2009 Saturn Aura: Price shock

JIL MCINTOSH FOR THE TORONTO STAR

The 2009 Saturn Aura.

Jil McIntosh

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

If there's anything to be said for the roller-coaster that gasoline prices have been on, it's this: we're no longer accepting that economical engines belong only in "cheapie" cars.

That's the case with the Saturn Aura, which for 2008 had its 2.4 L four-cylinder engine only in the base XE trim. For 2009, it's also found in the top-line XR . A 3.5 L V6 offered in 2008 is gone, one of two six-cylinders available last year, leaving just a 3.6 L V6, which goes only into XR trim. The hybrid model also continues.

The smaller engine scales back the price from the V6 model: an MSRP of $25,075 for the base XE model, and $27,930 for my XR4 tester, compared to $32,330 for the XR with V6.

Standard features on the XR models include a/c, power-adjustable heated front seats, heated mirrors, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, XM satellite radio and, for those who don't get the environmental or safety issues, remote starter and Bluetooth. The V6 further adds 18-inch wheels (17-inch on the four), automatic climate control, fog lamps and leather seats, which were added to my tester as a $935 option. It's certainly no step down overall to take the smaller engine.

My tester also included a package of sunroof and premium stereo, power-adjustable pedals, block heater and, oddly, an extra $15 for the front licence-plate bracket.

Once a brand stocked with unique models and kept almost at arm's length from the rest of the company, Saturn now follows GM's practice of putting several nameplates on one model. To that end, the Aura is also the Chevrolet Malibu. The Aura uses a six-speed automatic transmission on all of its models, though, while the Malibu uses a four-speed automatic on its base four-cylinder trim lines.

Those two extra cogs give the Aura an impressive-for-its-size fuel economy of 9.4 L/100 km (30 m.p.g.) in the city and 5.9 L/100 km (47.8) on the highway. That's better overall than any of its automatic-equipped mid-size sedan competitors, and topped on urban streets only by the Nissan Altima, which uses a CVT, and rates at 8.9 (31.7) for the city, but 6.3 (44.8) on the highway. The Aura Hybrid is rated at 7.9 (35.7) and 5.8 (48.7), but it can't run on its battery alone, which puts it at a disadvantage to most other full hybrids that get far more impressive mileage.

Power-wise, the Aura's 169 horsepower puts it mid-pack with its competition. Price-wise, though, my XR4 tester's $27,930 made it the most expensive of its rivals when comparing the closest possible trim lines, ranging from $440 more than Honda Accord, to more than $4,500 against Hyundai Sonata. That's never an exact science, of course, since each car's features differ (and most automakers then add discounts or incentives).

Most notably, the four-cylinder Sonata, Nissan Altima and Kia Magentis don't have electronic stability control, while Mitsubishi Galant doesn't have it on anything. Only the 2009 Aura, Ford Fusion and Honda Accord make it a standard feature on every trim line.

As far as the driving experience, I've always been partial to the Aura and Malibu. Handling isn't sporty, but it's responsive and confident; the interior is roomy and the seats are supportive; the four-cylinder has enough guts to get through traffic; the cabin is quiet; the suspension takes care of nasty road imperfections; and materials and fit-and-finish easily stand up to all others.

The rear seats fold, increasing the 115-cm-long trunk to 195 cm; they don't go down entirely flat, but they have plastic backing, making it easier to push cargo over them and to clean them up. The long, sweeping roofline makes for a small trunk lid, though, so it's tougher to load bulky items. The heated seats take forever to warm up.

But otherwise the Aura is spot-on.

If anything's standing in its way, it's that almost every other entry in this segment hits the mark as well. That means the Aura's chart-topping price will work against it.

Freelance auto writer Jil McIntosh can be reached at jil@ca.inter.net

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