Saturn has announced today that the 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid will be the lowest-priced hybrid on the market, starting at $22,695. The car also qualifies for a $1,300 tax credit from the IRS.
This means that the Aura Green Line is $2,000 cheaper than the next lowest-priced mid-sized hybrid sedan and $200 cheaper than the Prius. The car gets 28 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, which is up to 30 percent better than the non-hybrid Aura. A 2.4L engine is matted to an electric motor/ generator, which produces 164 horsepower and 159 lb. ft. of torque.
Comments (1)
28 mpg city and 35 mpg highway?
I test drove a Saturn Aura Hybrid. For the weight of the Aura, the 2.4 L I4 engine makes this vehicle feel sluggish.
I also test drove the 3.6L V6 Aura XR and that car has a lot of get up and go.
I bought instead a 2007 Kia Optima. Price after price incentives was just a tad over $15,000. Slightly more than $7000 less for roughly the same size car with the same size engine (2.4L I4), but the Kia Optima has way better acceleration, AND I get between 25 to 27 mpg City and 33 to 35 mpg Highway (depends on how many traffic lights I hit on Red - city and how fast I drive highway - 70mph vs 75-80 mph).
I'm not knocking the Saturn Aura. It is a really good car. It is well made and has some really nice features.
But for roughly $7000 less, I get the same size car, almost the same gas mileage and better acceleration. And the Optima has a bigger trunk.
Posted by Kia Optima Owner | February 25, 2008 8:00 PM
Posted on February 25, 2008 20:00