Exterior

The 2009 Vue Hybrid is darn cute. It’s more refined and curvy than the previous generation. One thing I didn’t like was how pushy it was about its hybrid status. My test car had stickers and badges all over it that announced it was an environmentally friendly car. While I suppose it’s a nice opportunity for Saturn to get the word out about its green cars, I’m not big on it. When people sarcastically yell, “Hey, is that a hybrid?” at you from across a parking lot, you know the hybrid badges and stickers have gotten out of hand.

Besides the badges and sticker, there were a lot of flashy details on the exterior, like chrome wheels and chrome accents on the grille. Without the stickers these details are fun, but with the stickers, it’s just too much. It’s like women who wear lots of necklaces, bracelets, earrings, hair clips and rings. All at once.

Appearances aside, my kids got in and out of the Vue easily, and I think even younger kids would have an easy time with it. The handles weren’t too hard to pull, the doors weren’t too heavy and the step-in height wasn’t too high. If you had to offer your little ones some assistance, it most likely wouldn’t break your back to do it.

Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair-Great
Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Some

shopping around: At cars.com

• Side-by-Side Comparison
• Auto Loan Calculator

• Build your own
• Check for Rebates

key exterior: Features

available exterior: Colors

Take the Next Steps at Cars.com

Shop for a car

New

Used

Certified

Make

Model

Search Within 10 miles 20 miles 30 miles 40 miles 50 miles 75 miles 100 miles 150 miles 250 miles 500 miles All

of

Your ZIP

Powered by Cars.com

Make

Model

Search Within 10 miles 20 miles 30 miles 40 miles 50 miles 75 miles 100 miles 150 miles 250 miles 500 miles All

of

Your ZIP

Powered by Cars.com