2007 Saturn Aura: Beauty + Price = Reason To Buy American?

Not the clearest writing... the overall tone of the post is neutral, ambivalent.
 
But you failed to go into why you say "this "North American Vehicle of the Year" didn't bowl me over as I had hoped."
 
...which made the conclusion illogical.
Unless no keyless start was the deal breaker.
 
I could help the argument by adding the interior isn't all that great... the 2-dimensional wood gets to me.
Wood trim needs to be 3-D to wow nowadays.
The Aura's 2-D wood looks like it's just a sticker stuck on aftermarket.

Add in a lack of navigation system and bluetooth as well as a split-folding rear seat and it's clear that the Aura is already obsolete coming out of the gate...definitely would've been a worthy choice in 1999 though! But hey, Rome was not built in a day right? I think GM did what they had to here, prove they could make a competitive product. Hopefully, the 2010 Saturn Aura/Opel Insignia will be a class-LEADING product.

sddoc07 - You may want to check again, the Aura does indeed have a split-folding rear seat.

it didn't bowl him over because it's didn't excite him maybe? not the clearest writing.
 
i think to summarize everything, this is what he meant to say:
 
"the altima owns the aura! the aura is a nice, it did what i asked it to do, but how did this thing win North American Car of the Year, I was expecting better!!!!!"

sddc,
 
The Aura does have a split folding rear seat. It would be nice if you knew anything about the car before commenting. As for this car being competitive for 1999: cars in 1999 in this range didnt have stability, 250hp, 6 speed autos, 18" wheels, MP3 jacks, etc. Your statement is absurd to say the least. The Aura would've been a hands down class leader if it was out in 1999.
 
As usual editors here do not mention price. Edmunds staffers don't have to pay for cars so I guess price is no object to them but in the real world price does count. An Altima equipped like my car would cost you about $30k as opposed to $26,900 and that doesnt count incentives. For that extra $3k (really more if you factor in rebates) you get push button start and dual zone AC. You do not get nav included in that price nor do oyu get 18" wheels, remote start, Onstar, etc. Sorry, but I dont think the Altima is that much better where the price difference is justified. Plus, the Aura looks better to me (much more original shape) and is more exclusive since Nissan sells 20k Altimas a month. Even if we accept the Aura is no better than the Altima or slightly inferior I think its equipment levels and pricing more than even the playing field.

why not just evaluate the car as if it wastn NACY at this point? It seems like the Aura is handicapped by the fact that the press gave it such an accoladde and it has become an axe to grind for the staff here. JUst let us know if its a car you would recommend to those shopping in this class and stop venting about how the car is "underwhelming" considering the awards its won. We all get the fact that you guys dont understand how it got the award over the lovely camry, but that doesnt mean the car isnt competitive in its own right.

People fail to recognize that Bluetooth on most cars is bundled in with expensive option packages. If Bluetooth is really that important, you can either get a portable Nav unit (TomTom or Garmin) which kills to birds with one stone for well under $1000. Or you can get a Bluetooth speaker that mounts to your sunvisor- Motorola makes a really nice one for around $100 or so. One could argue that it's not a neat intergated appearance but these are family sedans, not $40k luxury cars.
 
To get Bluetooth in the Altima, you'll end up over $30k by default.
 
As far as the Aura on the whole, it offers far more style than anything in the class. Altimas are a dime a dozen here in the northeast and I'm sick of seeing them at every light. If the Aura had grab handles, rear armest, dual zone and improved door panels, it'd be perfect in my eyes.

mjd1123 -- I fixed the typo; thanks for the catch. I received an email from GM this morning saying they fixed their Web site in response to my phone call, so I took out the part about their site being broken. I agree with langjie's interpretation of my post, though, langjie, you might notice that the author is female. And yes, billt9, I am ambivalent about the Aura -- you picked that up. It kind of left me shrugging. I agree that it would have bowled me over a few years ago, but today, it's not as exciting as the Altima, for me at least. Like sddoc07, thought I'm just glad that Detroit is producing some competitive cars. It's the market, not automotive journalists, that will decide just how competitive. -- Joanne

The more important questions are has either the Altima or the Camry bowled you over either?
 
I mean if the XR does everything well, like the Camry and Altima, isn't that enough? If all provide more performance than most people will ever need, are comfortable and fairly fuel efficient, it just comes down to individual preferences. The way I look at it, is the XR is the best looking(exterior) of the Altima, Camry, and new Accord. I would rate the Atlima second, then a tie between the new Accord and the Camry. The interior I like better than the others as well(however not perfect). I do wish it had navigation and dual climate control. The new Accord's interior is just way too busy.
 
The keyless start is in my opinion a wash with the remote start. I am willing to concede the Altima may be a bit better in handling, but not much. If the XR is close, then we know it is much, much better than the Camry. Have to see about the new Accord. Therefore it appears to be top two-three in handling. It is as fast as the Altima and in some tests faster than the Camry, though not in others. But all four provide way more acceleration than dreamed of in a family sedan.
 
