FEB2008 CARANDDRIVE MOC.R

The new Vue, developed in Germany by Opel, is so much better than its

predecessor that GM might well have considered changing its name. For one thing, the suspension tuning is now Teu-tonic—supple, yet with fine path control and no untamed wheel motions. For an-other, the ’08 Vue looks luxurious inside. Its faux-chrome and carbon-fiber trim bits feel rich to the touch, the amber IP backlighting looks Euro classy, and there’s been no attempt—inside or out—at styling gimmickry.

You sit tall in the saddle, with vast headroom and an unobstructed view of the world—a room with a Vue. We did, however, bitch about the seats’ super-ag-gressive lumbar supports, and we also complained about the big steering wheel, whose squared-off inner lip resists your grip. But the platform proved solid and rattle-free, and everyone agreed the Vue was as comfy as the Escape on long inter-state hauls.

Nor was this Saturn humiliated off-road, although its poor approach angle resulted in the dismemberment of its chin spoiler. Otherwise, GM’s all-wheel-drive system was quick to transfer up to half of the pushrod V-6’s 222 horses—the most in this group—to the rear wheels. That power, by the way, pulled the Vue to 30 mph sooner than any of its competitors and placed it only 0.2 second behind the Nissan on the journey to 60 mph—all of

SATURN VUE XE AWD

THE VERDICTA handsome lad who is 400 pounds overweight.

THE HIGHSLuxo interior, soothing interstate cruiser, Euro suspension tuning.

THE LOWSDaggerlike lumbar supports, smaller inside than it looks.

6

C/D RESULTS BEST IN TEST SUSPENSION BRAKES

STAB

ILIT

Y CO

NTR

OL

TIRE

S

BRAK

ING

70–0

M

PH (

ft)

ROAD

HOLD

ING

300-

FT-D

IA

SKID

PAD

(g)

LAN

E CH

ANGE

(m

ph)CHASSIS

FRON

T

REAR

FRON

T

REAR

ANTI

-LOC

K CO

NTR

OL

FORDESCAPE XLT AWD

struts, coil springs, anti-

roll bar

multilink, coil springs, anti-

roll bar11.9-inch

vented disc10.0-inch

drum yes yesContinentalContiTrac,

P235/70R-16 104T M+S198 0.68* 53.8*

HONDACR-V EX 4WD

struts, coil springs, anti-

roll bar

multilink, coil springs, anti-

roll bar11.7-inch

vented disc12.0-inch

disc yes yesContinental4X4 Contact,

225/65R-17 102T M+S181 0.79 58.4

HYUNDAITUCSON LIMITED 4WD

struts, coil springs, anti-

roll bar

struts, coil springs, anti-

roll bar11.0-inch

vented disc11.2-inch

disc yes yesBridgestone

Dueler H/T 687, P235/60R-16 99T M+S

186 0.73 56.9

JEEPLIBERTY LIMITED 4X4

control arms, coil springs, anti-roll bars

rigid axle, coil springs, anti-roll bar

11.9-inch vented disc

12.4-inch disc yes yes

Goodyear Fortera HL,

P235/60R-18 102T M+S194 0.67* 49.5*

MITSUBISHIOUTLANDER SE 4WD

struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar

multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar

11.6-inch vented disc

11.9-inch disc yes yes

Goodyear Eagle LS2,

P225/55R-18 97H M+S176 0.78 59.2

NISSANROGUE SL AWD

struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar

multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar

11.8-inch vented disc

11.7-inch vented disc yes yes

Continental4x4 Contact,

P225/60R-17 98H M+S185 0.79 57.4

SATURNVUE XE AWD

struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar

multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar

11.7-inch vented disc

11.9-inch vented disc yes yes

FirestoneDestination LE,

P235/65R-16 101S M+S181 0.76 58.7

SUZUKIGRAND VITARA 4WD

struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar

multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar

11.6-inch vented disc

10.1-inch drum yes yes

Yokohama Geolandar G92,

P225/70R-16 101H M+S178 0.68* 58.3*

TOYOTARAV4 4X4

struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar

multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar

10.8-inch vented disc

11.2-inch disc yes yes

Toyo Tranpath A14,

215/70R-16 99H M+S179 0.74* 58.5*

TEST AVERAGE 184 0.74 56.7

44

*Stability-control-inhibited.