High Marks for Saturn Aura Hybrid

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Behind the Wheel

I would definitely consider buying this car, but not because it's fun to drive. The Aura hybrid is a nicely designed but sedate family sedan that gets better-than-average mileage and costs less than its main rivals. But if you're looking for a car with pep, this isn't the model for you.

Even assuming that most people shopping for a budget hybrid sedan aren't lead-foots, this car is quite slow. My best times in accelerating from 0 to 60 were a little under 11 seconds (far slower than the 7.8 to 8 seconds I got in a Toyota Camry Hybrid). There's a noticeable lag when you punch the gas in the Aura Hybrid, and the car then takes its own sweet time about winding out to highway speed.

That said, the Aura is based on GM's European-made Opel Vectra and the Aura Hybrid's steering and suspension have a tight, European feel to them.

GM has done a nice job with the Aura's interior, even though the materials used are inexpensive. The cloth seats and metallic trim in my test were attractive and the dark and light gray color scheme was tasteful and appealing. There's nothing fancy about the Aura's interior, but it's clean-looking, roomy, and functional. For me, the only discordant note is the ugly orange numerals on instrument readouts.

As in most sedans these days, the Aura's rear seats fold down in a 60/40 pattern. There's a good-sized pass-through to the Aura's 13.1 cubic-feet truck. The Aura's doors are unusually wide, making getting in and out of the vehicle relatively easy.

The Aura Green Line's automatic transmission has a practical feature. It has a "D" setting for normal driving, but also an "I" setting (intermediate) for use on hilly and winding roads that reduces vehicle speed without extra shifting. There's also a low setting for use in very hilly or muddy conditions, deep snow, etc.

You also have the option of sacrificing passenger comfort to save fuel. With the air conditioning set on "normal, or the defrost running, the engine doesn't shut down at complete stops as it normally would. However, there's a "hybrid air conditioning" mode that uses less fuel, but "at the expense of cabin cooling performance," as the owner's manual puts it.

The Aura doesn't have the elaborate graphics other hybrids have to help you monitor fuel consumption. However there is a little gauge to show when you're charging the batteries or getting an assist from the gas engine.

Buy It Or Bag It?

If your priority is maximum fuel efficiency, the Aura Green Line isn't the car for you. The Prius, though smaller, does much better. So does the Honda (HMC) Civic hybrid, which is rated to get 49 mpg in the city and 51 on the highway. In fact, I got slightly higher mileage in the conventional, gasoline-powered versions of both the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.

However, if you're hoping to buy a midsize hybrid sedan, the Aura offers excellent value, especially if you're on a tight budget. The Aura's main competitors (now that Honda is phasing out the Accord hybrid) are the Camry and the new Nissan (NSANY) Altima hybrid, both of which are substantially more expensive than the Aura.

The Power Information Network only has preliminary data on the Aura Hybrid because it's so new to the market. But PIN figures the Aura Hybrid has been selling so far for an average of $22,793, taking into account an average rebate of $1,344. By comparison, the Camry hybrid sells for an average of $28,359 and the Altima for $26,872. (The compact Honda Civic hybrid costs an average of $22,848, almost exactly the same as the Aura.)

Depending on your tax situation, you also have to factor in the federal tax credit, as well as state, local, and employer credits that may apply (see BusinessWeek.com, 6/8/06, "Harnessing Hybrid tax Credits"). Buying an Altima Hybrid will earn you a $2,350 federal credit ($1,050 more than the credit on the Aura). The Camry Hybrid only carries a $650 U.S. tax credit through September, after which the federal tax credit on all Toyota hybrids is scheduled to be phased out. (If you qualify for the alternative minimum tax, these numbers may be irrelevant—you probably won't get any federal tax benefit from buying a hybrid).

The bottom line is that the average Aura costs at least $3,000 less than its two main rivals, but isn't as fuel efficient or as speedy. To figure out your likely cost over the life of the vehicle, go to hybridcenter.org, a Web site operated by the Union of Concerned Scientists, and plug information on your driving habits, how long you expect to keep the car, and so forth, into the site's buyer's guide.

For many shoppers, the Aura will turn out to be the cheapest option. It's also made in Kansas City by union workers, and has 86% U.S. and Canadian content. So for Buy American types, the Aura is the hybrid family sedan of choice.

Click here to see more of the 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line

Thane Peterson reviews cars for BusinessWeek.com.