Women are the majority of buyers of Saturn's sport utility vehicle, the Vue.
For 2004, they're getting a surprising and improved package, a spirited ride that comes, interestingly enough, from a Honda V6 under the hood.

Even as the V6 in the Vue boosts horsepower by 38 percent and torque by 24 percent compared with the previous engine, fuel economy remains unchanged. Add in a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price, including destination charge, for a V6-powered, 2004 Vue that's a competitive $22,500 or so, and it's no wonder the Vue is setting sales records.

Women buy the Vue
Women, who account for 55 percent of Vue buyers, helped set the record sales of 81,924 in calendar 2003, up from the record 75,477 in calendar 2002. The Vue's appeal stems in part from styling, which was critiqued by consumers early during the development process. When consumers said the original, gray front fascia of the Vue looked intimidating, designers added color, for example. The result is an SUV that's blocky and distinctive, yet not overly brutish or cute.

As on other Saturns, polymer body panels are used on the Vue. They are dent and ding-resistant, but they do need extra spacing between them to accommodate expansion and contraction in different temperatures. Traditional steel body panels do not have the same requirements.

So, I find that while I like the dent resistance properties of the panels, I can't help but notice the large gaps they create between the Vue's hood and its front fenders. It's not the most well-finished appearance for a vehicle.

About that engine …
Still, the Vue is well-sized and maneuverable and is offered with four-wheel-drive for wintery travel. At 181.3 inches long and 71.5 inches wide, it's bigger than the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, but not as big as the Honda Pilot or the Acura MDX, which use the same V6 and five-speed automatic transmission as the Vue. So, you might ask, what's this powerplant albeit with no obvious Honda label on it doing in a Saturn?

In 1999, Saturn's parent company, General Motors Corp., negotiated use of an unidentified V6 in exchange for Honda being able to get diesel engines from GM's affiliate, Isuzu. It's a boost for the Vue, in more than one way. The 2004 Vue now has more domestic content than its predecessor did because Honda makes its V6 in Ohio. The Vue's previous V6 came from Opel, a GM brand in Europe. The new V6 also has far better performance... to 250 from last year's 181 horses and increases the torque to, fuel economy remains unchanged.

The test Vue with this 250-horsepower, 3.5-liter, single overhead cam V6 had power aplenty and moved forward easily whenever I pressed the accelerator. Last year's V6 horsepower was just 181. Torque now is 242 lb.-ft. at 4,500 rpm compared with 195 lb.-ft. at 4,000 rpm in last year's Vue with V6. It didn't matter if I was merging on the highway or zipping into city traffic. This Vue didn't feel like it was straining, and shifts from the five-speed automatic transmission were smooth.

I recalled when I tested the first model year Vue, the 2002, that I heard the V6 thrashing some during acceleration. This is not the sound today as the new engine has a strong, confident sound.
In fact, Saturn also puts this engine into its new performance model of Vue. Called the Vue Red Line, it includes a sport-tuned suspension and 18-inch tires on fancy wheels.

Th fuel economy is noteworthy. The lower-powered 3-liter V6 mated to a five-speed automatic that was in the 2003 Vue was rated at 19 miles a gallon in city driving and 25 mpg on the highway, according to the federal government. The new Vue with Honda V6, despite the substantial performance enhancements, gets the very same rating.

Working on Interior Quiet

Saturn engineers worked to reduce interior noise in the Vue, and the 2004 model is the best yet. There was still some road noise, but it's not nearly as loud as in the earlier model. I heard only a bit of wind noise emanating from around one side of the windshield.

It's easy to get in and out of the Vue, because it's not an SUV that requires a climb up. At 5 feet 4, I turned and sat down, just a bit, onto the Vue's driver seat.

I loved the view out of the Vue, excuse the pun, as I looked down on both the Vue's cowl and hood. I also saw around and over some cars, but my view down the road was blocked by bigger trucks and sport utility vehicles.

The ride isn't plush, but it's not bare bones, either. The sense is you and your riders are rolling over and on top of road bumps, and I didn't feel as if I was getting roughed up by the pavement.

The Vue has an independent, strut-type front suspension and rear independent trailing arm configuration in back. Sixteen-inch wheels are standard equipment.

Odds and Ends
It takes some getting used to the location of the Vue's power window buttons. They're not in the normal spots. Rather, they're congregated in the center console between the front seats.

Gauges are large and easy to read, but blinkers activated in the test vehicle with a loud, clickity-clack. The optional leather didn't have a soft, supple feel; it actually felt more like vinyl. I wished for a bit more lumbar support in the driver seat, and the middle person in the back seat doesn't have a head restraint.

Cupholders in the center console of the Vue sit close to the floor and in the tester, forced me to bend over, a bit, to reach down for phone and keys that I put into them.

Savvy shoppers will note the 250 horsepower in the Vue with V6 is more than the 240 horses provided from the same engine in the Honda Pilot. The torque rating, however, is the same in both vehicles at 242 lb.-ft. at 4,500 rpm. In Acura's MDX, however, this 3.5-liter powerplant generates 265 horses and 253 lb.-ft. of torque between 3,500 and 5,000 rpm. The Vue, with a curb weight of 3,630, weighs less than the Pilot and MDX, so it's obvious why the Vue has such a sprightly personality.

Saturn officials said 50 percent of Vues sold will have the V6 engine. The rest will have a 2.2-liter, Ecotec four cylinder that generates 143 horsepower and 152 lb.-ft. at 4,000 rpm. Both four- and six-cylinder engines use regular unleaded fuel.

A final note: Sometime in 2006, Saturn will expand the lineup of this SUV by offering a gasoline-electric hybrid Vue.

Click here for more information on the Saturn Vue.
For the Saturn 2004 Model Guide: Click Here