The versatile Saturn VUE has always been one of Saturn’s best-selling models, due in no small part to its brilliant combination of power, safety features, refinement and performance. Though the Honda CR-V does a good job of blending sportscar and SUV features, Saturn’s popular VUE has some significant advantages.

This year, the new VUE is more stylish than ever before with jewel-like headlamps and athletic fender vents. Saturn’s premier Red Line trim sports a more aggressive appearance thanks to its large lower air opening in the front, and spoiler and trapezoid-shaped exhaust tips in the rear. While the current CR-V is more fashionable than previous generations, it still lacks the aggressive modern style and eye-catching accents found on the VUE. Design beauty is, ultimately, in the eye of the beholder.

The five-passenger Saturn VUE offers a standard 2.4-liter ECOTEC four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing (VVT) on the entry XE trim. Saturn’s fuel-efficient powerplant generates 169 hp, surpassing the 166 hp output of the CR-V’s 2.4-liter.

The VUE’s upgraded 3.6-liter V6 widens the discrepancy, generating up to 257 hp with instantaneous ease. Equipped with advanced steering systems, the VUE makes it easy to maneuver in parking lots or on winding roads with a remarkably smooth, confident ride that’s quieter and more dynamic than Honda’s offering. Saturn’s four- and six-speed automatic transmission choices also offer an enjoyable manual mode, which isn’t matched on the CR-V’s mandatory five-speed automatic.   

The Saturn VUE is loaded with a number of standard features including deluxe front bucket seats, steering wheel-mounted controls for the audio system and cruise control, a six-speaker audio system with MP3 capability and XM Satellite Radio. Other notable options include heated leather seats and an intuitive navigation system. The VUE’s interior is stylish, utilizing premium fabrics that are typically found in fine European imports. Chrome-accented gauges and air vents, and aluminum-brushed accents on the shiftknob, door panels and steering wheel add a sophisticated touch. The CR-V comes with a number of standard features, but offers a far more stark and minimalist interior design.

The VUE’s impressive, performance-minded Red Line trim features a sport-tuned suspension system, sharp exterior design elements, heated front sport seats and aggressive interior styling. For the environmentally friendly, the VUE Hybrid model’s four-cylinder engine delivers the best highway fuel economy of any compact crossover – 23 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. Honda’s CR-V offers neither a performance model nor a hybrid option.

Both the VUE and CR-V come loaded with safety features. The VUE boasts a number of standard safety features including front-seat side airbags, side-curtain airbags, traction control, StabiliTrak stability control, antilock brakes and active head restraints. Additional features include a tire pressure monitor system, automatic occupant sensing system and the ubiquitous, unmatched OnStar. Saturn’s VUE boasts five-star crash safety ratings in frontal and side-impact crashes performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The Saturn VUE offers an impressive combination of performance, style, comfort and convenience at a very attractive price. It’s a powerful shot across Honda’s bow. One test drive will convince you to make the choice of the VUE.