MSRP: $23,280 - $30,935
Invoice: $22,116 - $28,924
MPG: 19 City / 26 Hwy
Get local dealer price quotes:

U.S.News Scores

Overall:8.1
Performance:8.3
Exterior:7.9
Interior:7.9
Safety:9.9
Reliability:4.0
Research we analyzed for this review
Pros and Cons
  • Good V6 power and performance
  • Sleek and stylish exterior
  • Comfortable, accommodating interior
  • Less cargo space than competitors
  • Underpowered base engine
  • No manual transmission option

Prices

See what others recently paid in your area for the VUE.

Shop around for the best deal by getting price quotes from local dealers.

Saturn VUE - What the Auto Press Says

Redesigned last year, the VUE offers one of the best combinations of style, a comfortable interior and impressive performance in its class.

For 2009, the Saturn VUE is unchanged except for the addition of a few new features. "V6 Vue models offer ample power, while apparent attention to detail brings classy interior accommodations and a refined driving experience," says Consumer Guide. "Buyers looking for something a little larger and more powerful than a Honda CR-V, but who are not quite willing to commit to a midsize SUV, would do well to test drive this Saturn."

The VUE was one of Saturn's best-selling models in 2008, but it places in the bottom half of its class for fuel economy. General Motors, Saturn's parent brand, also emerged from bankruptcy in 2009 and announced plans to sell the Saturn brand to the Penske Automotive Group. Business should continue as usual for Saturn buyers and owners. GM will even supply the cars to Penske for the next few years. If you can deal with the depreciation, a shaky market for GM means great deals for buyers who like the VUE. For a more fuel-efficient option with even more power, consider the Toyota RAV4.

The VUE comes in several trims -- the base XE, XE-V6, XR, and the performance-oriented Red Line. It also comes in two hybrid versions, the Saturn Vue Hybrid and 2 Mode, which are reviewed separately.

  • "This newest Vue is very well done, and makes a nice family hauler for those who can make do with just five seats. The RAV4 and Outlander offer a third-row seat, giving them a capacity of seven; the rest, like the Vue, have just two rows." -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram
  • "Saturns have never looked or felt so good." -- Car and Driver
  • "The five-passenger sport utility offers a solid performance, a spacious interior and the versatility many Americans need in a vehicle. It's ideal for anyone looking for an all-around workhorse at an economical price." -- Detroit News
  • "Contemporary styling combined with a comfortable interior and the advanced safety features make the Saturn Vue an easy fit into a family's active life style." -- Washington Times

VUE Performance - 8.3 (Very Good)

The 2009 Saturn VUE boasts good handling and acceleration when equipped with one of two optional V6 engines, although it lacks power with the base four-cylinder. Car and Driver says, "Although few Vue drivers will likely ever flog their trucklets quite like a journalist in a hurry, it is worth noting the Vue's admirable behavior under the heavy foot of a speed tyrant." A few test drivers, however, have complaints about the six-speed automatic transmission. Read More

VUE Exterior - 7.9 (Good)

Reviewers see the 2009 VUE as a stylish SUV. "The Vue's redesigned exterior has a sleeker, lower profile than that of the previous model," says the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "The sloped roof line came from the PreVue concept that Saturn showed at the 2006 New York auto show, and this makes it look more carlike than the previous model, and less boxy like the traditional SUV." Read More

VUE Interior - 7.9 (Good)

Reviewers have plenty of good things to say about the VUE's interior, with many of them describing it as stylish and classy. "Inside, the Vue wears the classiest outfit of any Saturn," says Car and Driver. One of the few complaints is that the Saturn has slightly less cargo room than its class competitors. Reviewers also have mixed opinions on seating comfort. Read More

VUE Safety - 9.9 (Excellent)

The 2009 Saturn VUE does very well in federal government crash tests. It also offers safety features on par with the safest SUVs in its class. The VUE's many safety features include StabiliTrack electronic stability control. Read More

VUE Reliability - 4.0 (Mediocre)

The 2009 Saturn VUE reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2009 Saturn VUE is covered by GM's bumper-to-bumper warranty that lasts for three years or 36,000 miles. Read More

Review Last Updated: 7/16/09