2007 Saturn Aura XR Review
Sense It
In
short: A
Euro-inspired sporty family sedan. |
It might have taken a few years and a trip overseas to pull it off, but with the all-new Aura, Saturn has finally produced a car capable of competing with the big boys. Taking its style and performance cues from the Opel Vectra, General Motors' entry into the European midsize market, the Saturn Aura is a quick, sporty sedan that will leave many Honda and Toyota owners wondering when their leases are up. Featuring a distinctly European emphasis on drivability, the Aura sets itself apart in its attention to detail—the responsive steering, the fine-tuned suspension, the firm feel of the gearshift.
Under the hood, the sporty handling of the Aura is matched with an equally athletic engine. Cranking out 252 horsepower and 251 pound-feet of torque, the Aura's 3.6-liter V6 engine with variable valve timing is capable of jetting the sports sedan from 0 to 60 in just over 6 seconds. Thankfully for budget buyers (and there are bound to be more than a few with the Aura's base price of $23,945), this Euro-inspired Saturn still manages to get an impressive 28 mpg highway. With looks, power, and great fuel economy to boot, the Aura is a fun-to-drive family car that finally lives up to the Saturn hype. Kinda makes us wonder what else General Motors is hiding from us across the pond... 
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Warranty/Service: 5-year/100,000-mile transferable powertrain warranty; 5-year/100,000-mile 24-hour roadside assistance; 5-year/100,000-mile courtesy transportation
QUICK
SHEET |
Base Price: $23,945/As Tested: $26,919 |
Technical
Specifications |
Vehicle
type: front engine, front-wheel drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
Engine: 3.6-liter DOHC V6 engine with VVT
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Horsepower: 252 hp @ 6,300 rpm
Torque: 251 lb-ft @ 3,200 rpm
Curb weight: 3,660 lbs
Wheelbase: 112.3 in
Length/Width/Height:
190.9/70.3/57.6 in
Turning circle: 40.4 ft
Brakes: 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS
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Suspension: MacPherson strut front; multi-link independent rear
Traction: Stabilitrak stability control
Safety: dual frontal airbags; head curtain side airbags; front/outboard rear side impact airbags; passenger sensing system
EPA City: 20 mpg
EPA Highway: 28 mpg
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