Reader Review of the Week: 2008 Saturn Vue

The winner of this Reader Review of the Week impressed us by taking a different perspective on shopping for a new car. Struck with the foreign idea of buying a new vehicle for more than $40,000, “Loves Technology” from Pittsburgh, Penn., wanted to take a look at all those models that were previously out of reach, price-wise. Yet with brands like BMW, Lexus and Infiniti now real possibilities, our reviewer found that perhaps there is less to a good name than he thought. The 2008 Saturn Vue not only impressed him, but he could load one up with options and still come in under the price of some of those higher-end competitors.

“After more than a decade with a Jeep Grand Cherokee (good vehicle that served me well), I finally got the chance to go new-car shopping. Much had changed in those 10 years, and now I could start looking at BMW, Acura, Infiniti and Lexus. Paying more than $40K for a car took a little getting used to, but I thought it was time to reap the rewards of hard work. I looked at a ton of nice vehicles, and during more than a dozen test drives, I learned what I liked and what I didn’t like in the new cars. I’ve come to the realization that I’m not an off-roader, even though I like the higher ride and traction of SUVs. I ruled out truck-type SUVs early. They’re nice, but there’s no reason to live with the disadvantages.

“After many test drives, I found that there was no SUV that performed on the road like the Infiniti EX35. It drove like a sports car, but, alas, it was. It was just too small for my purposes, and the FX35 just didn’t feel the same, and was well past $45K with a nav system. I thought maybe I could find some Infiniti in the new 2009 Nissan Murano, and I did. Unfortunately, it was more FX35 (no surprise) than EX35. Still, it was a great vehicle and you could sneak in a nav system (and all they bundle with it) and escape for just under $40K (maybe). It rose to the top of my list. Fortunately, I had time to finish my “to-drive” list and stopped by Saturn to drive the Vue so I could cross it off my list with a clean conscience.

“Wow, was I pleasantly surprised.

“I had driven the EX35 for the second time early that morning (hoping it had grown since the first time — it hadn’t) so its feel was still fresh in my mind. Believe it or not, the Vue handled more like that little AWD sports car than any of the more-than-a-dozen SUVs I’d tested. It had smooth power (I’d learned I don’t like turbo lag) and plenty of it. The handling was solid and precise. I was quite pleasantly surprised. It looked great, though not as slick as some that lived on the other side of the $40K tracks. Then I began to add up the cost of all the options I wanted and finally got back in touch with my middle-class upbringing. I could tell the salesman to ‘give me everything you got’ and still save enough to pay a college tuition bill! Oh yeah, there was one option missing: Impress superficial neighbors — $10,000. I guess I can continue to live without that one.”