2007 Saturn Outlook Preview

“Like always. Like never before.” That’s the new Saturn advertising slogan, meant to invoke memories of a pressure-free no-haggle sales environment and outstanding customer service while conveying that with the debut of the new 2007 Saturn Outlook, 2007 Saturn Aura, and 2007 Saturn Sky, there are new products in the showroom unlike anything we’ve seen from Saturn. The 2007 Saturn Outlook debuted at the 2006 New York Auto Show, a crossover SUV able to seat up to eight passengers. Yep, that’s right: eight. See, this is actually a full-size SUV, even though it’s designed to compete against vehicles like the Honda Pilot, Nissan Murano, and Toyota Highlander. With 116.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third-row seats folded down, how could it be anything but a full-sizer? Representative of Saturn’s emerging corporate look, the 2007 Outlook features a bold and bright grille, projector beam headlights with jeweled reflectors, chrome-accented taillights that resemble those on the Sky roadster, chrome-trimmed door handles for an upscale look, and standard 18-inch wheels. Inside, Saturn’s effort to make the 2007 Outlook feel roomy with great outward visibility appears successful, and the materials used to construct that cabin are of much higher quality than you’re accustomed to seeing in a Saturn.

Why it matters

Saturn is in dire need of an image boost, and crossover SUVs are among the hottest market segments today. The 2007 Outlook, one of three new vehicles upon which the GM division is pinning its future, gives Saturn a roomy and capable crossover while debuting a new styling theme intended to banish the brand’s bargain-basement image, bumping it upscale to better compete with imports like Honda, Nissan and Toyota. Plus, it’s made in Lansing, Mich., so if you’ve wanted to buy an American crossover SUV made by American workers, the new 2007 Saturn Outlook meets your need.

What’s under the hood

Every 2007 Saturn Outlook is equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 engine with variable valve timing. In the Outlook XE, the standard trim, it makes 265 horsepower and 244 lb.-ft. of torque breathing through a single-outlet exhaust system. In the Outlook XR, the top trim level, it makes 267 horsepower and 247 lb.-ft. of torque exhaling through twin exhaust outlets. A six-speed automatic transmission transfers power to the front or all four wheels, and the 2007 Outlook rides on an independent MacPherson strut front and compact, linked “H” suspension in back, each attached to isolating mounting points to cut noise, vibration, and harshness. A long wheelbase of 118.9 inches contributes to plenty of interior space and a smooth ride, according to Saturn, while four-wheel disc antilock brakes come standard.

What’s inside

By all indications, the 2007 Saturn Outlook will make a great family vehicle. It seats up to eight people, with 19.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat when it’s in use – a surprising figure for any SUV. The cargo space is cube shaped, and includes a covered convenience center under a panel in the load floor. Saturn says that adults will be comfortable in the third-row seat, and has designed an articulating Smart Slide second-row seat to make access and exit easier. Buyers can choose the standard 60/40 split folding bench for the second row, or available bucket seats. Available features on the 2007 Saturn Outlook include leather upholstery, a DVD navigation system, and a DVD entertainment system with rear input jacks and a 110-volt outlet. You can also get an ultrasonic parking assist system, a power liftgate, remote vehicle starting, and a heated washer fluid reservoir. In terms of safety equipment, the Outlook comes with standard dual-stage front, front side impact, and side curtain airbags for all three rows; GM’s rollover sensing system keeps the airbags inflated longer in that kind of wreck. And if you do have an accident, the Outlook includes OnStar communications with a free one-year Safe and Sound plan that features Advanced Automatic Crash Notification when the airbags deploy to help get rescue teams to you sooner.

What we think

Though sharing a platform with the upcoming Buick Enclave, the 2007 Saturn Outlook is more than a badge-engineered copy of that appealing crossover SUV. In fact, the Outlook is handsome, roomy, and equipped with a capable powertrain. Loyal Saturn buyers will be thrilled, even if the Outlook doesn’t have dent-resistant plastic body panels, and in combination with the company’s legendary customer service and dealer experience, this new CUV might just win a few Honda, Nissan, and Toyota intenders.

Photos by Ron Perry and courtesy of General Motors