Remember, before American cars, to many people weren't even close to the Japanese. Now you have a car that competes on every level. Why isn't that enough? Remember this too, this is the oldest version of all the cars. The Camry, Accord and Altima were all revised. The Aura is on a four year old platform. Not bad at all. Just imagine how many improvements will be made by 2010.

Aurakr-
  
well said. The consumer is the winner when it comes to the family sedan market. Lots of innovation, amazing power, and GM, Ford, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, and Hyundai have raised the bar... each in a different way. The consumer is the winner as there are lots of great options in the segment... each satisfying different needs. It is exciting to think what will be out there in 2-4 years.

oops, sorry joanne
 
1487, she did reference price (not number per se) but did you read the title? also the "Nonetheless, there's not too much to complain about for the price."
 
i get "it's a good value" out of that statement.
 
another thing to point out is...she probably wasn't bowled over with the interior because it wasn't the moroccan brown. with all nissan's (for me at least) the black interior is really sexy but i'm not a big fan of the tan.

langjie:
 
You are right. The moroccan interior with the midnight blue( this is the XR I have, is a great combination). Hard to keep clean though, glad it is the car of the year for carwashes.
 
It is amazing how one color looks great, another just turns a person off. For example, I love black leather in the Outlook, it looks just ok to me in an Aura.
 
The Chargers sure are not looking Super right now. If this is the best Norv Turner can do, AJ Smith will hear it for the rest of his life. Congrats to the Pats, looking really, really good.
 
SubyTrojan:
 
I am in so much pain and shock at the complete collapse of the PADS. I could just scream.

thanks, but we didn't just go 3-0 in the post season....it's just the regular season, but i'll take it.
 
how bad is the collapse of the PADS...it's comical like the downfall of the red sox lately

oh yeah, and i can definitely tell why black wouldn't look as nice....all of the accents along the door and dash make the brown look really nice
 
not a big fan of the brown below the shifter though....reminds me of "wood grain" interiors

Aurakr, the Pads will hold on. I have complete faith in the swingin' friars! :o) It could be worse (think: Dodger$)!
 
Off-topic: Joanne, I noticed you're left-handed and use a computer mouse left-handed in the department spotlight video. I'm a lefty, but conformed by learning to use the mouse with my right hand.

I dont know much about "bowled over" but it seems to me that the author went into this not thinking much of the Aura and came away unimpressed because its nothing more than a very competent, competitive family sedan. I thought that was what GM was hoping for so I'm not quite sure why the car is so underwhelming. To be honest, I dont find the Altima to be any more exciting than the Aura or any other family sedan. Sure it has those large afterburner tailights and more style than Accord but in the end its a nice, powerful family sedna just like the Aura. I cant see any objective reasson why a seasoned auto reviewer would be blown away by the Altima (which is basically just like the last one but with a better interior) but so underwhelmed by the Aura. "above average" is grounds for praise when its a NIssan product but not so when its a Saturn.
 
Sorry but a push button starter and a Pontiac G6 inspired interior aren't enough to make the Altima a class above the Aura. Besides the push button start t I really didnt see any reasoning as to why the Altima is so much more stimulating and satisfying than the Saturn. In the end it seems to me that it just comes down to the brands behind both of these cars. Nissan is exciting and Saturn is just "OK for the money".

but she didn't go into it not thinking much of the aura. she loved the design.
 
but the altima brings the push button start, gives a lot of options like bluetooth/navi, has good stability, and is the first rendition of a CVT that they like. i think i hit it on the head with the last one....best CVT out there, don't believe me, read the reviews (yes, with the CVT you either love it or hate it)
 
you are too negative, i see it as a great value, not "ok for the money"

Why are Aura owners getting defensive? I didn't wow her, she's entitled to that opinion. So what?
 
Switch to decaf, folks.
 
The mocha/chocolate seats look awesome, BTW.

"Why are Aura owners getting defensive? I didn't wow her, she's entitled to that opinion. So what?
  
Switch to decaf, folks. "
 
its not about getting offended. Why do people like you get offended when readers ask for justification or explanations for opinions rendered here? This is the nature of two way communication between editors and readers of the site. Its really a simple question: what makes the Altima so stellar and exciting compared to the underwhelming Aura?

Sorry you wern't bowled over, I was . I am not impressed with gimmics which abound in some import makes.

I think GM is getting there, and fast. But I must agree that the Altima is the better car. I wouldn't dare compare the new Accord, though. I haven't driven one yet.
 
You know, it wasn't 15 years ago when people thought Nissan had bland, sub-par products. I don't think GM needs Carlos Ghosn, but they do need a Ghosn-like leader. I foresee Lutz being that leader.

"what makes the Altima so stellar and exciting compared to the underwhelming Aura?"
 
i think you have to read the altima blogs to get that, some people here don't like the redundancy of editors saying things over and over again