Acceleration

2WD V6	AWD V6	AWD V6 w/Red Line Pkg.	Class Average
6	6	6	4.5

No opportunity yet to test gas-electric hybrid Green Line or a 4-cyl gasoline Vue. Saturn pegs conventional 4-cyl model at a 11.1 sec 0-60 mph with manual transmission. That's slow for any modern vehicle. Smooth, refined V6/automatic combo provides impressive power, response; Saturn says about 7.5 sec 0-60. V6s tow up to 3500 lb.

Fuel Economy

2WD V6	AWD V6	AWD V6 w/Red Line Pkg.	Class Average
5	4	4	4.9

Test 2WD V6 averaged 21.6 mpg in mostly highway driving. In city/highway mix, test AWD V6 averaged 16.2 mpg, test Red Line 16.7. Saturn recommends regular-grade fuel for all engines.

Ride Quality

2WD V6	AWD V6	AWD V6 w/Red Line Pkg.	Class Average
5	5	5	4.7

Tires, suspension do a good job of absorbing the worst bumps, expansion joints, but mild side-to-side rocking motions annoy. Red Line's stiffer suspension quells some of that without adding undue harshness.

Steering/Handling/Braking

2WD V6	AWD V6	AWD V6 w/Red Line Pkg.	Class Average
3	3	5	4.7

Steering lacks natural feel, linear response, suffers delayed reactions at parking-lot speeds. Exception is Red Line, which has modifications that erase most of those shortfalls and furnish very good straightline stability. V6 Vues have good cornering grip on their 17-inch tires, but also undue body lean, noseplow. Again, Red Line sportier, more agile. V6 versions suffer torque-steer veering in rapid takeoffs, even with AWD, and test AWD V6s exhibited some front wheelspin on wet pavement before system engaged rear wheels. Brake performance adequate, but rapid stops induce pronounced nosedive in non Red Lines.

Quietness

2WD V6	AWD V6	AWD V6 w/Red Line Pkg.	Class Average
4	4	4	4.1

V6 subdued at cruise, emits rich-sounding growl in rapid acceleration. Wind noise low, but copious road rumble tiresome on long drives, bumps produce loud thumps, doors close with a clang.

Controls

2WD V6	AWD V6	AWD V6 w/Red Line Pkg.	Class Average
5	5	5	5.6

Clear instrumentation nicely organized. Power controls for windows, locks, mirrors arrayed on center console, which some testers find inconvenient. Interior revisions for 2006 long overdue. They're most noticeable in front-seat area, where substantial-feeling, padded panels replace flimsy, hard-surface plastics. Steering-wheel audio controls have top-notch design, but minor switchgear, such as power-window controls, sunroof button, have cheap-feeling weight, movement.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

2WD V6	AWD V6	AWD V6 w/Red Line Pkg.	Class Average
6	6	7	5.8

Good leg room. Head room adequate even with intrusion from sunroof housing. Gearshift mounts at base of dashboard, frees floor space for purses and such. Seats too soft for best support, lack good lateral bolstering; Red Line Package seats firmer, have more-pronounced bolstering. Either way, some testers complain of mediocre lumbar support.

Room/Comfort (rear)

2WD V6	AWD V6	AWD V6 w/Red Line Pkg.	Class Average
4	4	4	4.6

Ample head space. Leg room adequate if front seats are less than halfway back. Seat flat, thinly padded, notably unsupportive, though clever design accommodates two child seats with one seatback section folded down. Door openings modest, and no ceiling-mounted grab handles to ease entry and exit, but step-in height relatively low.

Cargo Room

2WD V6	AWD V6	AWD V6 w/Red Line Pkg.	Class Average
7	7	7	7.3

Liftgate lacks separate-opening glass--a minor demerit--but load floor longer than in most rivals. Rear-seatback release awkward to reach, feels crude, and seatbacks don't fold fully flat, but work with fold-down right-front seatback to accommodate long objects. Standard pop-up cargo organizer a nice touch, despite flimsy plastic dividers. Cabin storage adequate.

Value within Class

2WD V6	AWD V6	AWD V6 w/Red Line Pkg.	Class Average
4	5	2	6.3

Though not yet made available for testing, the gas-electric hybrid Green Line model is a significant addition to the Vue line. Among conventional-powertrain models, go with the available V6, a Honda-made engine that almost--almost--offsets Vue's deficits in steering, handling, and comfort. Dent-resistant, rustproof plastic body panels, competitive pricing, and Saturn's high customer-satisfaction scores do appeal, but we'd still scout the competition.

Total Score

2WD V6	AWD V6	AWD V6 w/Red Line Pkg.	Class Average
49	49	49	52.5

Scores for all Compact Sport-utility Vehicles

Low Score		29
Average Score		52
High Score		62