SATURN VUE REDLINE ROAD TEST - 2006

A road test of the 2006 Saturn VUE V6 AWD Red Line talks about vehicle performance, safety, crash tests, all-wheel drive (AWD), anti-lock brakes (ABS), fuel mileage economy and more. There’s a face lift and upgrades for 2006 Saturn all-wheel drive VUE Red Line with a Honda-built V6 engine. This midsize crossover SUV Saturn VUE is from General Motors. Competitors include Sonata/Sorrento, Escape/Mariner/Tribute, RAV4, CR-V. A Saturn VUE Green Line hybrid appears late in ‘06.  Here's Steve's recent road test of the 2006 Saturn VUE Red Line, which he also tested for About.com.

The facelifted 2006 Saturn VUE ($17,390 to $23,050) has some mostly appearance-related upgrades inside and out. My VUE Red Line AWD V6 featured a new integrated step pad, headlamps and hood and grill, all for a smoother look. Inside, new seats, chrome-and-wood accents and a new center console. VUE Red Line AWD V6 ($26,705) with a Honda 250-horsepower V6 is second only to Toyota’s RAV4 as most powerful in class. Good crash tests and mileage that rivals some hybrids, VUE’s a solid package.

It’s easy to tell the boxy VUE is built on the same “Theta” platform which is the basis for the Pontiac Torrent and Chevrolet Equinox. VUE is as bland-looking as most Saturns have been since the supposed import-fighting Division was created by GM’s then-CEO Roger Smith in 1990. Even Red Line VUE models, such as my AWD V6 model, do not stand out in a crowd. With appearance cues like a front and rear spoilers, one-inch-lowered suspension, 18-inch wheels and unique grille trying to look trendy, it might have housewives swooning but not the tuner crowd. In spite of VUE’s stylists attempts to sex things up, it remains “as boring as it wants to be”. If one of your criteria in buying a midsize SUV is avoiding car-jackings, vehicle thefts and break-ins, VUE fits the bill. It’s the American-made version of the prototypical Japanese “car as appliance” that goes and goes without drawing attention. This year’s VUE keeps Saturn’s highly-regarded plastic body panels; most future Saturns will discontinue them as production moves from the original Spring Hill, TN factory. The next-generation VUE may be built in Europe. The PreVue concept is a copy of the Opel Antara GTC seen at Euro auto shows last year; look for it in 2009.

The Red Line package on my VUE provided a six-way leather power driver’s seat with manual lumbar support. It’s almost impossible to not get comfortable for any driver. For passengers, VUE was rated differently by my official tester (my wife), who said she simply could not find a fully-comfortable seating position. But you should put your butt in the seats to be sure they fit you (and those in your extended clan). Large, bright gauges are right in front of the driver. Most controls are now on the new center console; Heat/vent/air conditioning is controlled with large knobs that ‘snap’ into position nicely. Standard are cruise control, power windows, door locks and mirrors and a security system with remote keyless entry. The XM-equipped radio had a small screen, difficult to read and it’s red coloring washed-out easily in bright light. Radio controls are also on the steering wheel but are not well-illuminated (so what use are they at night?). Rear seats easily fold 70/30 and rear stowage bins have bag hooks. Curtain side airbags are standard; anti-lock brakes are optional on four-cylinders (a buyer’s insult in 2006). Body panel fit and finish outside is not the best, but VUE’s interior appears to be as good as any competition.

VUE’s basic engine/tranny package is GM’s Ecotec 2.2 liter 143 horsepower Inline-4 cylinder with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission (calling 1985!). For any fun with the I-4, order the 5-speed. That VUE is front-drive only, as is the base V6 with its Honda engine, 3.5 liters and churning out a near class-leading 250 horses. Only a five-speed automatic comes with the V6. That VUE can also be ordered with all-wheel drive, but it’s no off-roader; AWD offers extra margins of safety and control on wet pavement or dry, packed dirt roads, without driver input. It also increases turn radius and makes U-turns too much of an adventure. VUE’s steering is soft and felt disconnected from the road; braking was mushy until ABS kicked in during a test panic stop. Overall performance? Sluggish, except at highway speed with the V6. VUE weighs about 3,600 pounds (plastic body panels are not light weights) and has the top-heavy feel experienced when driving a midsized SUV; it takes some getting used to if you haven’t. My Red Line V6 AWD with the 250-hp engine was more fun to drive than baseline VUEs, but not by much. One high point: Saturn has discontinued use of the noisy and listless Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

