2004 Saturn Vue Red Line – it’s about time

By Vince Bodiford,
Automotive Editor

PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, Colo. – At first, I didn’t recognize it. It was jet-black, with big 18’ wheels wrapped in high performance tires. It was slammed low and treated to an aero kit. It was hot. It was the all-new Saturn Vue Red Line and this time, Saturn got it right. It’s about time.

Not being the biggest Saturn fan in the solar system, the Vue Red Line has changed my mind about Saturn, for the better. Saturn for too long had bored me with too little power, too much plastic, and bland styling. The Vue has convinced me that Saturn’s can be cool and fun to drive.

The Red Line name signifies the spirited performance and is an essential part of all of the new Saturn Red Line production vehicles. Saturn hopes these vehicles will generate a new level of interest in Saturn among those who appreciate a blend of horsepower, handling and sporty looks.

The result is a great package. It’s fun to drive, and covers a lot of essential bases with all-wheel drive, SUV-crossover styling and utility. We loaded our Red Line for a day trip to Pikes Peak International Raceway for trackside action of the Tire Rack Cannonball One Lap of America presented by Car and Driver, filling it with people and stuff with plenty of room to spare. Our 400 mile round trip was comfortable, and I appreciated the fuel economy of the Honda-engineered motor.

Driving the Red Line was better than I expected, as power (I always wanted more) came on smoothly, and the steering was tight and precise. The bigger ABS-equipped brakes stop the Red Line quickly. The ride is smooth but not soft, with some bounce on the bigger bumps. Body roll is far less a problem on the Red Line than on the base Vue.

The clean, contemporary design of the Saturn VUE makes it a natural for the growing personalization trend, especially among customers with active lifestyles. VUE customers can outfit their vehicles with a choice of more than 40 retailer-installed accessories available through Saturn retailers. Our view was also equipped with the optional sunroof adding to my enjoyment of driving the VUE.

The VUE Red Line's stiffened suspension is lowered over an inch and the vehicle rides on aggressively styled 18-inch aluminum wheels with Bridgestone Turanza performance touring tires, a combination that contributes both to sportier handling and a "slammed" appearance.

The electric power steering is calibrated for a sporty feel. The VUE Red Line comes standard with the new 250-hp 3.5L V-6 engine, engineered specially for Saturn by Honda.The available 3.5L V-6 is mated to a new five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with grade logic control, which helps eliminate hunting between gears - a benefit especially on hilly roads.

VUE Red Line's custom looks include new rockers, rear fascia, front fascia with black air intakes, and a chrome exhaust tip. Door and liftgate handles, along with mirror housings, are painted body color to finish off the monochromatic theme. The VUE Red Line is available in Onyx Black, Silver Nickel or Electric Lime.

The VUE is equipped with an advanced electric power steering system for precise steering at lower speeds and confident feel on the highway. For 2004, calibrations have been adjusted to improve on-center feel and responsiveness.

Four-wheel independent suspension is a key to VUE's controlled ride and responsive handling on a wide range of surfaces. The VUE is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, which is available on models with the V-6 and five-speed automatic as well as on models equipped with the four-cylinder engine and VTi.

"As the compact SUV segment continues to grow, the Saturn VUE is well positioned to attract new fans with its combination of performance, refinement, versatility, and customer-friendly innovations," said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn's vice president for sales, service and marketing. "The performance-tuned VUE Red Line incorporates upgrades that will be featured across the 2004 VUE lineup and was developed with the assistance of the General Motors Performance Division. This specialty vehicle breaks new ground in the small SUV market and is positioned at the intersection of three important industry trends: surging small SUV sales, strong truck personalization, and sport tuning."

Safety enhancements on all 2004 VUE models include front seat-belt pretensioners and dual-stage air bags. Dual-stage air bags are designed to detect vehicle deceleration and, based on the deceleration data, provide an appropriate amount of air-bag inflation. The dual-level air-bag system senses the severity of a crash and determines whether to deploy the air bag with primary or "lower" amount of inflation or with primary and secondary "higher" amount of inflation. Dual-stage air bags are designed to help reduce the occurrence of inflation-induced injuries by deploying the air bag less forcefully in lower speed crashes.

The Saturn VUE's newly redesigned interior balances style, space and versatility, in a spacious yet efficient package with room for five people plus 30 cubic feet of cargo space. The interior design also includes a number of innovative storage solutions. Versatility is enhanced with a 70/30 split folding rear seat and a front passenger seatback that also folds flat.

For 2004, the Saturn VUE adds a number of improvements and refinements to the interior. The extensive addition of sound-deadening materials makes the 2004 VUE's cabin noticeably quieter. Further Red Line enhancements for 2004 including a leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel, leather shift knob with chrome ring, light argent-finish interior trim plates and new seat fabric.

A new six-way power driver's seat is available as part of the Seat Comfort Package that also includes heated seats and lumbar support. Adding to the uplevel touches, inside door handles get a painted nickel-finish and instrument clusters will now be backlit, with white gauge faces and chrome rings.

Expanded entertainment choices include an optional DVD rear-seat entertainment system. Back-seat passengers can view a movie on a fold-down, 7-inch LCD screen. The system includes remote control and dual wireless headphones, so rear passengers can listen to CDs or watch a movie while front-seat passengers can either listen to the DVD program or to the car's regular audio system.

Three new optional audio systems all include MP3 readability for the first time: CD with MP3, replacing the CD/cassette system; six-CD changer with MP3 replaces CD changer with cassette; and a new CD/DVD with MP3.

Also available is XM Satellite Radio (continental U.S. only). XM Satellite Radio provides 100 coast-to-coast, digital-quality channels of original music, news, sports and talk. Consumers can subscribe to the basic service for $9.99 a month - less than the cost of a single CD. XM has recently added traffic and weather reports for many major cities. Our XM Channel picks for Saturn Vue Red Line are Channels 20 and 21. www.xmradio.com.

COMPARISON VEHICLES: Buick Rendezvous, Jeep Liberty, Toyota RAV4, Pontiac Vibe GT AWD.

HIGHS: A breakthrough for Saturn, excellent performance and handling, great looks, value priced.

LOWS: Low stereo volume (disappointing with XM tuning). Good motor, but still needs more power.

VEHICLE PRICING: 2004 Saturn Vue Red-Line MSRP, $24,535. See dealer for details.

FUEL ECONOMY: EPA estimates, 23-mpg city, 28-mpg highway.

LIFE'S A TRIP - Enjoy the drive. Be a safe and courteous driver, obey all highway laws, never drive impaired and buckle everyone up. Copyright © 2004 The Weekend Drive, All Rights Reserved.