New Car Review: 2007 Saturn Aura
If General Motors had been building cars like the Saturn Aura ten years ago, Toyota might not be poised to replace GM as the world's largest, most successful automaker.
As it is, Toyota (and Honda, too) may be able to hold onto customers -- and their dominance of the mid-size/family car market -- on the strength of their established reputations -- even if their current offerings are no longer clearly superior in the "well-built" and "more reliable" categories. And even if competitors like the Aura have more to offer in the curb appeal department (and elsewhere).
That's the ugly legacy of 20-something years of not-so-great cars.
Still, smart shoppers shouldn't automatically dismiss everything coming out of General Motors today based on what was coming out of General Motors yesterday.
Times have changed.
The Aura, for example, is appealing on just about every level -- with the only downside being the likelihood of more rapid depreciation relative to the segment-leading Camry and Accord sedans -- based, of course, on the strength of their established reputations and the market's belief that import cars are always "better."
So consider the Aura on its merits. The car deserves a fair shake.
For one, it's not hard on the eyes. It has a tasteful, modern -- even graceful -- shape: "fast" windshield, low-cut roofline, blacked out B-pillars and Saturn-specific styling cues -- including the upswept, v-shaped grille and chrome door pulls/accents that tie everything together.
It's a nicely proportioned, good-looking car, from any angle.
The inside's just as sharp -- with a sporty hooded cluster for the main gauge pack, carbon fiber facings and chrome needles for the gauges, three-spoke wheel (with tilt/telescoping function and paddle shifters on XR models) and a continuation of the "flying v" grille theme with a similar trim piece (in wood finish or metallic) that anchors the center console -- with "wings" extending to the door panels on either side. Again, nicely done. GM used to be a leader in interior design (form as well as function) and the Aura's layout (along with some other standout GM models, like the new Chevy Tahoe) suggests the good old days might be on their way back.
You're also looking at a standard V-6 (with variable valve timing, too) in a class where many competitors (including both the class-leading Camry and the Accord) start out with much less powerful four-cylinder engines -- and charge you extra for a V-6. In the Aura, you'll get a 224 horsepower 3.5 liter V-6 for openers (in the $20,345 XE) and can move up from that to an even stronger 3.6 liter V-6 (and 252 horsepower) in the $24,345 Aura XR.
The standard Camry CE ($18,470) comes with a 2.4 liter, four-cylinder engine and 158 horsepower; the base model Honda Accord LX ($20,125) is in the same ballpark -- with a 2.4 liter, 166 horsepower engine under its hood. Both cars also come with manual transmissions standard -- while the Aura XE's base price includes a 4-speed automatic. The extra 58-66 horsepower doesn't cost you a penny extra.
The V-6 version of the Camry ups the ante to 268 hp -- but for three grand more ($23,540) than the cost of the Aura XL -- while the Accord V-6 starts out much higher at $25,200 and that only gets you to 244 hp -- eight less than the Aura XR, which costs about a grand less. (Nissan's Altima tops the list, power-wise, with its available 270-hp 3.5 liter V-6 for $24,000. But the Altima -- a more forceful and aggressive-driving/handling/riding sport sedan -- is more of a peripheral competitor than a direct Aura challenger like the Camry or the Accord.)
Now have a look at the equipment list.
In addition to a standard V-6 with 50-plus more hp than its primary import targets, the Aura XL also gets 17-inch alloy rims (with meaty 50-series tires), power driver's seat, cruise control with steering wheel controls, LED tail-lights, a six-speaker stereo with MP3 and CD player, OnStar -- along with automatic climate control AC, full instrumentation and a full menu of safety equipment, including curtain and side-impact air bags, traction control and ABS.
The base Camry CE comes with 16-inch steelies, a manual-adjustment chair for the driver -- and makes you pay extra ($650) for traction/stability control. Over at the Honda store, it's a similar story: The base model Accord LX rolls off the truck with even less impressive rolling stock -- 15 inch steel wheels with much smaller 65-series tires -- the same "do-it-yourself" manual adjustment driver's seat and no traction/stability control -- not even optionally. To get that feature, you have to buy a more expensive trim.
In addition to its bigger, stronger 3.9 liter V-6 (which it shares with the Cadillac CTS sport sedan) and six-speed automatic transmission (with F1-style paddle shifters, the top-of-the-line Aura XR gets 18-inch spoked alloy rims, a handsome leather-trimmed interior with heated driver and passenger sport buckets, upgrade audio system with six-disc CD changer and satellite radio, remote start -- and GM's StabiliTrak stability control system.
Power adjustable pedals and a huge, four-panel, panorama-style sunroof are available, too. (Neither the Accord nor the Camry even offer that feature.)
Saturn also provides 100,000 mile powertrain coverage -- vs. 60,000 miles for the Camry and Accord. Given the recent recalls and problems both the "import majors" have had with drivetrain bits and pieces -- engines for Toyota; weak automatic transmissions for Honda -- that's something to chew on a little, eh?
Bottom line: The big name imports ain't as good as they once were -- despite the lingering fumes (and preconceptions) of yesteryear. And American cars are better than they've been in many years. In some cases -- as in the case of this new Aura -- they're arguably better in several key areas (power levels, equipment for the dollar) and seem to have at least equalled the best imports when it comes to things like refinement, finesse, driving feel -- and overall "niceness." And as far as "durability" and "reliability" are concerned, well, check into the data on recalls and so on for yourself and see which brands have the better record lately.
It's your money. Spend it wisely. And don't assume the best about Japanese brands -- and the worst about domestic ones. You might be surprised how things have changed.
PS - A hybrid version of the Aura -- the Aura Green line -- is available as well.
