The Detroit Newspapers's view

The 2008 Saturn Vue demonstrates the best way an automaker can take a vehicle from one brand and introduce it in another. Known as rebadging in the auto industry, it seems to work best when there’s an ocean between the brand’s showrooms.

It also requires the carmaker to trust its designers, fight the urge to muck it up through needless changes and avoid Americanizing a European model with more cupholders and fewer amenities. Let the American consumer enjoy a German-styled vehicle.

Gratefully, General Motors Corp. resisted temptation and brought the Opel Antara to the United States without an Americanized overhaul. Starting at $21,000, the redesigned Vue’s posh looks and smooth ride make this crossover feel like a real value.

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.

I tested a $27,000 XR model for a week, hauling flats of plants for a garden, groceries for my family and people hither and yon.

The Vue keeps its European drawn exterior lines (as well as the German-engineered suspension) found on the Antara.

Saturn’s recent lineup changes have brought tons of fresh sheet metal to showrooms, which only a few years ago were filled with uninspired and uninteresting vehicles. Even the Vue, which I’ve always liked because of its distinctive edges and angles, needed an extreme makeover inside and out.

The new generation’s body goes crossover curvy, shedding its straight-laced body panels. It looks more car than truck, and that’s a welcome change.

Crossover with character

The new Vue’s exterior is more innocuous than decisive. It looks nice, but it looks like everything else. If you want something that stands out, go elsewhere. That’s not a negative comment, nice and inoffensive seems to be exactly what many consumers want. Everything on the exterior is thought out and precise. Things like the dual chrome-tipped exhaust pipes, the front fender moldings with a turn indicator mounted in it, and the roof rack are nice touches.

The rounded edges and sophisticated look can be found inside the Vue as well. The interior is classy, well laid out and comfortable — a blend of German craftsmanship and American convenience.

The interior impresses by not trying to do too much. The dash is smooth and elegant. 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.

Even the chrome accents throughout the interior are well placed.

There is plenty of leg room in the front (40.7 inches) and the second row (36.9 inches). 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. All passengers, however, have to use manual controls to adjust their seats.

There are lots of little features owners will relish. The small storage containers, including a drawer under the passenger’s front seat, give the space purpose instead of becoming a black hole for garage remotes, old coffee cups and hamburger wrappers.

Instead of creating a giant storage bin between the front seats, Saturn divvied it up, creating useful space for front passengers and fold-out cup holders — a little too low to be very useful — and a storage spot for people on the 60/40 split rear bench. Behind the second row is a rear cargo management system that includes nets and upper and lower adjustable rails. All this useful space feels more Ikea instead of the previous generation’s Wal-Mart vibe.

More than once, while exploring the Vue, I found myself saying, “Hey, that’s pretty cool.”

The next generation

The XR model, with the 3.6-liter 250-horsepower engine, provides plenty of power. It doesn’t feel like a race car, but it holds its own on the highway, with good acceleration for a 4,000-pound vehicle. The six-speed automatic was smooth through the gears, and the sequential shifting — known as Tap Shift by Saturn — gave the Vue a sportier feel while zipping around the city.

With 2008 EPA gas mileage at 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway, the Vue is currently lower than some competitors such as 2007 Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Santa Fe and Honda CR-V. However, the CR-V only comes with a 2.4-liter four cylinder engine and the RAV4 and Santa Fe use 2007 EPA numbers. When their 2008 figures come out, they’ll be closer to the Vue’s.

Aside from the 3.6-liter engine, there are three other power trains to choose with the Vue: a 2.4-liter four cylinder, a 3.5-liter V-6 and a mild hybrid version with the four-cylinder engine available later this year.

While I have not driven the four-cylinder model, with nearly 80 fewer ponies under the hood, I would expect a more sluggish performance.

My test model handled with crossover charms. Its ride is quiet and the steering well balanced. It’s an easy vehicle to maneuver in a parking lot or on the autobahn. And it certainly feels much more car like than the previous generation.

The redesigned Vue is sophisticated machine with flair at an affordable price — something even a German would consider buying.

Bring the same design across the ocean, offer people more car for less than they think they should pay, and you’ve got a Vue anyone can enjoy.

2008 Saturn Vue

Type: A front-wheel drive, five-passenger crossover. All-wheel drive and mild hybrid models are available.

Models: XE, XR, Red Line and Green Line

Retail price*: $21,355 – $32,000

Engines 2.4-liter I-4, 164 hp, 160-lb-ft torque 3.5-liter V-6, 222-hp, 219-lb-ft torque 3.6-liter V-6, 250-hp, 243-lb-ft torque

Transmission: four- or six-speed automatic, sequential shifting available

EPA mileage 2.4-liter: XE, FWD: 19 mpg city / 26 mpg highway 3.5-liter: XE, AWD: 15/22 3.6-liter: XR FWD: 16/23, XR FWD w/ tap shifting: 16/24, XR AWD: 16/22 Notes: A good all-around vehicle. The four-cylinder engine may feel underpowered. *Includes shipping Report card

Overall: *** Performance: Good. Good power with the V-6. Well mannered on the road, in parking lots and through tight turns. Exterior: Good. Stylish design stays true to its German heritage. Interior: Excellent. Well-laid out. Feels comfortable and uses cubbies, bins and drawers in good ways. Feels more luxurious than price. Safety: Excellent. Six standard airbags include side curtain for both rows. Anti lock brakes and electronic stability control standard. Collapsible pedals and active front row head restraints. Pros: Versatile crossover with good performance and excellent interior. Cons: Exterior design does not stand out in crowded crossover segment. Notes: Worth a test drive. Save money and forego an all-wheel drive model but get the V-6. Grading Scale: Excellent: **** Good: *** Fair: **H Poor: *