2010 Saturn Aura
- Used Saturn Aura
Saturn Aura - What the Auto Press Says
The following is a performance-capsule review of the 2010 Saturn Aura. It is based on our analysis of 63 published reviews and test drives.
What: A continuation of the 2009 Aura with little change, available for a brief time as the Saturn brand shuts down
When: Fall 2009
Price Range: Unannounced
New For 2010
General Motors has announced plans to discontinue the Saturn brand by the end of 2010, and close all 350 remaining Saturn dealers. The company has already stopped building the Aura midsize car, but produced a few thousand cars badged as 2010 Auras before shutting down the production line. They are essentially identical to the 2009 model. To see what to expect of the 2010 Aura, see our review of the 2009 edition.
What the Auto Press Says
General Motors had once planned to redesign the Aura for the 2010 model year - likely basing the next Aura on the Opel Insignia, an award-winning car built by GM's European division. But that redesign was placed on hold in 2008 due to GM's ongoing financial troubles. GM built a 2009 Aura, then built a small number of identical cars badges as 2010 mdoels. The 2010 Aura, therefore, is identical to the 2009 edition. The only significant change was the elimination of a hybrid version, but in anticipation of the Chevy Volt's long-awaited arrival.
- "General Motors is cutting its hybrid losses. The Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, and it's even lesser known sibling, the Saturn Aura Hybrid, are both going away for 2010. Neither model ever made much of a dent in the hybrid market, largely because their mild hybrid drivetrains didn't allow the cars to boast the big mileage numbers most consumers expect from hybrids." - Edmunds Inside Line
Key Details
If the 2010 Saturn Aura is a continuation of the 2009 Aura, shoppers can expect to see a competent midsize sedan offered with a four-cylinder engine putting out 169 horsepower or a V6 making 252 horsepower. Only a six-speed automatic transmission is likely to be offered.
The 2009 Aura achieves excellent safety scores, but has faced persistent problems with interior build quality.
Shoppers should note that, though every Saturn dealer will close or transition to another brand by the end of 2010, any GM dealership can service the Aura. General Motors expects to contact Saturn owners soon to designate a specific Chevy or Buick dealership they can use for service, but there is no need to stick to GM's designated dealership. Any GM dealer can service a Saturn, and the warranties on 2010 models will be honored.
