Best family car overall 2009 Honda Accord *Est. $20905
Best budget family car 2009 Hyundai Sonata *Est. $18700
"Fun to drive" family sedan 2009 Mazda6 *Est. $18550
Large family car 2009 Toyota Avalon *Est. $27845

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2009 Saturn Aura

*Est. $22,655 to $27,250

Reviewed April 2009

Sporty handling for a family car
Wireless headphones for passengers
Good fuel economy with the four cylinder

Unimpressive fuel economy with the V-6
Rear crash-test results aren't great
Little reliability data
Low resale value
Saturn brand's future is a question mark

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Our Analysis

In their application for federal bailout money, General Motors executives said they will either sell or axe the slow-selling Saturn brand (plans now include possibly spinning off Saturn as a non-GM sales channel for other builders' cars). That's an asterisk on some reviews that recommend the Saturn Aura, which shares its platform with the more critically acclaimed Chevy Malibu (*est. $21,605 to $26,880).

Some top reviewers, including those at Kelley Blue Book, say the Saturn Aura "feels more refined inside, outside and on the road" than the Malibu. Others disagree. "Some test Auras had disappointing panel gaps and unsightly seams," say reviewers at ConsumerGuide.com, who recommend the Saturn Aura but prefer the Chevy Malibu. Cars.com echoes that complaint, but names the Aura a Best Bet anyway. "If you value good gas mileage and capable handling in your midsize sedan, it's worth a look," Cars.com's Mike Hanley says of the Aura.

The four-cylinder Saturn Aura delivers 26 mpg in combined city/highway driving, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency -- but so does the better-reviewed Malibu, and the Hyundai Sonata follows closely with 25 mpg. (An Aura Hybrid is available and is covered in our separate report on hybrid cars.) In some real-world tests, the Aura doesn't quite live up to its estimated mileage claims. In one test in particular, it falls seriously short. "I drove the vehicle as I would normally drive my own personal vehicle, and I managed just less than 18 mpg," says Jeff Glucker, who tests the four-cylinder Aura for NADAGuides' Garage blog.

Most critics agree that the Aura handles better than most midsize sedans. But Edmunds.com reviewers found "numerous reliability problems" with the Aura in their long-term test fleet.

"The 2009 Saturn Aura is a respectable choice for a family sedan," they conclude. "But the competition is fierce. When the Aura faces off against the likes of the Honda Accord (*est. $20,905 to $28,955), Hyundai Sonata (*est. $18,700 to $26,550), Nissan Altima (*est. $19,900 to $29,380), Toyota Camry (*est. $19,395 to $29,045) or even its Malibu sibling, its faults, such as a less-than-stellar interior and numb steering, become more glaring."

Some Saturn owners also worry that the Aura's resale value will plunge if the Saturn brand is shuttered as part of a General Motors reorganization. Depreciation has never been a strong point for Saturn, anyway; Kelley Blue Book projects that a 2009 Aura will lose 60 percent of its value in three years.

All three Saturn Aura trim levels include a six-speed automatic transmission, electronic stability control, traction control, XM satellite radio and a free year of OnStar for roadside assistance, remote door unlock, automatic crash response and more. The entry-level Saturn Aura XE (*est. $22,655) and step-up Aura XR (*est. $24,760) come with the 169-horsepower, 2.4-liter I-4 that usually appears in road tests. Most popular options are bundled into packages. For $530, you can add a "preferred package" of Bluetooth, a USB port, power driver's seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel and more to your base Aura XE. The Aura XR makes all that stuff standard equipment, and it adds heated leather seats and the option to buy more option packages.

The Saturn Aura V-6 (*est. $27,150) adds more standard upscale features, such as a universal garage door opener, automatic climate control and remote start, plus a 252-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 with fuel economy of 20 mpg combined (17 mpg city/26 highway). Warranty protection consists of three-year/36,000-mile basic coverage and five years/100,000 miles on the powertrain.

As usual, Consumer Reports provides the most comprehensive analysis of the Saturn Aura, ranking it directly against most of its competitors. ConsumerGuide.com produces more limited numeric ratings, while Edmunds.com and Cars.com provide thoughtful narrative reviews of the Aura. Kelley Blue Book's short review gushes over the Aura, while a review at NADAGuides.com's Garage blog harshly criticizes it. A short review at LeftLaneNews.com concentrates on the Aura's driving performance. Government and nonprofit websites are authoritative sources for fuel economy and safety ratings.

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2009 Saturn Aura

Our Sources

1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe

Consumer Reports evaluates just about every family sedan on the U.S. market, including the Saturn Aura. Editors test comfort, handling and performance, and they predict each car's reliability, based on owner surveys.

Review: Saturn Aura, Editors of ConsumerReports.org

2. ConsumerGuide.com

ConsumerGuide.com road tests the vehicles it reviews, ranking each one against a class average. The Saturn Aura scores just above the average for the midsize segment, but its strong showings in performance- and value-related categories earn the Aura a Recommended label.

Review: 2009 Saturn Aura: Road Test, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com

3. Edmunds.com

Editors of Edmunds.com conclude that the Saturn Aura may represent a solid choice for family-sedan buyers who prefer a domestic car. Although this summary doesn't include the results of any official head-to-head assessment, the Aura is compared with its rivals in an informal way.

Review: 2009 Saturn Aura Review, Editors of Edmunds.com

4. Cars.com

The Saturn Aura is a 2009 Cars.com Best Bet. Reviewer Mike Hanley tests the Aura and finds its power and handling impressive for a family car, but criticizes the car's interior.

Review: 2009 Saturn Aura, Mike Hanley, Oct. 15, 2008

5. Kelley Blue Book

Kelley Blue Book reviewers here praise the Aura more strongly than others tend to, although they do note that it can't match the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord for resale value or reliability. This review critiques the Aura's performance, comfort and features.

Review: 2009 Saturn Aura Review, Editors of Kelley Blue Book

6. NADAGuides.com

The mocking tone of this blogger's review sets some readers on edge, according to the comments posted at the bottom, but Jeff Glucker does road test the Saturn Aura, and he draws some thoughtful conclusions about its powertrain, comfort, features, fuel economy and overall value.

Review: Road Test Review: 2009 Saturn Aura XR, Jeff Glucker, Nov. 14, 2008

7. LeftLaneNews.com

The Saturn Aura XR gets a nice increase in performance, refinement and fuel economy, thanks to the six-speed automatic that's mated to the four-cylinder engine for 2009, Andrew Ganz says. Ganz spends most of this quick review evaluating the Aura's drivability, but he does touch on interior and exterior styling as well.

Review: Quick Spin: 2009 Saturn Aura XR, Andrew Ganz, Sept. 24, 2008

8. SaferCars.gov

The Saturn Aura earns excellent scores in government safety tests. Its ratings in front and side crash tests are perfect, and it earns four stars out of five for rollover potential.

Review: 5-Star Safety Ratings, Editors of SaferCar.gov

9. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

The Saturn Aura performs well in IIHS front and side crash testing, but is only "marginal" in rear crash tests. This chart shows rankings for the Aura and 19 other family sedans.

Review: Midsize Moderately Priced Cars, Editors of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

10. FuelEconomy.gov

The EPA posts fuel-economy estimates for both the four-cylinder and V-6 engine Saturn Auras, alongside dozens of other midsize sedans. You can click on each car to get more detailed information, including pollution ratings.

Review: 2009 Midsize Cars, Editors of FuelEconomy.gov