The impressive sales of Saturn Aura allowed for this mid-sized car to get in the top of the best cars produced by General Motors. The new Saturn concept was presented in the 2006 New York Auto Show, and it capatured the public attention right from the beginning even if GM only intended it as the line to replace the L Series. The result of this new direction is market preference for American cars instead of European imports particularly since in recent years the focus has fallen on the latter in the United States. Saturn Aura thus competes with its distant cousin: the European Opel Vectra.

The averaged Saturn Aura includes folding mirrors and side marker lights, and these design features are clearly an imitation of European car design. The other aesthetic details make Saturn Aura really pleasant car with 17 or 18 inch wheels and tires for all seasons in both the XR or XE models. The improvements in car appearance are relevant for the structure of the cabin too; now Saturn Aura allows the buyer a choice for saddle leather seats and back seat radio control. Yet, despite the nice offer in the standard model, Saturn Aura has been criticized for the quality of the materials used in the cabin design.

As for the technical characteristics of the Saturn Aura standard models, there is an assisted break system for all the four wheel disk brakes, heated seats and comprehensive front and lateral airbags, automatic steering control and stability control as well as remote vehicle start. Saturn Aura also provides 224 horsepower for a 3.5 liter V6 engine. The difference between Saturn Aura XR and XE is obvious with the properties of the suspensions: thus Saturn Aura XE has soft suspensions while Aura XR has more rigid sportier ones. Moreover, this concept gap is further reflected in the price of the car with the soft variant coming cheaper.

Saturn Aura is also available in the hybrid eco form following the green line traits. It uses a belt alternation system and it includes the same system of suspension as the gas-only XE models. This hybrid variant brings 164 horsepower and a significant fuel consume reduction. In order to encourage the purchase of ecological cars so as to save or preserve the environment, governmental laws regulate a $1,300 tax credit drop. This means that after you purchase the Saturn Aura hybrid you’ll deduct this sum from the regular amount you pay periodically.