New cars: What the critics say

Car and Driver

This is the classiest Saturn ever. “If the devil is in the details,” he lurks here in the two-tone interior, the chrome-accented center stack, the three-spoke steering wheel, and the stylish parking-brake handle. The high-arcing roofline and thicker D pillars may slightly compromise visibility, “but it’s about style, man.” The lack of third-row seats is no problem, since there’s plenty of room up front.

The Detroit News

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“Saturn’s star seems to be rising again,” thanks to this compact SUV’s upgraded design, all-wheel drive, leather upholstery, navigation system, power windows, heated seats, and standard four-wheel disc brakes. The choice of three engines ranges from a fairly average four-cylinder to a 3.6-liter V6 with hydraulic power steering. A manual transmission is no longer an option.

Road & Track

This jack-of-all-trades is “master of none.” The all-new steel unit-body chassis proves a welcome improvement, front and curtain air bags are standard, and anti-sway technology “keeps the vehicle straight in potentially dangerous situations.” But the Vue, though it looks like an off-roader, drives like a sedan. It’s meant to appeal mainly to buyers who don’t want to be seen in a minivan.