2009 Saturn VUE Hybrid

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Interior - What the Auto Press Says

The 2009 Saturn VUE Hybrid is largely described as a no-frills machine. Its interior is of good quality for such an affordable vehicle, but there aren't many luxuries to be found.

• "The 2 Mode shares its interior with the regular Vue, which has been acclaimed for its design and interior quality. The only significant difference is the addition of a special charge/assist meter on the instrument panel, in place of a tachometer, and a power-flow diagram on the optional navigation system that shows when the engine is running and whether it or the electric motor or both are propelling the car or recharging the battery." -- Cars.com
• "In style, the Vue Greenline is pleasantly contemporary, but still very functional." -- The Auto Channel
• "General Motors has also done a nice job with the overall interior of the Vue: three different textures mark the soft-touch dash, door panels, and other areas. Dark slate, offset by gray, helps define dash and doors." -- Boston Globe
• The interior is nicely appointed and in some ways better crafted than those of its Japanese rivals. Interior room is cramped, however, compared with the class leaders such as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, offering 29.2 cubic feet of luggage space behind the rear seats and 56.4 with the seats folded." -- Car and Driver

Seating

The five-seat VUE Hybrid gets mixed reviews for comfort. While test drivers find the front seats more than adequate, the rear seats receives some criticism.

• "Unlike some hybrids, this one sacrifices no passenger space compared to the non-hybrid version, though the cargo capacity behind the backseat is 2 cubic feet less at 27.0 cu. ft." -- Cars.com
• "The front buckets provided decent support and comfort, and visibility from the driver's seat was good." -- The Auto Channel
• "The doors are easy enough to open, but the upright backseat is excruciating; passengers will yearn for the relative comfort of flying cross-country in coach class." -- Hybrid Cars
• "My kids sit comfortably in the Saturn Vue Green Line. Surprisingly the backseat has quite a bit of legroom for my teenager, even when he is sitting between two booster seats." -- Mother Proof

Interior Features

The Saturn VUE Hybrid is modestly equipped -- which isn't a surprise due to the SUV's affordability.

• "It may be the least expensive hybrid SUV currently on the market, but buyers of the 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line will still be able to enjoy a generous list of appointments." -- Autobytel
• "A luxury mobile the Vue Green Line is not. It has the basics and a few nice little extras like the previously mentioned cargo management system. The list of available options is pretty short, but includes things like XM Satellite radio, a menu of OnStar options and heated front seats." -- Mother Proof

Cargo

The VUE Hybrid provides the same cargo volume as the gasoline-powered VUE -- 29.2 cubic feet with the seats in use and 56.4 cubic feet with the second row folded down. It comes with a rear cargo organizer that receives mixed reviews.

• "Cargo space was very good with the rear seat in passenger position, and, folding it down, I was able to transport my bicycle easily, with no need for disassembly." -- The Auto Channel
• "That space is slightly smaller than newly redesigned rivals in the segment, like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander. Or course, none of those small SUVs get this kind of gas mileage and all are around the same price or more." -- Cars.com
• "A 36-volt battery pack, which lets the auto-stop function do its thing, is housed in the cargo area. The rest of that compartment is occupied by what Saturn calls a rear cargo organizer; it is a set of hinged plastic dividers so flimsy that my friends guffawed when I showed it to them." -- New York Times