2007 Saturn Aura Green Line Road Test

Of course, with a fuel economy of 24/32 mpg it's barely equals to non-hybrid sedan. In fact the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Spectra get same or better MPG.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SyCo @ Nov 14 2007, 01:27 PM) [snapback]539500[/snapback]</div>

Both of which are classified as compact cars, not mid-size sedans.

 

Funny that she mentions that the Vue, Tahoe, etc are going to be availible soon, when they have already been released. Maybe they have not been released in Canada.

Syco, where did you get those mpg numbers for the Aura Hybrid? The Aura 4cyl std is rated at 22 and 30 mpg. If the hybrid version is only rated at 24 and 32, that would be surprising. GM's green line vehicles generally get about 20% better than their non-hybrid counterparts. Actually, I just found the Aura Hybrid mileage on the GM web site and it is rated at 28 and 35, which is about 20% better. It is also comparible to the Camry Hybrid which is rated at 32 city 34 hwy.

Why would you compare and Aura's mileage to a car in another class?

 

Actually before I bought the Prius... I was thinking about the VUE green line. But my local dealer said they postponed the debut of them here twice now... they were due here in October.. then November... now they say December. He has no clue why they keep postponing it.

I like my Prius now. Although... I kinda like how the body of the VUE looks... taken from Opal... dealer said... German Quality at American prices.... they bought out Opal that's why he said.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Nov 14 2007, 04:29 PM) [snapback]539655[/snapback]</div>

Sorry, 32mpg is not worth getting excited about. Nice try GM - but I suspect few will be interested until you offer a full hybrid with >40mpg. Until then, the Toyota Camry Hybrid owns this market segment.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Nov 14 2007, 10:50 PM) [snapback]539784[/snapback]</div>

I was surprised they did not include the six speed tranny in car. It would improve the highway mpg 2 or more and it is standard in the six cylinder.


The real world price of this car is very good and it does represent a choice for someone wanting a mid size sedan. For example while it is clearly inferior to the Camry hybrid it could cost the same as a Camry NON-hybrid. I don't think it would be a stupid decision to pick the Aura hybrid over a Camry gas only car.

 

If you are seriously thinking about one of these, make sure you check this thread too.
http://priuschat.com/index.php?act=Post&am...amp;qpid=539788
and the related article:
http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/...55/pageNumber=1

In the Edmund's direct comparison the Camry and Altima Hybrids put the Aura to shame.

Aura "Features":
- 4kW electric motor on a belt drive!
- 4 speed automatic transmission
- 11 sec 0-60 time!
- 17.9 sec 1/4 mile @ 81.8mph
- BIN 5 Emissions!

Calling this thing a mild hybrid is an insult to mild hybrids as far as I can see. Even the Insight had 10kW, didn't it? I guess I can see why GM is touting its Hybrids highway performance. Its to distract you from the abysmal city mileage! Edmunds got a whopping 18.9mpg city (EPA says its supposed to be 24). On the same course the Camry and Altima achieved 44.5 mpg (EPA is 33) and 47.3 mpg (EPA is 35). On the highway test it managed 31.5mpg (EPA is 32), while the Camry dropped to 42.6mpg (EPA is 34) and the Altima dropped to 38.1mpg (EPA is 33).

So lets see, much worse mileage than the Camry or Altima, much slower than either (and slower than a prius for that matter), dirtier than a number of non-hybrid cars, well at least its cheap! Oh wait, it still costs more than a Prius. Color me really unimpressed.

Rob

 

A normal 4cyl Camry get 21/31 and has better emissions that the Aura. So let me see similar gas mileage and better emissions without even a hybrid system. Hmmmmmm.......

I think the AUra Hybrid badge is more about marketing than anything else. Trying to piggyback of Toyota and Honda's work in the segment and getting sales from uninformed people. And GM wonders why they loose market share, maybe if they were more focussed on product development than smoke and mirrors......

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Nov 14 2007, 11:50 PM) [snapback]539784[/snapback]</div>

I still have to give it the "boot"

Gabe

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Winston @ Nov 14 2007, 02:50 PM) [snapback]539517[/snapback]</div>

Frankly, Saturn is doing faulty advertising on their official site. The real EPA mpg for the Aura Hybrid is 24/32, TCH is 33/34 and Nissan Altima is 35/33. You can check it out at EPA MPG . Saturn wants people to compare the old estimates of their hybrid to the new estimates of other hybrids, since the 24/32 have been out since the 07 model year.

The numbers from the Edmund comparison article Rob linked had the mpg at Aura 18.9/31.5, TCH 44.5/42.6 and NAH 47.3/38.1 mpg. The Aura just doesn't compare on MPG.