A few months ago I drove content_376825220740 the new 2008 Saturn VUE XR. While I was impressed by the XR’s interior quality and general level of refinement, it was not a vehicle I’d recommend to a driving enthusiast. Then again, that’s what the Red Line variant is for. The Red Line was not yet available when I drove the XR, but I have since been able to drive one. Does the Red Line treatment yield a VUE suitable for enthusiasts?
Styling
I described the VUE XR’s exterior styling as “roly-poly” and “cute.” These are not usually the qualities driving enthusiasts look for in exterior styliing. For the Red Line, Saturn has fitted larger wheels and a much more aggressive front fascia. Though the wheels are 18s, just like those on the previous-generation VUE Red Line, they look much smaller on the new design owing to this design’s tall, round shape. Similarly, an aggressive fascia cannot by itself transform the look of a vehicle. The previous-generation Red Line had a leaner, meaner exterior appearance.
I’m more impressed by the VUE Red Line’s interior. The XR’s interior was already a major improvement on the previous VUE. The Red Line adds black leather sport buckets with faux suede center panels and tasteful red highlights throughout the interior. Very sharp.
Accommodations
The VUE Red Line’s front bucket seats don’t only look better than those in the regular VUE. They also hold you in place better, thanks to larger, tighter side bolsters and especially the faux suede center panels.
From the driver's seat, the VUE feels larger than the exterior styling suggests it ought to. Credit a high seating position behind an also high instrument panel. Visibility is good, but would be better if the base of the windshield and windows was not so high.
If you want a sunroof, you're out of luck. GM seems to be having trouble ironing out issues with the sunroof, so one isn't yet offered.
The VUE's rear seat falls behind the class average. It doesn't provide the extreme legroom some do, just a passable amount. It isn't high enough off the floor to provide the best thigh support (though it is better than that in the old VUE in this regard). And the seatback feels insufficiently padded and overly firm. But this seatback does recline, and the seat will serve well enough for the task most often required of such seats: the transport of children.
Unlike in the Mitsubishi and Toyota, no third row is offered. If you want a third row in a Saturn SUV, you're going to have to step up to the super-sized OUTLOOK.
The cargo area appears a bit smaller than average. Some nice touches have been included, though: a track system (for a partitioning cargo net) in the sidewalls and a set of small compartments beneath the load floor. The liftgate raises high enough that it should not pose a threat to most heads.
On the Road
The "mid-sized" feeling only intensifies once the new Saturn VUE is underway. Like the distantly related Equinox, if not quite as much, the new Saturn VUE drives like a larger vehicle. This is both good and bad. It does not feel agile or involving, even in more tautly suspended Red Line form. But it does feel solid and substantial.
This is not entirely a matter of tuning. At 4,100 pounds in front-drive form (add a couple hundred more for all-wheel-drive), the new VUE Red Line is a porker. A Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4 checks in about a quarter-ton lower.
The Red Line is powered by the same 257-horsepower 3.6-liter DOHC V6 standard in the XR. Owing to the new VUE’s high curb weight, the Red Line isn't going to win a race against the lighter 269-horsepower V6 RAV4. But who races these vehicles, anyway? In typical suburban driving, the new VUE's V6 (a GM unit, not the Honda V6 used in the old VUE) feels plenty strong. Quiet, too. The wide spread of ratios offered by the six-speed automatic helps.
Unfortunately, this engine is strong enough that in the front-wheel-drive model torque steer often rears its ugly head. Dip deep into the throttle, and the steering wheel tugs this way and that. This could be the least polished aspect of the new VUE. It's also all too easy to "burn rubber" pulling away from a light. There is a fix: opt for the all-wheel-drive, which under hard acceleration shunts less torque through the front wheels.
I did not notice the exceptional steering feel a couple of car magazines have reported. To me, even in the Red Line the steering feels slow and uncommunicative. However, it feels much better than the electric-assist steering system of the old VUE. Maybe the magazines were so effusive in their praise because their expectations were low? Whatever the reason, I felt that the steering was well-weighted but provided little feedback. The Red Line leans and understeers less in hard turns than the regular VUE, but is still far from the responsive, sporty feel of an Acura RDX or BMW X3. Of course, those SUVs are considerably more expensive than the VUE Red Line.
The VUE’s steering wheel doesn’t help. Its diameter is too large, and its rim is too thick. Also, the hard plastic on the spokes isn’t the best material for a comfortable grip.
The Red Line’s suspension tuning affects the ride quality more than it does the handling. While the ride generally remains comfortable, there’s now an edge to impacts and the Hankook tires clomp fairly loudly across patchy pavement.
Saturn VUE Price Comparisons and Pricing
The Red Line version of the 2008 Saturn VUE with AWD starts at $29,395. This is $1,275 more than a comparably equipped XR, and seems worth it for the larger wheels, sport suspension, exterior modifications, and upgraded interior.
Among RAV4s, the Sport V6 is most comparable to the VUE Red Line in terms of wheel size and handling, but is not available with leather. Before rebates (currently $1,000 on the VUE), the RAV4 Sport AWD lists for about $2,600 less than the VUE. Adjusting for feature differences--like the leather--brings them about even. Adding the rebate would give the Saturn a price advantage--until you factor in that Saturns sell for MSRP, while RAV4s do not. In the end, you'll probably pay about $1,500 more for the Saturn after feature differences are accounted for.
The VUE Red Line similarly costs about the same as a Mazda CX-7 when both are comparably equipped before rebates. So once again the advantage is about $1,000 with the rebate. But again the Mazda can be bought at a discount, so expect to pay less for it than for the Saturn. The biggest difference: a sunroof and xenon headlights are standard on the top CX-7, while neither feature is available on the Saturn.
Prices change frequently, and differences will vary based on feature level. To quickly generate these and other comparisons with the specific features you want, visit my Web site, www.truedelta.com. (It's the only site that provides true "apples-to-apples" price comparisons.)
TrueDelta's page for the Saturn VUE:
http://www.truedelta.com/models/VUE.php
Last Words
The Red Line version of the VUE builds on a solid basic package. The regular SUV’s solid feel and upscale interior are carried over, with improvements to the latter. Steering and handling and more sporting than in the regular VUE, but still not very sporting. Enthusiasts who insist on getting an SUV will likely favor the Mazda CX-7 or, if their budget permits it, the Acura RDX or BMW X3. But those who want decent handling, the solid feel of a European vehicle, and a sharp interior could find just what they’re looking for in the VUE Red Line.
A Note on Saturn VUE Red Line Reliability
I cannot practically cover reliability within the context of this review. However, many people are interested in such information, so I've started collecting my own data. Results, once they are available, will be posted to my site, www.truedelta.com, with updates every three months.
Unlike other sources, TrueDelta will clearly identify what difference it will make if you buy a VUE Red Line rather than another vehicle by providing "times in the shop" and "days in the shop" stats (among others). You will be able to specify the number of years, annual miles, and types of repairs to include in Saturn VUE Red Line reliability comparisons.
Before I can report results, I need reliability data on all cars--not just the VUE--from people like you. To encourage participation, those who help provide the data will receive
free access to the site's reliability information. Non-participants will have to pay an access fee.
For the details, and to sign up, visit www.truedelta.com.
A link to this website and alphabetized links to
my other vehicle reviews can be found on my
profile page.
Some of my reviews of related vehicles:
Ford Escape review
Honda CR-V review
Hyundai Tucson review
Kia Sportage review
Land Rover LR2 review
Mazda CX-7 review
Mitsubishi Outlander review
Saturn VUE review (2004, previous generation)
Subaru Forester review
Toyota RAV4 review
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