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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  Great Car GM! - 2007 Saturn Aura
  By Techman - January 15 - 2:43 pm

  I looked at most of the competitorÂ’s products over a 1 month period and kept coming back to the Aura. I wanted the XR but ended up choosing the XE. I got the XE fully loaded and itÂ’s essentially the XR with a very few exceptions. I couldnt justify the extra $4K for 28 more HP and a 6 speed auto transmission. The XE performs very well in all areas. The build quality is excellent, the styling is eye catching, and the drive is wonderful. Im back in a domestic automobile for the first time in over 10 years. If this is any indication of where GM is heading then its a good sign. Think most fellow import buyers will feel the same if they give it a chance.

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  Great deal - 2007 Saturn Aura
  By Bob - January 13 - 11:33 am

  Ive had my Saturn XE with a 3.5 V6 for a few months now. Highway mileage is well over 30 mpg, maybe 36. Mixed mileage is 28 mpg. Plenty of power, average ride for smoothness. Seats are a little narrow on the bottom and Im not big. Had a few small problems that the dealer promptly fixed. Trunk is a nice size, fits my golf clubs no problem. With power assist seat I wouldnt spend the extra money on full power. Quiet ride. Dealer has no problem finding parts or fixing this car. Warranty is 5 yr 160,000 kilometers on powertrain. So far so good, for the money you wont find anything nicer than a Saturn aura. If you can find one. The Malibu is a better car but too new for my price range.

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  Amazing car! - 2007 Saturn Aura
  By Scott - December 29 - 9:26 am

  When the time came to replace our Saab 9-3, my wife and I did some car shopping. After stopping at the Saturn dealership, we both agreed there was no need to look any further. We test drove both the XE and XR versions. In the end, we just couldnt pass up the OHC V6 & 6 spd automatic in the XR. Wow! What a car. Definitely not what has become known as the "typical" GM car. It drives smooth and handles very well while still absorbing bumps. The engine provides ample power and the transmission, while occasionally slow to respond, shifts smoothly. My wife loves the remote start feature. This car should be on every midsize car buyers shopping list. Its definitely worth a look.

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  2007 Saturn Aura owner - 2008 Saturn Aura
  By ssbowtie - December 16 - 11:56 pm

  I have 07 Aura XR with 88,000 miles on it and transmission went. GM said nothing they can do 5 year/100,000 warranty is up. In shop now for 2 days bring diagnosed. I will never buy another GM vehicle as long as I live. Probably will have to sue for replacement and that GM known defect

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  Thanks Saturn - 2007 Saturn Aura
  By Aaron - December 12 - 5:16 pm

  Watch out imports, this tops any other car I have driven in my life, General Motors got this one correct. Platform is excellent; styling is what eludes people to the car. Only downfall is that people do not realize that it is a Saturn.

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  Great car overall, powerful, sleek, fun - 2007 Saturn Aura
  By Airborne CHP - December 11 - 7:40 pm

  Puchased used last spring after months of research to save $. drives great, very powerful V6 with plenty of acceleration (0-60 < 6 secs). Highway miles above 27 at 70+MPH. combined driveing could be better I get avg. 20 when I go easy on the gas. handles great through curvy mountain highways. No problems thus far. my only complaint is the door lock sticks out right where my arm sit when I roll with the windows down. Sound system is excellent. Heated seats are great but could go all the way up the back rather than just lower lumbar. Exterior design is great, always turning heads. Looking forward to many years with this great car. So glad I went back to Saturn after an Intrepid for 4 years.

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  Steering Problems - 2007 Saturn Aura
  By rosemarycars - December 4 - 11:23 pm

  Steering wheel problems, were scheduled to be fixed the third time,..decided on trading the car in,...took a beating.To much plastic in the interior of the car, have to be really careful, with kids, regarding the scratches.Trans., was starting to slip, dealership at Chevy told us try not to accelerate, after stopping, press on the accelerator slowly, to avoid this problem.

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  Second time around - 2008 Saturn Aura
  By KeithC - November 30 - 10:26 pm

  This is my second Saturn, the first one was a 1997 SL-1 and I still have it. I bought another Saturn because my first one was an excellent car. I have put almost 6,000 miles on the Aura and it has been smooth sailing all the way. People have asked me if it was a Lexus or Acura. The car rides smooth, handles well and is very quiet. The fake wood on the inside makes it look like a luxury car. The car is Red Jewel Tintcoat and it turns heads. The 4-cylinder has enough power merging onto the freeways as long as you turn off the A/C first. Plenty of power is available for driving around town. Fuel economy is good , 30 MPG on highway. I love this car and would defintely buy it again.

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  3,5,R wave plate - 2008 Saturn Aura
  By angila_meyer - November 27 - 9:01 pm

  We bought our Aura used with 44k miles on it. We currently have 66k. I really love this car. However recently the wave plate went out in the Transmission while I was on my way to work. So I stopped at this repair shop right across the street. I had them look at the car. (keeping it over night) They informed me that the wave plate was the issue and my car was undrivable. So my Fiance go a hold of GM and let them know the issue. They got back to us saying its a known issue that they fixed with the 2009 version but basically since we were past five years even though we are under the 100k for the warranty we are out of luck. So by admitting fault but are leaving us stuck with a 4k bill.

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  Great power, great ride, sporty design - 2008 Saturn Aura
  By Chicago Driver - October 30 - 2:56 am

  The Saturn Aura has very good pickup and power for a relatively small sedan. All the comments about it being the "poor mans Lexus" are true. Several friends told me that they thought it was a Lexus. I had a Saturn wagon about 10 years ago and loved it, had a very good experience with the car. My take is that Saturn has upgraded their product line with a sporty, dependable line of cars that are popular and fun to drive. The only thing that bugs me about the car is that there appears to be a weird "blind spot" at the right front of the windshield due to the design of the front (windshield) of the car. But maybe this could be offset by adjusting the seat? Overall I love this car.