Saturn Vue - 2008 Review

Although I don't declare myself a Saturn enthusiast, my last 3 cars have all been Saturns. in March 2008 I purchased the 2008 Saturn Vue XE. In the year that I have owned it I have had to only visit my Saturn service dept for routine maintanence. I decided on the Vue because I needed something with a little more rear leg room (I have 2 kids, one who has very long legs). I also wanted something that would not hurt my pocket too much as far as fuel went. I initially considered the 2007 Vue and did not like the exterior of the 2008 (my issue was with the back), but after test driving both I noticed that the 2008 was a quieter ride (less wind noise that Saturn owners are well aware of) and seemed to ride smoother than the 2007.

The interiors are worlds apart...the 2008 has a more refined and more comfortable interior in my opinion than the older Vue's. The 2008 Vue also offered more standard features for the money than many of it's competitors that I also considered. OnStar, power windows/locks, cruise control, steering wheel audio controls, StabiliTrak, warranty, Auto headlights, etc were all pluses for me. Right now the main negative concern I have is the uncertainty of Saturn/GM future. Excluding that, I feel that I have a quality car that meets my personal needs. It would have been nice to have Bluetooth phone capabilty rather than the OnStar phone option, but it definitely wasn't a deal breaker. It also would have been nice to have it come equipped with a iPod interface built in, but it does have an input on the face of the radio that allows my iPod to be used in the car so it's not a big deal.

Gas mileage is a complaint I notice when seeing reviews, but for me gas mileage is exactly what I expected based on the estimates listed on the sticker. I get over 400 miles per tank. Mixed driving I get about 23 mpg. Highway I have had 26-28 mpg. Of course, any current Saturn owner knows that the mileage is less during the breaking in period and this period can last for longer than some expect (some have reported 5k before they noticed better mileage).

Overall, I feel like I got a quality car that meets my needs for a good price.