Our view: 2002 Saturn Vue

Oh, how the view has changed since Saturn first rolled onto the market and declared it was the anti-typical dealer, the raison de no-dicker and the last place you’ll have to worry about cut-throat business getting in the way of a dependable ride.

The view is decidedly different.

Tough times, tight wallets and maxi-competition mean satisfying more niches.

Small cars and midsize sedans just aren’t enough when you’re talking about meeting the entire market. Consumers want cargo, yet cachet. Drivers want handling, yet five doors.

More niches? How about a whole new VUE.

Saturn’s first foray into the world of family hauling four-wheel drive means we have a brand new contender in the fight for your dollar.

Let the real cut-throat competition begin.

Saturn’s challenge with its 2002 SUV is a hefty one.

Turn any corner these days and you’re bound to find the hot-selling Honda CR-V or young upstarts in the Jeep Liberty and Ford Escape. Toyota has got a RAV4. Porsche is going to have something called a Cyanne. Add it up and there are 35 models to consider in the entire SUV market.

Saturn makes it No. 36.

Cut-throat? You do the math.

With mini-SUVs flying off lots all over the country, Saturn figured it was time it expanded beyond its small-car roots and added an all-new mini-ute to the lineup.

Does it work? We’ll say the VUE (pronounced “view”) is a little unfocused.

But at just over $16,000 (base), is it affordable? Truly. Is it the best thing since cargo nets and cupholders? Not really. Is it a Saturn? Absolutely.

The VUE may be packed with plenty of innovative features, a broad range of engines and a good mix of transmissions, but it is what Saturn is: A decent job at making an average car.

With the VUE, Saturn’s focus is set squarely on a market its executives say will blossom in the next few years (33 percent by 2005). Its focus is the typical Saturn buyer. Saturn dealers will promise great service. They won’t mess around when it comes to a final price. And they won’t try to convince you it’s a Cadillac Escalade.

So what is it?

A decent ride with serious, creative pros and glaring cons.

For starters, the VUE is offered in front- or all-wheel-drive versions and with a choice of 2.2-liter, 143-horsepower four-cylinder with a five-speed manual or a new Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with an infinite number of gears, which Saturn calls a “smart” transmission. There’s also a 3.0-liter, 181-horse V-6 only offered with a five-speed automatic – a first in a mini-SUV.

The CVT is nothing short of amazing.

As the first-ever component in a sport utility vehicle, the VUE’s CVT provides the shiftless ease of an automatic with the higher mileage of a manual. Step on the accelerator and there is no downshift jolt or hesitation. And choosing the CVT also gives buyers the option of all-wheel drive.

The system is completely automatic a nd requires no driver input.

Impressive stuff.

Step into the V-6 (and step up about $5,000), and you get more towing power (up to 2,500 pounds) but a much louder engine. The V-6 moves along quite nicely, with serious get-up-and-go. But where the VUE suffers is on the ear drums and in the tight turns. Handling is not the VUE’s hallmark and neither is interior volume once you get going. Tackle a twisty road and you’ll bend and sway your way. Take on a tough turn and it feels decidedly Saturn.

And know this: This is not a real off-roader. Knowing full well that the VUE would remain almost exclusively on the pavement, Saturn engineers gave the VUE a fully independent suspension.

A new electrically powered steering system, the first ever in an SUV, provides variable effort steering along with less drain on the engine than conventional systems. The low effort at parking speeds is helpful, but road feel at higher speeds suffers. The VUE tends to wander the road, drifting without direction unless you hang on real hard.

But low step-in height is fantastic – more car-like than almost any other mini-SUV we’ve been in – and cargo room is a real plus.

The interior of the VUE isn’t the most stylish on the market – lots of plastic parts, lots of cloth – but in terms of functionality it’s a winner.

Unique features ooze out of the VUE. There’s juice-box holders in the rear doors, an eyeglass holder in the dash, a plastic pop-up container in the cargo floor to keep items in place and – drum roll, please – milk jug holders. Saturn has placed a large indented plastic holder built into each side of the cargo floor to hold a gallon of milk. Got VUE?

Passenger room is good up front, tight in the rear seats and a foldable front passenger seat allows for carrying extra-long cargo, while folding down the rear seats makes for 63.5 cubic feet of cargo space. All models except the base four-cylinder include power windows, lock and mirrors, while features like an in-dash CD stereo, power sunroof and the OnStar communication system are on the options list.

Saturn safety has always been a priority, and the VUE is no exception. A head curtain airbag system is optional on all models, protecting front and rear passengers in side-impact collisions. ABS brakes are available on all models.

Starting at just under $17,000, the base model VUE is one of the cheapest mini-utes on the market. Step into a V-6 with all the extras and you are not even into 25k territory.

Buyers also can add up to 40 accessories to their VUE, including water-resistant seats, interior bike rack and a pet kennel.

The best part about Saturn? Don’t like it in the first 30 days or 1,500 miles – take it back. Saturn will refund your money. No questions asked.

Not a bad start for a ride trying to crack in where others are already falling all over each other to do it right.

Not a bad VUE.

2002 SATURN VUE

SPECS

High Gear: For an all-new SUV, Saturn has plenty of pluses with easy entry/exit, plentiful cargo room and a seamless transmission.

Low Gear: Cheap plastic materials, a noisy engine, a cramped rear-seat interior and sloppy steering leave the VUE a little unfocused.

Rating: 2.5

Vehicle type: All-wheel drive, front-engine, four-door, five-passenger sport utility vehicle.

Standard equipment (AWD): Five-speed automatic transmission; electric power steering; power front disc brakes; rear drum brakes; four-wheel independent suspension; driver seat height adjuster; fold-flat front passenger seatback; 70/30 split folding rear seat; air conditioning; AM/FM stereo with CD; power locks, windows and mirrors; cruise control; integrated cargo storage bins; daytime running lights with fog lamps.

Competition: Ford Escape, Jeep Liberty, Honda CR-V

Engine (AWD): 181 horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6

Torque (AWD): 195 foot- lbs. @ 4,000 rpm

Wheelbase: 106.6 inches

Length: 181.3 inches

MPG rating: 19 mpg city/25 mpg highway

Manufactured: Spring Hill, Tenn.

Warranty: Basic warranty is three years/36,000 miles; powertrain warranty is three years/36,000 miles; rust perforation warranty is unlimited; roadside assistance is three years/36,000 miles.

Base price (base): $16,835

Price as tested (AWD 3.0 liter model, includes options, destination and delivery charges): $23,655