When General Motors launched the Saturn brand, hopes were high that this was going to make a significant impact on a market which, let’s be honest, was not short of rival products. The press were not entirely convinced by the succession of cars that we have seen since that time, and the sales figures suggest that the buying public were not entirely won over, either. Undeterred, though, Saturn have continued to evolve and the latest model, announced for the 2007 model year, is their most ambitious yet, the Aura. As is the case with most General Motors products, the 2007 Saturn Aura’s mechanical underpinnings are similar to those used in other models. In the Aura’s case, it uses a stretched version of the “Epsilon” platform that’s also employed for the Pontiac G6 and Chevrolet Malibu Maxx. The Aura is front-wheel drive and features a MacPherson strut front suspension and a four-link independent rear suspension design. For the outside, Saturn chose to give the Aura a European look. The car’s chiselled physique draws inspiration from some Opel products, while the cabin has an upscale ambiance never before seen in a Saturn. Further differentiating the Aura from its other GM relatives is the Aura Green Line, GM’s first hybrid passenger car ever. Unlike its predecessors, the Aura was well received and was accoladed with the North American Car of the Year Award. A few months after sales started, they are now beginning to appear in the rental fleets. I found one allocated to me on arrival in Austin, TX, and was keen to take it and see what I thought. My test car was the posher XR trim, which augured well. But how would I feel after driving it for a few days?

There are three different engine options available for the Aura. The entry level XE has a 3.5 litre V6, developing 219 bhp and 219 lb/ft of torque. The posher XR, which was the spec of the test car, has the more modern and more powerful DOHC 3.6 litre V6, also used in the Cadillac CTS, which generates 252 bhp. There is also a model called the Green Line, which, as the name suggests, is presented as the economy and efficiency variant, with a 2.4 litre 4 cylinder petrol engine couple to a battery to create a hybrid system. With the 3.6-litre V6, acceleration is strong and smooth at any speed — with six gears to choose from, the power is always on tap. Quoted acceleration to 60 mph is a rapid 6.4 seconds and by all accounts there is not much of a consumption penalty for this engine compared to the 3.5 litre unit. Refinement is generally impressive and noise levels are particularly low with the acoustic glass for the windshield and front windows contributing to this serenity.  Given the 2007 Saturn Aura’s European roots — the car’s chassis is also used for the Saab 9-3 — you’d expect capable and confident handling, and that’s what the Aura provides, though whether it truly is the sports sedan that Saturn want us to think it is, is perhaps more questionable. Minimal body roll and a smooth, hushed highway ride make the Aura a great long-distance companion. Thankfully, the Aura uses hydraulic power steering that provides more feedback and a more linear feel than the fussy electric power-assist units used in its GM cousins. The Aura’s long wheelbase combines with relatively firm shock/spring tuning to strike a good balance of ride smoothness and crisp handling, even with the 18-inch wheels that come standard with the uplevel XR. With all-round discs, the brakes proved effective, needing only moderate pedal pressure to slow the car down. All round visibility presented few problems, though judging the rear of the car was not that easy.

The interior of the Aura mostly uses quality materials and a pleasing mix of simulated wood and metallic accents give the cabin an upscale ambiance, though there is some evidence of rough plastic, fake stitching and rubbery vinyl trim which is not particularly appropriate for a car in this price range.  The optional four-panel panoramic sunroof provides a larger than normal opening when retracted and a see-through roof when it’s closed. There is a simple instrument cluster with three dials, with a background that looks a bit like corrugated cardboard. The central speedometer is larger than the other two dials. The rev counter is to the left and is quite small in diameter, and then to the right there is a combined water temperature and fuel level. They are easy to read.  There are two column stalks, which operate with a nice precision. Buttons on the steering wheel spokes are sued for audio repeater and cruise control functions. The audio unit is in the centre of the dash and will be familiar to those who know the GM product range. Beneath this are two rotary dials and a series of buttons for the automated single zone climate control. It’s a pleasingly simple set up and very easy to use.

There is plenty of space inside the passenger compartment. Some commentators have complained that it can be hard to get in, a consequence of the shape of the dash and the B pillar, but I found no particular issues. The driver’s seat is electrically adjustable, whilst that for the front passenger is manually altered, and there’s a wide range of movement, so everyone should be able to get comfortable. The steering column telescopes in/out and up/down, as well, so it was easy to get the driving position I wanted. XR trim gives you the option of Moroccan leather upholstery which is a nice touch and further evidence of Saturn’s desire to position this car as a cut above the class average.

With a cabin that’s 3 inches longer than that of the already roomy Pontiac G6 and Malibu Maxx platform mates, the Aura treats rear passengers to a lavish amount of space, though surprisingly, there is no central armrest. Even with the front seats set well back, though, leg room is particularly generous and the car is wide enough that three adults should fit comfortably across the car. There is a surprisingly sizeable central tunnel for a front wheel drive car but it is relatively narrow so should not present too many problems to a middle seat occupant. There are map pockets on the back of both front seats and a pull-out stowage area in the rear face of the central console unit where you will also find controls for audio control. The boot is a good size, too. Total capacity measures just under 15 cubic feet. In particular the boot is long from front to back. At the very back of the car it is wide, but it does narrow somewhat between the rear wheel arches. The rear seat backrests are asymmetrically split and simply drop down, to create a much longer load platform. Inside the passenger compartment, there is a reasonable size glovebox, pockets on the doors

There are three trim levels offered for the 2007 Saturn Aura. The base XE comes with 17-inch wheels, air-conditioning, full power accessories and a stereo with a CD player and auxiliary input jack. The XR is more of a luxury sport sedan, as it includes 18-inch alloy wheels, leather seating, an 8-way power driver seat, a six-disc CD changer, heated front seats, remote vehicle start, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. Notable options include power-adjustable pedals, a four-panel panoramic sunroof, two-tone “Moroccan” leather trim and XM Satellite Radio. The Green Line is the hybrid version, and other than having 16-inch wheels (versus 17s) its equipment level mirrors that of the XE.

On the whole, I was impressed by this Aura. It seemed to me to be a rather nicer proposition than the other mid-sized offerings from the GM stable, with that lusty engine, spacious cabin and a generally good standard of finish and trim. Of course, the Aura does not have the market to itself as there are plenty of increasingly competent competitors. Whilst I have driven many of them, they have tended to be in typical rental car spec with four cylinder engines, even though most of them are available with a V6 of similar power to this Aura as well. I liked the Honda Accord in four cylinder guise, so would imagine the V6 is even more appealing, and I also found the Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr that I sampled in 2006 to be very agreeable. Try them all and pick your favourite! But if the rental car offering is an Aura XR, then as it is in the same rental car category as those 4 cylinder cars, it is your lucky day. Take it and enjoy!