The second and last generation of the Saturn Vue was launched in 2007 as a 2008 model year.
The car was right, the times were wrong and it only lasted for two years.

While the 2008 world financial crisis was only a few about to turn the world upside down. While the first generation of the Vue looked like an SUV but with a smaller size and didn’t get enough attention, the second generation was far better. It was based on a unibody construction and that helped it with the fuel-efficiency.

The second generation of the Saturn Vue was a rebadged Opel Antara/Chevrolet Captiva from Europe. It featured the same rounded shape and a chromed bar between the headlights, similar to the one found on the Captiva. Its better proportions and decent price range sent it into the 80.000 units/year category, even though the times were rough for the motoring industry.

Inside, the Vue featured a 5-seat only option, unlike its competitors which were available with up to seven seats. The interior design was similar to the Antara, with a straight and curved dashboard and clean instrument cluster design. On the center stack, the Vue could host either a CD-radio or an infotainment system with navigation.

The Vue was available with front or all-wheel-drive system. It featured independent suspension in all four corners and that ensured a higher level of comfort. The car was available with a choice of inline-four and V6 engines, mated to a 4-speed automatic and 5-speed auto, respectively.

General Motors built the Saturn brand as a lower-budget brand and built most of its products on European platforms.
Back in 2005, the 4x4 market started to rise, and GM didn’t want to lose that trend. It was a highly skilled SUV-maker and increased its presence with the introduction of the Saturn Vue in 2002, which it upgraded three years later.

After producing econoboxes and, sometimes, cheap-looking cars, Saturn made a bold move and introduced the Vue in 2002. It was not that cheap car anymore, and indeed it didn’t look like one. Its rectangular, horizontal headlights flanked the narrow grille at the front. The bumper was tall and sported a pair of fog lights placed on the sides of a lower grille. Even though it shared its platform with the Chevrolet Equinox and the Pontiac Torrent, the cabin looked different. Its ascending beltline and raked-forward C-pillar with clear cuts were unique to Saturn. In the back, the darkened D-pillars from the tailgate and the rear side windows created the illusion of a wrapped-around glass area for the back of the car.

Inside, it was not an econobox anymore. A leather-clad interior and the wood trims on the dashboard, center stack, and door panels looked more upmarket than the brand.

Under the hood, GM installed a 2.2-liter Theta engine carried over from its European brand Opel and a Honda-sourced 3.5-liter V-6. The latter powered the Red Line edition.

The 2001 Saturn Vue is the first generation of the 4-door SUV which is said to the Saturn’s best-seller until the company came out with the Aura model.
The car used the GM Theta platform and was also called Chevrolet Captiva, GMC Terrain, Holden Captiva and Opel Antara, depending on the manufacturer and on the market area. The first models were assembled at the Spring Hill plant belonging to General Motors and came with multiple engine configurations, ranging between 2.2- and 3.5-liter. The Vue had several advanced standard features, including the OnStar technology, the cruise control and the automatic headlights.