The base V-6 Aura undercuts V-6 versions of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry by thousands of dollars, but with today’s volatile fuel prices, the lack of a four-cylinder option is puzzling, regardless of the Aura’s upmarket positioning. Unlike much of the competition, the front-wheel-drive Aura doesn’t offer a base four-cylinder engine buyers get a choice of a 3.5-liter V-6 or a more sophisticated 3.6-liter V-6. There was, however, an ominous cracking sound that seemed to emanate from the optional first-row sunroof each time I hit a large bump in the road. Even when driving on oftentimes-noisy concrete roads or next to semi trucks, the Aura’s cabin remains impressively quiet. GM has been hyping the quietness of its Buick models lately, but perhaps it needs to highlight Saturn. The rim of the tilt/telescope steering wheel feels overly large, too.
#2007 SATURN AURA XE REVIEW DRIVER#
Unfortunately, the driver isn’t given much feedback in return for the added effort. In keeping with the sporty dynamics of the chassis, it takes some effort to turn the steering wheel. It’s a setup that’s likely to appeal both to buyers looking for a sporty feel in their sedan as well as those who just need a means of transportation. The suspension is tuned for firmness, but it’s fairly good at damping bumps in the road, too.
The four-wheel independent suspension has front and rear stabilizer bars, and when cornering, the XR model remains impressively flat for a family sedan body roll is well controlled. The Aura’s road manners are a pleasant surprise. Here’s hoping the Aura will eventually get a high-performance Red Line variant with the bulging fender flares, side skirts and gaping lower grille that gave the concept such a sense of presence. While its styling is appealing, I miss the aggressiveness of the concept version from a few auto shows ago. The base XE model has standard 17-inch steel wheels (17-inch aluminum wheels are optional) and the uplevel XR gets 18-inch aluminum rims that fill up the wheel wells nicely. It features subtle fender flares, a naturally arcing roofline and a short rear deck. Like the Pontiac G6, the five-person Aura is built on an extended-length version of GM’s midsize-car platform, and it’s one of the best-looking sedans using this design. Where it struggles is on the inside, with an interior that has too many problems to be considered among the best in the segment. Its handling performance is above average for the segment, and its two available V-6 engines are capable performers. Serving as a replacement for the forgettable L-Series, the new Saturn Aura marks a renewed attempt by the brand to establish itself in the midsize sedan market.
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