Sometimes timing is everything. On the way back from a recent family reunion in the Midwest, I received a call from a good friend of mine with exciting news. "We have an Aura," the familiar voice said. We had stopped the night before at a hotel in Columbus, Ohio with plans to visit Al Clapsaddle and the team at Saturn/West, but this new information turned a long tedious drive home into what felt like an adventure and extention to the vacation. I had received an e-mail the week before we left on vacation from a SaturnFans.com visitor who told me that Saturn had begun shipping Auras to retailers around the country. My local store didn't have any the day before we left on vacation, but I was hopeful that we'd spot one somewhere before returning home. Little did I know I was about to drive one.

It had been almost two years since my wife and I had picked up our 2005 Vue Red Line from Al at Saturn/West; this felt like a homecoming of sorts. Al was outside and waved as we drove up and parked. My eyes were then immediately drawn to the Aura parked in the front of the store. He welcomed us as we got out of the Vue, and I grabbed my camera before heading over to the Ocean Mist colored 2007 Aura XE.

First impressions are important in life, and things are no different when you're looking over a new car. I was anxious to see how a production-spec Aura would stand up to not only the competition, but to the impressive set of Aura concepts and pre-production models that Saturn had been showing off on the auto show circuit. The car did not disappoint. Al gave us a very thorough overview of the Aura, and he pointed out the various features inside and out that made the car intriguing.

If you've seen pictures of the Aura and were not impressed, I encourage you to take a trip to your local Saturn store before giving up on this car. Pictures don't do this car justice. Its styling is sleek and elegant with just enough flair to make people take a second look and ask if it really is a Saturn. True to Bob Lutz's word, panel gaps (the Aura has a steel body instead of polymer-clad exterior) were uniform and tight. While this XE was the "base" model, there was nothing basic about it. It had just a few options, but the car carried quite a commanding presence. Attractive aluminum wheels – no wait, they were actually hub caps – strategically covered steel wheels with large open cutouts that let you clearly see the Aura's four-wheel disc brakes. These were probably the most attractive hub caps I've ever seen, and they did a great job completing the car's upscale appearance. Optional chromed wheel covers will be available later in the model year for those looking for more bling without having to upgrade to more expensive polished alloy wheels.

Saturn did its homework with the Aura's well thought out interior too. Kudos to Saturn/West for leaving the windows and sunroof open in the car so that when customers first get in they're not blasted with hot, stagnant air. It was a small touch and made the transition from outside-to-inside the vehicle much more pleasant on a warm, humid day.

Once inside, I found the Aura's front and rear cloth seats to be very comfortable and supportive. The driver's door (actually all the doors for that matter) shut with a resounding "thunk" that inspired confidence that the car was well-built. The steering wheel not only tilted up and down into position, but also telescoped forward and back. The gas and brake pedals had power adjustments to accommodate both short- and long-legged drivers.

With everything set in place so that I was comfortable up front, I hopped in the rear seat to see how much room was left over for any passengers who might be traveling behind me. I'm about six feet tall and had slid the eight-way power driver's seat back a little when I was sitting up front. Despite that there was plenty of rear seat leg, foot, and knee room in the back seat - especially with the clever way Saturn engineers designed the back of the front seats. The rear headrests were substantial and supportive. The back windows rolled down completely into the door and out of sight. The rear seats split 60/40 and folded down to reveal a much larger opening than was found in Saturn's previous L-Series midsize sedan. The trunk was huge and included two cargo nets that partitioned the trunk space into three separate areas.

Back up front, Al pointed out the adjustable center console arm rest whose top lid slides forward and backward, a thoughtful design touch for drivers who might need their seats slid all the way back or forward. Two tabs in the front part of the top lid let you quickly access separate compartments (the bottom section is quite roomy) within the console. For instance, you could store and charge your cell phone with the hidden 12 volt outlet located in the bottom compartment. The driver's power window controls are located on the door, instead if the center console where old school Saturn drivers might expect them. The front driver's window had an express down and up feature. The automatic headlights worked in the same way as they do on Ion 3 models. Not only do the lights come on when the car senses its dark outside, but the automatic feature can be overridden allowing the lights to be turned off with a flick of the switch. The setup reverts back to its normal automatic factory default mode every time the car is started. Electrical components such as the radio, windows, and sunroof stay powered for ten minutes after the key is removed from the ignition, or until one of the doors is opened.

The horizontal lines engraved into dashboard behind the gauge cluster gave the instrument panel a sporty flair. Theatre-effect backlighting of the gauges provided an upscale and sophisticated touch. Tight tolerances continued inside where the instrument panel's clean lines where highlighted by good use of soft, expensive-looking materials. The attention to detail was superb; gone are the days of "plasticy" looking Saturn interiors. Strategic placement of silver trim pieces completed the look.

As you've probably already seen in the latest Saturn ads running on television, the next-generation Saturn experience is as much about the car's driving dynamics as it is about the courteous and polite treatment you get from Saturn retailers. With that in mind, we hopped in the Aura to see how it performed on the road. Al had a pre-determined route planned for the test drive. It was the same three-mile loop he takes all of his customers on, and it includes a variety of road surfaces, curves, and speeds. This was by no means a course to test the limits of what the Aura could do, but it was an excellent way to see how the Aura would handle in day-to-day driving.

I was really happy to find that the Aura was as much fun to drive as it was to look at. The XE features a 3.5L V6 powerplant with variable valve timing (VVT) that generates 224 hp. It provides good acceleration and more than enough power for everyday driving both on the highway and around town. The Aura XE's 4-speed automatic transmission shifted smoothly, whether I was speeding away from a stop light or passing a semi on the Interstate. The suspension was nice and firm, but forgiving when we drove over a series of bumps and railroad tracks in the road. The variable hydraulic steering assist worked well and allowed for good feedback. The four-wheel disc brakes stopped the car straight and with confidence as we approached a red light at the end of an exit ramp.

The overall setup of the car worked well and exceeded all of my expectations. The car felt solid on the road, and was very quiet. The level of refinement is nothing like I've ever seen in a Saturn, and is sure to impress even he car's toughest critics. I'm more than confident that any curious customers who visit their local Saturn store will be impressed too.

Click here for pictures of the Aura XE reviewed for this story.

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Source: SaturnFans.com Roadtest Review