-cylinder engine boosts fuel economy to an EPA-rated 26 city and 34 highway. The hybrid system is not as sophisticated as those found on the competition, but it does offer a small fuel-economy bump for a relatively small amount of cash. If acceleration is a concern, Saturn offers a 252-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 that returns 17 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. The V-6 is pretty quick and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds. Six-speed automatics are standard on all Auras except the hybrid, which comes with a four-speed auto.
A new model for 2007, the Aura has a simple and well-thought-out interior that suffers from cheap-looking materials. The fit and finish of the interior says “rental car” and isn’t class competitive, but the seats are comfortable. The Aura’s cabin isn’t as wide as that of some of its competitors, but it makes up for it in length, as back-seat legroom is excellent.
Over the road, the Aura is a quiet and solid companion. Double-paned glass in the front doors, once exclusive to expensive luxury sedans, keeps highway noise to a minimum. The suspension feels distinctly European and strikes a pleasing compromise between ride and handling.
In a recent comparison test of family sedans, an Aura XE with the now-defunct 3.5-liter V-6 finished in fourth place behind the refined and supremely competent Honda Accord, the sporty Nissan Altima, and the surprisingly well-mannered Kia Optima. The Aura did beat out a Toyota Camry and a Chrysler Sebring. In our test, the Aura was the only sedan equipped with a six-cylinder engine; the rest had four-cylinder power. We liked the Aura, but our disappointment with its interior quality and a few other cheap touches kept it from finishing higher in the test.
Verdict
Its interior plastics aren’t up to par with the rest of the class, but the Aura does offer excellent fuel economy, a quiet driving experience, and attractive pricing. The hybrid version lacks the sophistication of the competition, but it is priced reasonably. If you’re turned off by the Aura’s cabin but are committed to buying a GM product, the Chevrolet Malibu is essentially the same car with a superior interior.
Click here to read our full review of the Saturn Aura.
Click here to read our full review of the Saturn Aura hybrid.
Click here to read our latest comparison test involving the Saturn Aura.
What’s New for 2009
In addition to a few new exterior colors, the Aura loses the 3.5-liter V-6 engine, electronic stability control becomes standard on all models, and four-cylinder models (except hybrids) get a standard six-speed automatic transmission. The uplevel XR models are now available with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and also get standard leather-trimmed heated seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Hybrid models ditch the Green Line moniker and get “Hybrid” windshield and rear-window decals.
Highlights and Recommendations
The base XE trim level comes well equipped and offers good value, but our favorite model is the luxurious Aura XR equipped with the four-cylinder engine. The leather seats dress up the interior considerably, the exterior styling is enhanced by larger wheels, the suspension tuning is sportier, and the four-cylinder engine delivers decent power and returns commendable fuel economy.
Safety
Dual front airbags, front-seat-mounted side-impact airbags, curtain side-impact airbags, front-seatbelt pretensioners, anti-lock brakes, traction control, electronic stability control, and tire-pressure monitoring are standard on all Aura models.
