2008 Saturn VUE Interior Review
Based on analysis of 37 VUE reviews and test drives.
Interior - What the Auto Press Says
The reworked interior of the 2008 Saturn Vue, reviewers find, is comfortable, stylish, and classy -- and an improvement on what was an already impressive cabin. AutoWeek says, "We're happy to note that the interior quality incorporated into the Vue in recent years hasn't been lost in the transition."
Up to five passengers "enjoy a superbly trimmed cabin, with supportive seats," and "soft-touch materials," writes Motor Trend. The Detroit News finds, "The interior is classy, well laid out and comfortable -- a blend of German craftsmanship and American convenience." The most frequent criticism of the Vue's interior is that it has slightly less cargo room than its in-class competitors.
Seating
Reviewers agree that the cabin is spacious. "Space?" asks Car and Driver, "There's plenty for everybody up front, with plenty for most in the back." Cars.com agrees, "There was plenty of headroom and legroom up front and in the backseat." As for comfort, Edmunds reports, "The seats are not uncomfortable, but you feel like you are sitting on them rather than in them."
Car and Driver claims, "The comfortable front seats appear at first glance to be fairly supportive, but once you're in them, the sporty-looking bolsters are so soft that they crush into a wider seat under the slightest cornering pressure." Other reviewers disagree. The Chicago Tribune, for instance, asserts, "Seats are supportive, " and "bottom cushions are long enough to prop the thighs."
In the front, reports the Detroit News, "The optional eight-way adjustable driver's seat allowed me to get comfortable and gave me the high command view SUV owners and commandants enjoy." The Vue has no third row. Car and Driver "didn't mind because so many third-row seats are more cargo obstacles than anything else."
Interior Features
The Vue's interior assets are front and center. "The dash is smooth and elegant," says the Detroit News. "The instrument gauges are easy to read. The edges are soft, and the control knobs have a rubber edge, making them feel nicer. Those are great details that people notice every time they turn up the AC or turn down the stereo. Interiors should be tactile, and the Vue hits the mark." The Chicago Tribune likes that the Vue "offers a number of surprise and delight features, such as a pull-out stowage compartment in the dash to the left of the steering wheel." Cars.com points out what it considers a small design flaw: "The center console that runs between the front seats, which contains two cupholders and a storage area, was extremely low to the car floor, meaning you have to reach down a bit to grab a drink."
Additional Features
More than one reviewer recommends the optional leather seats. Cars.com reports, "I was able to sit in a cloth XR, and while all the other pieces of the cabin were the same as the leather model, the cloth door inserts and seats were a noticeable step down. That step down in interior opulence is more significant than the leather's $1,075 option price. That's right, if you can afford one option I'm recommending leather here -- that's how much it alters the overall feel." The Chicago Tribune takes issue with what the Vue doesn't offer, "How can a crossover that offers a credit-card slot and a milk-jug holder neglect two popular options -- a power liftgate for easier access to the groceries or luggage and a DVD entertainment system to keep the troops happy?"
Cargo
The Vue doesn't offer as much space for cargo as other SUVs in its class, but should still suit most owners' purposes. "As much space as we found for people, the cargo hold is not as capacious as the Vue's major competitors," Car and Driver says -- "a casualty not so much of the roofline as the high load floor." Nonetheless, Edmunds finds the Vue's 29.2 cubic ft of cargo space "pretty much enough for anyone," noting, "Our only complaint is that the liftgate is pretty heavy to pull closed."
That cargo space improves to 56.4 cubic ft with the rear seats folded down. Other thoughtful touches increase cargo space even further. The Detroit News writes about "a drawer under the passenger's front seat" that gives "the space purpose instead of becoming a black hole for garage remotes, old coffee cups and hamburger wrappers," and likes the "rear cargo management system that includes nets and upper and lower adjustable rails."
