When Saturn's Vue debuted in 2002, it entered one of the fastest growing segments in the industry. Nearly every manufacturer in the U.S. now fields a compact SUV, so just showing up wasn't going to guarantee any measure of success. With such fierce competition, Saturn sought to differentiate its SUV by offering unique drivetrain options, a spacious cabin and a low price to attract first-time buyers and anybody else looking for a great value. The Vue was the first mini sport-utility to offer a five-speed automatic (it was also the first small SUV with a CVT, but that transmission was discontinued last year because of durability concerns). With a choice of two different engines and either front- or all-wheel drive, the Vue offers a little bit of something for everybody. In 2004, Saturn replaced the torquey but unrefined 3.0-liter V6 with an ultrarefined 3.5-liter V6 built by Honda. With 250 horsepower at the ready, the V6-powered Vue is one of the fastest mini-utes on the market. A Red Line package also debuted that year, combining the potent V6 with beefier suspension components, a lowered ride height and 18-inch wheels and tires. The result was much improved handling. A monochromatic paint job and unique body pieces give the sport-ute a bolder look.
Additional refinements are on tap for 2006, including a new center console and center stack and upgraded interior trim. A new stereo head unit not only looks better, but offers increased functionality for satellite radio listeners along with an auxiliary jack for portable music players. New front and rear fascias freshen up the exterior.
The Vue compact SUV is available in four-cylinder and V6 models with either front- or all-wheel drive. Base four-cylinder models come with 16-inch wheels; air conditioning; power windows, locks and mirrors; OnStar; steering wheel audio controls; cruise control; a tilt steering wheel; a height-adjustable driver seat; and a six-speaker AM/FM CD stereo. Moving up to the six-cylinder models adds alloy wheels (16-inch on front-drive models, 17-inch on AWD models) and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Available on V6 models is an optional Red Line Package with a lowered, sport-tuned suspension; 18-inch wheels; ebony leather seats with suede inserts; a six-way power driver seat; unique instrumentation; and ambient footwell lighting.
Head curtain airbags that protect both front and rear passengers are optional on all Vues. ABS is standard on V6 models and optional on four-cylinder models. In NHTSA crash testing, the Vue earned a perfect five stars for driver protection in frontal impacts and four stars for front-passenger protection. Side-impact tests resulted in a five-star rating across the board. The IIHS named the Vue a "Best Pick" for its frontal-offset crash safety. In IIHS side-impact tests of small SUVs, the Vue earned a "Poor" rating (the lowest), but the vehicle tested did not have head curtain airbags.
This year's interior revisions help inch the Vue up toward having an attractive cabin, but the quality of the plastics is still below average for this class. Larger adults will find the front seats a size smaller than competitors' seats, but rear-passenger room is excellent, and a low step-in height makes getting in and out easy. A foldable front-passenger seat allows the transport of extra-long cargo, while folding down the rear seats provides 63.5 cubic feet of cargo space.
Engineered for a life on pavement, the Vue has fully independent suspension that delivers a comfortable, forgiving ride. Handling is on the soft side, and the electric power steering system is hopelessly vague. The four-cylinder engine provides leisurely acceleration at best, while the V6 offers a substantial power boost that makes the Vue extremely quick on its feet for a small SUV, though torque steer can be an issue during hard acceleration. The Red Line performance upgrades reduce body roll around corners, while eliminating most of the torque steer.
Press Release :
General Motors' ongoing commitment to improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions with advanced propulsion technologies is evidenced by the introduction of two new hybrid SUVs - the 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid and the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Two-mode Hybrid, featuring the world's first light-duty two-mode full hybrid system in an SUV.
The Vue Green Line has a new, more affordable hybrid system that improves fuel economy by an estimated 20 percent, depending on driving conditions. When it arrives at Saturn retailers this summer, it is expected to be the lowest-cost hybrid-powered SUV in the market. The premium for the Vue's hybrid system will be less than $2,000 and the vehicle's MSRP will start at less than $23,000.
The Vortec V-8-powered Chevrolet Tahoe Two-mode Hybrid is expected to deliver a 25-percent improvement in composite fuel economy when GM's two-mode hybrid system is paired with Active Fuel Management™ cylinder deactivation. The Tahoe will go on sale with the GMC Yukon Two-mode Hybrid in 2007 as 2008 models. The two-mode hybrid transmissions will be built at GM Powertrain's Baltimore Transmission facility, with final vehicle assembly at GM's Arlington (Texas) plant. Pricing and production volumes have not been announced.
The Vue Green Line and Tahoe and Yukon Two-mode Hybrids are among the 12 hybrids GM plans to deliver over time in high-volume car and truck lines, providing customers with several levels of fuel economy savings at different price points. GM already builds and sells the industry's first and only hybrid pickups, the Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid and the GMC Sierra Hybrid, which deliver the highest city fuel economy in their segment.
"Our hybrids offer customers a choice of fuel-saving technologies depending on their driving habits and budgets," said Tom Stephens, group vice president, GM Powertrain. "Our hybrid strategy delivers on GM's commitment to apply advanced fuel-saving technologies where we will realize the most fuel savings."
Here's a deeper look at GM's hybrid SUVs:
2008 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon Two-mode Hybrids
With the addition of the world's first light-duty two-mode full hybrid propulsion system in an SUV, the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon Two-mode Hybrids will deliver a 25-percent improvement in fuel economy and a superior driving experience that SUV customers know and love.
"The Tahoe and Yukon Two-mode Hybrids combine the functionality and comfort of a full-size SUV with a two-mode full hybrid system that optimizes fuel efficiency in city and highway driving, the way most Americans use their vehicles," said Stephens.
The Vortec V-8-powered two-mode hybrid is expected to deliver a composite fuel efficiency improvement of 25 percent when combined with Active Fuel Management™ cylinder deactivation technology. Pricing and production volumes have not been announced.
The two-mode hybrid system, originally implemented by GM in transit buses in 2003, is being cooperatively advanced and adapted by BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler and GM for use in a broad variety of cars, trucks and SUVs.
The partnership pools the expertise of all three companies to leverage automatic transmission technology and electronic controls in an integrated, powerful and compact system that can be used with both gas and diesel engines.
The two-mode hybrid system features two modes optimized for city and highway driving. In the first mode, at low speed and light loads, the vehicle can operate in three ways: electric power only, engine power only or in any combination of engine and electric power. When operating with electric power only, it provides all the fuel-savings benefits of a full hybrid system. Leaving the engine shut off for extended periods of time and moving under electric power at low speed is key to reducing fuel consumption in heavy stop-and-go traffic.
2007 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid
The 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid features the new, more affordable GM hybrid system. The Vue Green Line Hybrid is expected to deliver an EPA estimated 27 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway - a fuel economy improvement of about 20 percent over the non-hybrid Vue.
The Vue Green Line uses sophisticated controls and a unique electric motor/generator mated to a 2.4L VVT four-cylinder engine and 4T45-E four-speed transmission. It is a simple and flexible hybrid design that provides increased fuel economy through engine shut-off at idle and fuel cut-off during deceleration, supplies electric power assist during acceleration and the capability to capture electrical energy through regenerative braking.
"As Saturn continues an aggressive product lineup expansion, a hybrid version of the popular Vue is a natural extension," said Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak. "The Vue Green Line strengthens our position as an environmentally aware brand that provides great value - an attribute that has always appealed to Saturn customers."
The Vue Green Line is based on the popular Vue SUV, which was restyled for 2006 model year with distinctive exterior appointments and a more refined interior.
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