Logo
No matching results

Recent Articles

Popular Makes

Body Types

2007 Saturn Aura Preview

A compelling new American sedan, that speaks with an accent

Christian Wardlaw
by Christian Wardlaw
April 17, 2006
3 min. Reading Time
fallback

Having given Saturn up for dead long ago, American consumers buying cars wearing the red-ringed badge today are purchasing 1.) the deal, 2.) the buying experience, 3.) the customer service after the sale, and 4.) dent- and rust-resistant body panels.This is how it has always been with Saturn: outstanding dealership experience, mediocre vehicles from which to choose. And today’s lame lineup is no exception – the best thing on the lot is the rapidly aging Vue SUV, and that’s no shining star when stacked up to its competition. That’s about to change. By the end of 2006, Saturn dealers will be inundated by new customers looking at the Sky roadster, the Outlook SUV, the Vue Green Line hybrid, and this new sedan, the 2007 Saturn Aura. The Aura debuted in production form at the 2006 New York Auto Show, and if Saturn can convince people that’s it is as durable as a Camry and as fun to drive as a Volkswagen, it should have no trouble selling every single Aura it builds. The 2007 Saturn Aura’s styling theme is patterned after Europe’s Opel, a GM division long admired across the Atlantic for its design flair and driving dynamics. Based on same platform as the Chevrolet Malibu Maxx and Pontiac G6, but tuned to deliver the ride and handling of a premium sport sedan, the 2007 Aura is part of a three-pronged revitalization of Saturn that will lean heavily on Opel style and dynamism as it rebuilds it reputation in the U.S. After the Aura’s initial rollout at the end of this summer, an Aura Green Line will debut with a hybrid powertrain that mates a battery pack and electric motors to a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine. We also wouldn’t be surprised to see an Aura Red Line version come to market with about 275 horsepower under the shapely hood. Speaking of shapely, what sets the 2007 Saturn Aura apart are emerging brand design cues like a chrome bar grille, jeweled headlamps, shiny door handles, and LED taillights. Saturn will sell the Aura in two trim levels, standard XE and uplevel XR, available in your choice of nine colors.

Why it matters

The 2007 Aura is critically important to Saturn. First, this is Saturn’s second stab at selling a viable vehicle in one of the largest segments of the automotive marketplace: the midsize sedan class. Second, the 2007 Aura is the anchor of a three-product strategy designed to introduce a new styling theme for Saturn as well as lead a sales renaissance. At first glance, the new 2007 Aura is a much better vehicle than the failed L-Series model that went out of production last year, and joins the appealing Sky roadster and handsome Outlook crossover in attempting to revive a rapidly fading brand.

fallback

What’s under the hood

Pick the Saturn Aura XE or the Saturn Aura XR, and you’ll find very different machines lurking under that tailored sheetmetal. The Aura XE is equipped with 17-inch wheels, a 3.5-liter V6 engine, a four-speed automatic transmission, antilock disc brakes that are vented in front, and a traction control system. The Aura XR gets polished 14-spoke wheels measuring 18 inches in diameter, a 3.6-liter V6 engine, a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters on the steering wheel, a StabiliTrak stability control system, and performance tires. Both of the 2007 Saturn Aura’s engines have variable valve timing. The 3.5-liter V6 makes 224 horsepower and 220 lb.-ft. of torque, while the 3.6-liter V6 whips up 252 horsepower and 251 lb.-ft. torque. The Aura XR’s six-speed automatic is the first Saturn equipped with Driver Shift Control (DSC), GM’s fancy-schmancy name for the paddle shifters. Every Saturn Aura has a four-wheel independent suspension.

fallback

What’s inside

Wow, check out that available caramel-colored leather in the Aura XR – Morocco Brown in Saturn parlance. Saturn says the Aura’s interior sets a new standard for the brand, with premium low-gloss materials and tight gap tolerances. Two-tone décor, chrome accents, and fake wood add an upscale ambience. Adding to effect are analog gauges with amber lighting, and LEDs that bathe the cabin in soft light at night just like a European luxury car also known as BMW. Saturn says that the Aura’s seating also gets the Euro treatment, designed for firm support over long highway trips. Other features include automatic climate control, power windows with express up/down for the driver, and a six-speaker stereo with a CD player and an input jack for portable music players. Options for the 2007 Saturn Aura include an Advanced Audio system with MP3 capability, 240 watts of power, eight speakers, and rear controls with two sets of wireless headphones. You can also get XM satellite radio, power adjustable pedals, an eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats in cloth or leather, and a panoramic four-panel sunroof. Saturn is taking safety seriously in the 2007 Aura: dual-stage front airbags with occupant sensing, side curtain airbags, front side-impact airbags, and OnStar with a free one-year Safe and Sound plan including Advanced Automatic Crash Notification system all come standard.

fallback

What we think

The 2007 Saturn Aura looks terrific, inside and out, and we’d even be OK with the driving dynamics if they mimic a Pontiac G6 GTP. And if it really does feel more like an Opel from behind the wheel, terrific. Refinement is going to be the biggest hurdle for the Aura to clear, and the car needs to be stone-cold reliable if it has any hope of putting a dent in Accord, Altima, and Camry sales. We like what we see; let’s hope the drive and durability are equally impressive.

Photos by Ron Perry and courtesy of General Motors

fallback

`

Interested in Getting a New Car?

Used Cars Near You

No Data Available

Powered by Usedcars.com
©2024 AutoWeb, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Some content provided by and under copyright by Autodata, Inc. dba Chrome Data. © 1986-2024.