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When I announced our upcoming vacation I mentioned that as a result of my Detroit trip, GM offered to drop off a 2008 Saturn Outlook in my driveway for the trip. Yes, a brand new SUV for us to test drive. Marketing genius on their part, because I can’t think of a better way to put a family car to the test other than vacation.

We have now spent hundreds of miles in both the new Saturn Vue and the Saturn Outlook, and can tell you that one message come blasting through: GM is now a full-fledged player on the big stage, and Honda and Toyota would be well advised to pay strict attention. (Goodness, did we really type that?)

I already knew that the General's Lambda-based crossovers were pretty special, and while the Outlook is more entry-level than Buick's Enclave, it's still impressively outfitted with standard soft-touch plastics, aluminum-look interior accents and high-quality fabric seats, not to mention standard air conditioning, power windows, power locks with remote access, and the list goes on. The standard feature that most impressed me, however, is interior spaciousness. This thing is no midsize crossover,...

If you think Saturn doesn't make stand-out cars, this one is bound to change your, well, Outlook. It handles like a midsize sedan yet has all the space you'd expect in a full-size SUV: There's room for eight (with a middle-row bench seat), the third row is big enough for grown-ups, and the storage options are seemingly endless. The second-row seats slide forward, so you can comfort your infant without straining your neck. Stability control, side-curtain air bags, and rear-seat temperature contro...

Our Outlook had a video screen and DVD player, but lacked built in channels which was fine by me. I didn't need my kids watching 14 hours of brain melting TV during our trip. I realize that children don't enjoy the beauty of wide-open spaces the same way adults do, but I think there is something to feeling the miles and sensing the size of our country, even if it means someone asking are we there yet? every 5 minutes. It was, they enjoyed watching the movies we brought along and I enjoyed that t...

The Outlook is an attractive vehicle and a good example of the current Saturn styling theme. It is substantial looking, somewhat angular, yet not too beefy. From a distance it presents itself small, but as you approach the vehicle, you realize that it's almost the size of a Chevy Tahoe. The interior is roomy and the tasteful exterior themes are carried through to the inside. The seating is comfortable and flexible. The cargo space is very roomy and is easily accessible. The seating is comfortabl...

Walk into a dealership and ask to see the new-generation family car, and you might receive a puzzled look. That's because today's family cars are no longer one-size-fits-all. We looked for the best family cars in 10 market segments to find affordable vehicles designed to suit a variety of needs. All cars considered had a base MSRP of $18,000 to $30,000, and had to have standard or available electronic stability control; side curtain airbags for additional protection in a collision; seats that f...

Accessing the third row is remarkably easy given GM's Smart Slide, fold flat system which compresses the second row seat nearly flush against the back of the front seat. This function creates a fairly wide aisle, relatively speaking, for ingress/egress. The second row bench can also be positioned fore and aft on its sliding tracks to share legroom equitably among second and third row passengers. Headroom in all seating positions is very good for an SUV.

From USA Today: Union workers struck a General Motors plant in Delta Township, Michigan, Thursday that makes some of GM's most successful and important vehicles, and were preparing to strike today at a plant in Warren that makes transmissions for most GM models, including the award-winning Chevrolet Malibu. An ongoing strike at parts supplier American Axle, meantime, has shut 10 GM factories and had what the automaker calls "partial impact" on 18 others. The GM walkout by United Auto Workers Loc...