by Lee Teschler
So when
the test vehicle
showed up, I was
expecting to see
the familiar outline
of a dumpy sport
UTE. Surprise: The
little crossover SUV is now based on a
European Opel called the Antera. It’s a
big improvement and looks downright
sporty.
Auto writers used to complain
about the poor fit of the Vue’s plastic
body panels. They are a thing of the
past, and the redesigned vehicle is well
executed inside and out.
It also has some zip. The XE model
we drove had a 3.5-liter pushrod V6
and a six-speed automatic as standard
equipment. The 222-hp SUV accelerates
nicely and moves through traffic
without any problems. Some reviewers
note that the Vue is heavier than some
of the vehicles it competes against –
about 500 lb heavier than the Rav 4,
for example. The bad news is that the
weight makes the mileage ratings only
so-so, 15/22 mpg in city/highway driving.
The good news is that the Institute
for Highway Safety rates the new Vue
“Good overall” for crashworthiness,
thanks in part to the extra pounds.
Also in the safety department, it carries
a full complement of air bags — front,
side, and curtain — as well as traction
control and active head restraints. This
is all standard equipment.
The suspension is strut in front,
multilink in back. Strut suspensions
aren’t known for their ride quality, but
the Vue handles
bumps well nevertheless.
The front
bucket seats are
comfortable and
there is little road
noise.
The interior is
sharp considering
the car’s price
range. The plastic
parts are textured
and don’t look cheap. OnStar gets thrown in free for
the first year, and the six-speaker audio
system does a nice job with the satellite
radio.
You get about 54 ft3 of space in back
with the rear seats folded down, about
25 ft3 less than some other vehicles in
this class. Still, the rear seats fold down
easily. We filled the back with a halfdozen
rolls of fiberglass insulation.
The only options on the XE model
we drove were roof rails and floor mats.
They added $230 to the $24,570 base
price. You can also get this model with
a four-cylinder engine for about $3,000
less, but I can’t recommend it. The six-cylinder
XE has some zip, but I suspect
the same car with a 2.4-liter four banger
would be doggy. And the gas mileage is
better but not markedly so. Similarly,
there’s an XR version with a bigger V6
generating 35 hp more. People who do
an appreciable amount of towing might
find this option attractive.
Other features of note on the Vue are
16-in. chrome wheels, a tire-pressure
monitoring system, and steering-wheel
controls for the cruise system and the
audio. All in all, it is a well appointed
vehicle that isn’t a bad deal for something
selling in the mid-$20s
.