Story and photos by Tom Strongman
General Motors is rolling out hybrids with a flourish, and the Saturn Vue Green Line is one of the latest.
The Vue is a compact crossover based on the Opel Antara and GM’s Theta chassis platform. Opel is a German division of GM, and it’s becoming commonplace for Saturns to be based on Opels.
The hybrid powertrain is similar to the one used in the Aura sedan and the Chevrolet Malibu. It consists of a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that deliver a combined 164 horsepower.
The electric motor adds power mostly when accelerating from a stop, climbing hills or passing.
The base price of the Vue hybrid is $24,170, and the test car had a sticker price of $26,015.
Hybrids from Ford, Toyota and Nissan combine an Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine with an electric motor and a continuously variable transmission, but Saturn’s current system is simpler. The electric motor enables the engine to shut off when the vehicle stops and to restart instantly when it’s time to move. The 2008 Saturn hybrid cannot run on the electric motor alone. The system improves mileage by cutting off fuel during deceleration. Regenerative braking captures electrical energy that charges the battery.
The beauty of Saturn’s system is its simplicity, but the downside is that it doesn’t improve fuel economy nearly as much as other hybrids. The Vue is rated at 25 miles per gallon in the city and 32 on the highway. I averaged a little over 21 miles per gallon in mostly city driving, according to the car’s trip computer.
In 2009, the Saturn Vue Green Line will use a two-mode hybrid system that will be paired with a 3.6-liter V-6. That model goes into production near the end of this year. The two-mode system will enable the Vue to operate solely on electric propulsion at low speed. Saturn said it expects the 2009 Green Line to provide fuel economy that is 50 percent better than the standard V-6.
Except for the fact that the Vue hybrid shuts off the engine when the vehicle is stopped and restarts it immediately when the brake is released, it doesn’t drive any differently than a regular model. The auto-stop function in the test car was smoother than the one I drove recently in a Chevrolet Malibu hybrid.
The Vue is a most pleasant compact crossover utility vehicle. The athletic, coupelike styling always drew admiring looks from other motorists, and the interior quality is as good or better than anything in its class.
Compact crossovers blend carlike manners with SUV function, and do so in a relatively small overall footprint.
The Vue’s interior looks more expensive than the price would suggest. The dash and door panels have nice textures, and the brushed silver accents on the steering wheel give a contemporary look.
The steering wheel has a small thumbwheel for controlling the radio, and its motion is simple and intuitive. Cruise control is operated from the wheel as well.
The Vue has seating for five. No third seat is offered, which makes sense because it would have to be very small.
The test vehicle’s cloth seats were reasonably comfortable. A few months ago I drove a Vue across the state and thought the front seats could use deeper cushions, but I didn’t spend that same length of time in the hybrid.
The split-folding back seat has good legroom, and the cargo space is large enough to be useful. Wind and road noise were minimal.
While the Vue Green Line isn’t as fuel-efficient as other hybrids, its hybrid system is simpler, which means lower cost, and it drives as smoothly as the regular gasoline model.
Price: The base price of the test car was $24,170. Options included an eight-way power driver seat, lumbar adjustment, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, lighted vanity visor mirrors, heated power adjustable outside mirrors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated windshield-washer fluid and a remote vehicle starter system. The sticker price was $26,015.
Warranty: Three years or 36,000 miles with a five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Hybrid components and battery pack have an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty.