The best Saturn ever made
In my entire career of auto journalist, I've never been truly impressed by a Saturn. Sure, there were some bright spots, particularly in terms of design with the gorgeous Sky, but that's it. When it comes to dynamics, powertrain or interior layout, Saturn simply cannot get the job done, let alone exceeding my expectations.
Remember: this GM division always promised to be different, to do things like no other company. Except for polymer body panels, this promise was never kept. Saturn cars easily handle their duties, sometimes with hesitation, but rarely with panache.
Well, here comes the Aura, a car that lives up to Saturn's self-imposed hype. Aesthetically and mechanically, the Aura is further proof that Saturn is rebounding -- and quite nicely so.
Racy and sexy
At first glance, the Aura (especially the XR model I tested) is different from similarly-sized sedans. Based on the same platform as the G6 and Malibu, this car yet makes us believe it is freshly inspired. The package is sleek and streamlined, although the roofline is quite high.
The long hood is surrounded by prominent fenders that reproduce the lines of the Sky roadster but that are absent on any other Saturn. As for the chrome-clad grille, it sports a distinctive Saturn look. The chrome is used differently and more scarcely on the base XE model. The shinier XR, with its 18-inch ultra bright alloys, remains stylish without ever seeming kitsch. The Aura's silhouette is making heads turn, which is why the designers of the 2008 Malibu extensively studied it.
In my entire career of auto journalist, I've never been truly impressed by a Saturn. Sure, there were some bright spots, particularly in terms of design with the gorgeous Sky, but that's it. When it comes to dynamics, powertrain or interior layout, Saturn simply cannot get the job done, let alone exceeding my expectations.
 |
| Finally a Saturn that meets expectations. |
Remember: this GM division always promised to be different, to do things like no other company. Except for polymer body panels, this promise was never kept. Saturn cars easily handle their duties, sometimes with hesitation, but rarely with panache.
Well, here comes the Aura, a car that lives up to Saturn's self-imposed hype. Aesthetically and mechanically, the Aura is further proof that Saturn is rebounding -- and quite nicely so.
Racy and sexy
At first glance, the Aura (especially the XR model I tested) is different from similarly-sized sedans. Based on the same platform as the G6 and Malibu, this car yet makes us believe it is freshly inspired. The package is sleek and streamlined, although the roofline is quite high.
The long hood is surrounded by prominent fenders that reproduce the lines of the Sky roadster but that are absent on any other Saturn. As for the chrome-clad grille, it sports a distinctive Saturn look. The chrome is used differently and more scarcely on the base XE model. The shinier XR, with its 18-inch ultra bright alloys, remains stylish without ever seeming kitsch. The Aura's silhouette is making heads turn, which is why the designers of the 2008 Malibu extensively studied it.
 |
| The Aura is the twin of the Opel Vectra. |