Saturn Aura Review

2009 Saturn Aura XR Sedan Shown

For years, Saturn built mundane cars that looked and felt -- for lack of a better word -- cheap. Its midsize family sedans were no exception. Not too long ago, rumors swirled regarding the demise of the brand. But the opposite has happened. General Motors has hooked Saturn up to the rejuvenation machine, and the brand is in the process of reinventing itself and moving upscale in style, performance and features.

The Saturn Aura is a cornerstone of the Saturn turnaround. The Euro-influenced Aura has a distinctly sporty edge in both design and performance. And after years of bringing up the rear in the midsize sedan market, Saturn finally has a true competitor.

Current Saturn Aura

Available in two trim levels -- XE and XR -- the Saturn Aura is one of the more distinct midsize sedans on the market. It is built on a stretched version of General Motors' "Epsilon" platform, and has a surprising amount of rear-seat legroom.

In fact, there are many things that will surprise buyers, including the Saturn Aura's excellent design sensibility. The cabin is nicely styled with just the right amount of (faux) wood trim or metallic accents.

The XE trim comes with 17-inch wheels (alloy wheels are available as an option) and a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, with a 224-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 optional. A four-speed automatic transmission is standard for both engines. Air-conditioning, full power accessories, cruise control, StabiliTrak stability control, traction control and a six-speaker audio system with CD player and auxiliary audio jack also come standard.

The XR gets a more powerful 3.6-liter V6 engine, which bumps power up to 252 hp. The standard transmission is a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters. Other standard features on the XR include 18-inch alloy wheels, leather seating, a power driver seat, heated front seats and a premium stereo with eight speakers and a six-CD changer. Interestingly enough, a navigation system is not available with the Aura, even as an option.

In reviews, our editors found the Saturn Aura matched up well with other cars in its class, but is hardly a leader. The pick-up from both V6 engines is strong, but especially so in the 252-hp XR. The Aura offers a nice balance of tight, precise handling characteristics and comfort. The XR is even more of a treat to drive, thanks to its smooth, even power band and agile chassis. Road noise is low.

The Aura was not free of flaws as we found the XE's four-speed automatic tranny to be poorly suited to the base engines. The six-speed automatic in the Aura XR, however, is wonderful. The steering could also use work, as it has an artificial weighty feel that tends to be vague at speed and too heavy in parking lots. Along those lines, our long-term Saturn Aura tester was prone to shop visits for a variety of reasons, including several nagging steering problems. Other complaints were limited to nitpicking interior fit and finish, a reminder that, while the Aura is miles ahead of previous Saturn offerings, there are still some things that could use more attention.

The Aura debuted for the 2007 model year. Other than the four-cylinder engine being added for 2008, there have been no significant changes since.

SELECT A SPECIFIC SATURN AURA MODEL YEAR*

* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.