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CAR REVIEWS AND RATINGS
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| Ratings |
( Maximum score is 100 ) |
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| Overall: |
  ( 60 )
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| Comfort: |
( 80 )
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| Performance: |
( 100 )
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| Quality: |
( 40 )
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| Appearance: |
( 80 )
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| Comments |
Favorite feature: |
AWD -- handling snow and ice; vehicle size; entry height; turning radius; impact resistant body panels |
Least favorite feature: |
Sunvisors; window switches; lack of AWD control; lack of driver's area storage |
Advice to buyer: |
Has its short-comings, but overall a good value if you NEED an all-weather vehicle. |
Detailed review: |
Bought 2 Vues at the same time (for my wife and me). Both have V-6s and ABS. Almost bought a Subaru, before looking at the Vue. I am impressed with the car's ability to handle snow and ice, even on moderately steep hills. The V-6 has plenty of power, but I am disappointed with the MPG (I have usually been able to get more than the advertised MPG on a car, but I am coming up very short on the Vue). However, the MPG is still fair considering it is an AWD SUV. My wife's car had no factory defects. Mine had 3: 1) an engine mount bolt was only finger tight, allowing the engine to move around; 2) the drive shaft had to be replaced due to being out of balance and causing a vibration; 3) the instrument cluster had a large scratch across the lens. All defects have been rectified. The sunvisors are so short, that they are WORTHLESS when flipped to the side to block the sun -- don't even bother! The operation of the control knobs (especially climate control temperature) feels very, very cheap. Likewise, the door panels look cheap, and sound cheap when closing the door. There is not enough storage space, or 'cubby holes' in the front seat area for storing daily use items, but I like the pop-up storage bin in the cargo area. I like the low step-in height and low center of gravity. I hate the placement of the window control switches (a 'Saturn trademark' I was told by the salesman). The placement of the window switches are more than just untraditional, they are illogical. I've had the car 6 months, and still fumble looking for the switch where it OUGHT TO BE! Can't get use to them. I have read reviews that are critical of the feel of the electric power steering at low speeds -- I disagree; it feels fine. Good parking-lot-friendly turning radius. Love the parking-lot-friendly plastic (impact resistant) body panels. I strongly wish there was a manual overide to lock-in the AWD. This is minor, but I like the 75/25 fold down rear seat in the Vue, instead of the 60/40 that other car makers use. I also like the fact that rear seat actually 'locks' in the down position, rather than just laying down. This allows a real use of the tie-down anchors in the cargo area. The car DEFINITELY has its short-comings, but we specifically bought these vehicles for the purpose of handling the bad weather. This has been a bad winter for us, and for this task, they have performed well, and are a good value (compared to other SUVs in its class). |
Also considered: |
2003 Subaru Forester
2003 Subaru Outback
2003 Honda CR-V
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Vehicle purchased: |
2003 Saturn VUE
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| About This Reviewer... |
Location: |
Roach, Missouri |
Other vehicles owned: |
None
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Review submitted: |
March 12, 2003 |
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