2004 Saturn VUE review from North America

Nothing, though one technician says I have a transmission leak. I need to get it checked out.

This AWD vehicle does what I bought it to do - provide solid, reliable transportation with ample cargo space in all weather conditions. I see a number of people posting reviews that the VUE won't handle off-road conditions well. I suspect that's right - but I wanted a SUV to handle snow on roads, and the VUE does that just fine.

The 2.2 liter engine has barely adequate acceleration - but had I wanted more, I could have paid more for the 3.5 liter engine. Visibility is excellent, road noise acceptable, comfort is good. The rear lift-back door provides shelter from the rain while loading/unloading, and works well in cramped parking conditions. Rear passengers report the ride to be comfortable.

Interior center panel and storage areas look cheap. I see Saturn has redesigned all that for their 2006 models.

I think the "hidden" storage is a bit too sparse. The storage between the front seats is surprisingly small for a SUV. Anything much larger than a flashlight is pretty much going to have to be out in the open - not many hiding places in the VUE. Too bad they can't include a little hidden compartment where they put the grocery bag holder in the back.

The VUE has a lot of well thought-out featurettes - a computer to tell you when the oil should be changed, for example.

Overall - I think the VUE is a good value, and I really like Saturn's "no haggle" policy. You won't get ripped off buying a Saturn, ever.