Overview & Reviews

For years, Saturn built mundane cars that looked and felt -- for lack of a better word -- cheap. Its midsize family sedans were no exception. Not too long ago, rumors swirled regarding the demise of the brand. But the opposite has happened. General Motors has hooked Saturn up to the rejuvenation machine, and the brand is in the process of reinventing itself and moving upscale in style, performance and features.

The new Saturn Aura is a cornerstone of the Saturn turnaround. The euro-influenced Aura has a distinctly sporty edge in both design and performance. And after years of bringing up the rear in the midsize sedan market, Saturn finally has a true competitor.

Current Saturn Aura

Available in two trim levels -- XE and XR -- the Saturn Aura is one of the more distinct midsize sedans on the market. It is built on a stretched version of General Motors' "Epsilon" platform, and has a surprising amount of legroom in the rear seats.

In fact, there are many things that will surprise buyers, including the Saturn Aura's excellent design sensibility. The cabin is nicely styled with just the right amount of (faux) wood trim or metallic accents. And to show how far Saturn has come, there are two sunroof options, including a four-panel panoramic sunroof.

The attitude isn't just skin deep. Both Saturn Aura trim levels are equipped with strong V6 engines and sporty features and equipment. The XE trim comes with 17-inch wheels (alloy wheels are available as an option) and a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 224 hp. A four-speed automatic transmission is standard. Air-conditioning, full power accessories, cruise control, StabiliTrak stability control, traction control and a six-speaker audio system with CD player and auxiliary input for digital music players also come standard.

The XR gets a more powerful 3.6-liter V6 engine, which bumps power up to 252 hp. The standard transmission is a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters, two words that you would never have thought could be associated with Saturn vehicles. But this is a different era for the company. Other standard features on the XR include 18-inch alloy wheels, leather seating, a power driver seat, heated front seats and a premium stereo with eight speakers and a six-CD changer. Interestingly enough, a navigation system is not available with the Aura, even as an option.

In reviews, our editors found the Saturn Aura matched up well with other cars in its class. In many areas, it runs at the front of the low-$20,000 midsize market. The pickup from both V6 engines is strong, but especially so in the 252-hp XR. The Aura offers a nice balance of tight, precise handling characteristics and comfort. The XR is even more of a treat to drive, thanks to its smooth, even power band and agile chassis. Steering is well weighted and road noise is low.

Our editors' one serious bit of criticism regards the XE's four-speed automatic tranny, which was found to be poorly suited to the base engine. The six-speed automatic in the Aura XR, however, is wonderful. Other complaints were limited to nitpicking interior fit and finish, a reminder that, while the Aura is miles ahead of previous Saturn offerings, there are still some things that could use more attention.

User Reviews:

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  Sorry Saturn - 2007 Saturn Aura
  By SARASOTA Saturn - November 20 - 6:06 am

  Can not judge a book by its cover. Sad to say the dealership was equally glad to see that I traded the car so they would not have to have it in their shop all the time. One month after I purchased the car I had ongoing problems with the vehicle. Nothing major just things like dead battery, passenger seat belt light remained on, vapor leak in rear light, remote start quit, keyless entry needed pads replaced, and rotors warped and still needed repair. The service is great but the senseless problems were beyond the norm for a new car.

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  It Had Some Potential... - 2008 Saturn Aura
  By CC - May 6 - 11:40 pm

  Ive had this car for close to a year and Im ready to get rid of it. The powertrain seems solid and it has plenty of horsepower, but the torque steer gets out of control when you step on the throttle. It rides nice and smooth with minimal road noise. Its loaded with every feature you could ever need. However, I just cant get past the cheap plastic interior. It creaks every time I accelerate and there are rattles everywhere. It detracts from what might otherwise be an enjoyable driving experience. I had to have the door lock fixed by the dealer, the intermittent wiper function works inconsistently, and the steering wheel vibrates and squeals when making tight turns.

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  Not great - 2007 Saturn Aura
  By FredGil - June 23 - 11:50 am

  This car, an Aura XR, is provided by my company so this is an unbiased review. The car is "nice" but devoid of personality. On the highway, a lot of road noise finds it way into the cabin, and around town a lot of engine noise and vibration can be heard and felt. Handling is ok, but no better then a lot of cheaper subcompacts and most mid sized sedans. After playing with the seat, steering and pedal position controls I have found that it is not possible to find a comfortable driving position. I cannot drive the car more then 30 minutes without my entire body aching. Fuel economy is nowhere near what I expect, I have a 2006 Vue which has more power and gets 2-4 more mpg.

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  Wish I had known - 2007 Saturn Aura
  By jcr - September 6 - 9:53 pm

  This car has been in the shop more times than my previous 7 cars. Windshiped wipers didnt work - 2 times to fix, ESC light on - 2 times to fix, cruise control - hit bump in highway - quit - 2 times to fix, and now on 4th time in for rear brake lights - some times stayed on all the time, other times never came on when applied the brakes. My car is definitely not "car of the year" Ive driven borrowed cars half the time Ive owned this one.

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  Pedal positioning is painful - 2008 Saturn Aura
  By rojo8 - March 26 - 10:16 am

  The gas and brake pedals are far apart and both are high off the floor, so its impossible to pivot your foot comfortably on the heel. I have to completely let my foot off the gas pedal in order to hit the brake. No big deal obviously on high speed drives with minimal braking, but in-town driving is painful. Because its so uncomfortable, its also very unsafe. Id find myself resisting moving back and forth between braking and accelerating, which obviously is not a safe driving practice. If youre small-feeted like me (size 8-9; not terribly small in fact) but youre used to stomping on your pedals, then no big deal. Pivoting is safer because its more comfortable. What an idiotic design.