Once Saturn dealers got their own SUV/crossover, they sold well (now up to over 100,000 annually). VUE is priced smack in the middle of the marketplace, has the smooth V6 250 horse engine and for 2006 improved appearance inside and out. Important: VUE scored a perfect “5” in NHTSA’s front and side impact tests, and an average “3” in their rollover tests. Mileage is a positive (especially these days) for VUE. Figuring all the engine/tranny combos available, VUE averages 27 miles per gallon, highway and in-town combined, relatively high in its class. There’s a huge amount of competition: Ford’s Escape (available as a gas/electric hybrid)/Mercury Mariner/Mazda Tribute, Kia Sorento/Hyundai Sonata, Honda’s CR-V and Toyota’s RAV4 along with Subaru’s Forester and the already-mentioned Torrent and Equinox are all in the fight. VUE gets a gas/electric hybrid version called Green Line late in 2006 (a 2007 model) and Torrent/Equinox are slated for a 3.9 liter V6 power package, but not VUE. Our VUE represented the end of its current product cycle and is one of GM’s best-selling vehicles. Our crossover drove smoothly (but loose and mushy-feeling at times) and was quiet, with no squeaks or rattles. Combined with its stowage space, clearly hits a sweet spot with buyers.

Comments

[Steve Parker]

Agree that GM has done a good job with the VUE ... And glad that others are liking it, too. Borrowing some of the styling and tech from their Euro operations never hurt GM in the past, and still works ... Remember that Chrysler's Bob (car guy) Eaton was a Swiss national who had worked for BMW and GM in Europe.

[kurtdaniel]

I love the look of the new VUE in and out. I think Saturn missed a golden opportunity to add something different to the compact SUV class. With the "Red Line" monkier, they could have made it a limited high performance car similar to the WRX STi and Lancer Evo. Saturn should have called it the "VUE Sport" if they weren't going to add any true performance tweaks. Still nice though.

[Steve Parker]

Where the heck do you live where you can go that fast for long periods of time? We're located in the southern California low desert and we have our moments, but I don't think a Saturn VUE would have me comfortable enough to run at those speeds. We had the 'Vette Z06 above those speeds for quite come time, but if you're happy in the VUE doing that, more power to you! Just be careful (as I msut say on this Mther's Day, 2007!). That IS a heck of engine (built by Honda), though, ain't it???

[Bad A** Vue]

I have a 2005 RedLine, and bone stock (it's my wife's car)it will do 0-60 in apx 7-7.5 seconds and I have had it up over 135mph on the interstate, though the mileage really suffers at that speed.

Normally we get about 375-400 miles/tank at 130mph we got about 150 miles on 3/4 of a tank...but we got there a lot faster :) heh!
I have yet to have any sort of limiter kick in, though 135 or so is about as fast as I would want to go with this type of vehicle even with the stiffer suspension. I just wish you could get a turbo diesel power plant in this thing... that would kick a**... ( my vehicle is an F-250 Powerstroke )

[steve parker]

Thanks for the comment! Actually, we DID drive the Z06 Corvette the same week as the VUE! But in reality, NONE of these vehicles are meant to 'smoke' any others ... Unless soccer moms are getting overly aggressive at the 'stop light grand prix' ...

Steve

[Rob]

I Drove a lot of SUV's lately to inclue the Santa Fe, Trail Blazer, Exploder, Roundevoux, and I'll tell you what, the saturn Vue Redline Smokes them in acceleration!!! You must have just driven a corvette or something!

[J. Wallace]

nice, evenhanded review of the 2006 Vue RedLine...but...

a) howcome the interior pic showing the older Vue interior - with that huge hubbed stearing wheel?
b) do you really think that the RedLine was 'sluggish except at highway speed'? My 2006 Redline certainly isn't sluggish - although you really need to figure the transmission out as per your getting it to switch to lower gears...my recommendation would be to, around the city, use the shift position between Drive and Low - which not only keeps the tranny from shifting into overdrive (which slows the downshifting down), but it also gives some engine braking effect - and that saves the brakes - of course at a bit of a fuel economy premium...

thanks...

B. Wallace / Toronto

[steve parker]

Thanks for the comments. Alsways interested in what YOU THE READERS have to say!

[Looking4Vue]

Very informative and helpful,
thanks.