Overview

Have you ever seen the world through 3-D glasses? Saturn hopes you will. This customer-friendly stepchild of General Motors recently introduced the Vue, a five-passenger compact sport-utility vehicle that has joined this increasingly popular and competitive segment of the automobile market.

Using 3-D glasses as part of a new marketing campaign, Saturn has designed its Vue to offer "a new perspective" on compact SUVs. GM's growing division brings innovations such as a continuously variable transmission (CVT), along with a huge selection of engine and transmission choices. Saturn claims its Vue has a longer wheelbase than any of its direct competitors, designed to maximize interior space and provide a smooth, stable ride. The Vue is further distinguished by its five-speed automatic transmission, electric power steering, OnStar telematics system, space-frame protection and polymer panels.

All of this comes at a highly competitive price.

Saturn's new Vue is designed for buyers who want a manageable, but still highly functional, sport-utility to haul gear without requiring huge parking spaces and a big garage. It's made for young customers with families. It's built for people with active lifestyles. Saturn designed it from the outside in for versatility.

Model Lineup

Vue is available in three models, all designed to be highly configurable. The base level ($16,325) is a front-wheel-drive, four-cylinder version offering 143 horsepower and, although it can navigate dirt roads, it offers no off-road capability. The FWD automatic retails for $17,265.

Next up the ladder is the all-wheel-drive four-cylinder ($18,860).

At the top is a V6 all-wheel-drive version ($22,575) that produces 181 horsepower at its peak.

All-wheel-drive models can be used as modest backroad cruisers and, equipped with a V6 engine, can tow a small boat, jet ski or snow machine.

Four-cylinder versions are matched to either a five-speed manual transmission or GM's VTi automatic, a transmission designed for seamless shifting through continuously variable settings. The six-cylinder engine is paired with a five-speed automatic.

Two design themes are available on all versions: the "outdoor expression" and "urban expression." The outdoor version includes a front brush bar, a prominent roof rack, and 16-inch wheels with all-terrain tires. Interior features include a rubberized cargo area and floor covering, Ostrich leather accents and a plug-in handheld GPS unit. The urban version comes with 18-inch wheels, performance tires and a lowered suspension. Inside is an integrated navigation system and rear seat gaming system.

Walkaround

Vue is distinctive and visually striking, but it is not necessarily a true head-turner. Its exterior design is more sensible than sensational, with looks that are modern and practical, and strong lines that avoid the bubble effect that curvy, cutesy mini-utilities share.

The front end is thick and snubbed, with headlamps that ride high atop an exaggerated grille. From the side, Vue is boxy and nondescript, except for its high beltline. Its full backend liftgate with floodlights provides easy and efficient access to the rear cargo area.

Despite its urban appearance, the Vue offers serious strength and stability underneath its façade. Unique polymer bodyside panels provide a rugged dent-resistant exterior without the clutter of lower-body cladding. Car-height bumpers offer enhanced protection from parking lot damage and help create a smoother appearance. A spare tire is mounted inside the vehicle, which significantly reduces potential damage from low-speed rear impacts.

Interior Features

Getting inside Vue is easy, accommodated by wide door openings and a low step-in height. Despite the Vue's high beltline, visibility is good, with a panoramic feel to the interior. The Vue's roomy interior, with 100 cubic feet of passenger volume, betters the interior space of the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV-4.

Inside is where Vue gets interesting. Although instrumentation and controls are straightforward, creative stowage innovations appear throughout the interior. Of note are the three power outlets, configurable cargo spaces and seating for five. A flat load floor in the rear is a result of the compact all-wheel-drive system. A 70/30 split folding rear seat allows for greater seating room for three and provides more versatile stowage of longer items.

A fold-flat front passenger seat makes room for large items like a ladder or a surfboard to be tucked in for a do-it-yourself project or weekend warrior adventure. The rear cargo space includes tie-downs for the safe transport of a wide variety of goods and hooks for grocery bags. A cargo organizer that folds out of the floor is provided for smaller objects; compartments are designed to hold common things, such as a gallon of milk, a welcome convenience for late-night grocery runs or quick stops after work.