Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see May lease deals!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Saying the G6 and Aura are the same car is not giving GM enough credit for really differentiating these cars. The Aura will be bigger and have some different features, plus a v6 standard.
I hate the fact they don't have a mav system, and cornering headlights (LEAD GM, STOP FOLLOWING AND MAKE IT BETTER) but other stuff is great, you cannot tell these are the same cars by looking at them, inside or out, you have to be an auto buff to know the similarities. Its great from every perspective.
GM saves money and we get the choice of completely different cars.
I think the Aura could be my next car, an XR test drive will answer that for sure. From the sound of the test drives, I don't think I'll be disappointed.
Overall, it was a nice car, but I'm looking for something more rewarding to drive. The steering feel was numb and the car felt very heavy. I drove aggressively down my favorite twisty road and I was disappointed. It just wasn't an engaging drive. It felt like it was fighting me more than encouraging me to drive fast.
Acceleration isn't an issue. The car just bolts off the line easily spinning the tires. The 3.6 is definitely strong, I expected a more refined sound, but it was smooth. But, torque steer was an issue on certain roads. It really pulled to the right when flooring it at 40 mph. It wasn't to bad from a dead stop, but it did want to wander back and forth, reminding me why rwd is better in high power applications.
I liked the paddle shifters on the steering wheel, but scratch my head on why no redline is on the tach. Manual mode worked as it should. Letting me hit the rev limiter and only downshifting for me when coming to a stop.
I'd like to hear other comments from others on the interior. It looked good except for the center console cup holders and storage lid armrest. It was extremely cheap and flimsy.
Also the model I test drove had a squeak in the dash, which did nothing to make me think the car was built for the long haul.
Regardless, I think it's a good car, I was just hoping I could walk away saying it was great. I don't know if I'll buy one or not. It's not exactly what I'm looking for.
Yeah, I read that article too. After a long test drive, the hanlding traits of the car didn't impress me. I'm sure it will put up good numbers, but it was the way the car communicated I didn't like.
When I drove a Mazda 6 and Mazdaspeed 6, they felt nimble and light going thru S curves, the Aura felt heavy and slow to respond to steering inputs and I didn't like the steering feel, heavy and numb.
I'm sure it's better than a Camry, but I don't know about an Accord, it's been to long since I've driven one, though I remember liking how it drove.
Don't get me wrong, the Aura is a very nice car and I will keep it on my buy list. My expectations were probably a bit to high. That said, I will try to test drive a Fusion soon to see how it compares.
Karl Brauer has a first drive mini-review in his blog and he was actually positive about the car although he said the interior was a cheap disappointment. That isnt too surprising because he says the same thing about every GM interior so I just disregard such comments. I think he said the plastic inside the storage bin was too cheap or something ridiculous like that.
I can easily tell the G6 and Aura are the same car, just look at them from the side. GM did a decent job of separating them, but no moreso than cars like the Grand Prix and Impala.
Not entirely true, Karl does give credit where it is due, such as with the new GM SUVs/trucks like the Suburban, Yukon and Avalanche. If you read the Avalanche posting you would see that he actually describes his like for them in good detail. That being said, I think Karl would have had a much better interior impression of the car had he driven the XR version instead of the XE.
Autoweek has a review of the Aura XR up on their site, and they gave it a very favorable review. The interior really looks good in that picture, really a class leader. Even their as tested price was around $27K, which included a lot of stuff and was much cheaper than a Camry or Accord.
I'd encourage all of you who are interested in the Aura to read the Autoweek video.
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060814/FREE/60803006/1009
perhaps you take any criticism of GM as someone having an anti GM agenda.
this car seems to be marketed to consumers who normally wouldn't consider a GM product. these two test drivers appear to be the car buyers that GM is targeting.
Ride was very smooth. Handled a harsh bump very well with its long wheelbase. Turning radius a bit large. Engine seemed powerful would probably do better when worn in. Car seemed well planted to the ground.
Exterior was nice looking. Big and expensive 18 inch wheels (Costly to replace tires) Nice line. Hinges in trunk set off to side. Slight angle to the trunk.
Interior seemed well put together. Nice upper dash. Slightly plasticky lower dash. Nice looking wood trim. No moonroof or morrocan leather on this one. Ok cloth. Good seats seemed comfortable. Back of front seats nicely sculpted to allow for lots of leg room in the back. Door had a nice clunk. Radio seemed pretty good.
Overall very impressed. Good saturn salesman. Will consider it.
I've yet to see a review of a G6 GT or GTP get much praise for steering feel. I simply didn't like how heavy and numb the steering was when taking my favorite back road S curves. The car felt excessively heavy. When I say numb, I mean not much communication with what is going on. It seemed to track wheel and the steering was precise, but the big issue for me is how heavy the steering is.
The Mazda 6 and Mazdaspeed 6 and VW Jetta GLI were much better in this area, but were worse in others. Overall I thought the Aura had more refinement than the 6, and not as much as the Jetta.
Overall, I still like the Aura. Like some others have mentioned the sample I drove had a disconcerting squeak in the dash. I'd prefer to get a car with a manual, so in the end, that may doom our decision to go with an Aura.
I liked the dash alot, the center console area was awfully cheap like Carl mentioned. From the cup holders to the center console storage area, nothing fit exactly right and the plastics were no where near the quality used else where and stood out. Go look for yourself.
If you read reviews of the G6 GTP you will find that the steering was considered MUCH better than the electronic version in the GT. The steering in the Aura is supposed to be heavy like a European car since its based on the Vectra. It may seem heavy compared to the Americanized Camry or Accord, but I doubt owners of European sedans would complain too much.
nctd.com has a review of the Aura and they echoed the comments about some cheap parts but liked the car overall, especially in terms of interior design, build quality and handling.
the accord probably has the best steering feel in its class (sans the hybrid), no need to lump it in with the camry.
I've driven many german cars (which I love how they drive), and the steering feel of the Aura is far from feeling "German" to me. Being excessively heavy does not automatically equal good.
And just because the G6 GTP's steering was considered much better, I've yet to read where it's anywhere near top of the class.
Yes, the Camry (prior model not current, since I haven't driven one) has fairly light and numb steering, but it's not a sporty car. The last Accord v6 EX I've driven had very responsive steering w/o being overly heavy.
I've read at least two articles regarding the Aura's steering being to heavy and and at least one other person observed the same thing and reported it here on the board, along with some excessively cheap plastics. So maybe it's true. That said, unlike you, I won't chastise those who ACTUALLY drive the car and come away with a different opinion, etc. Our next purchase is for my wife to drive, so I still see a possibility of us owning an Aura. There still is a lot to like about the car besides the few areas I don't like.
BTW, I do own a GM vehicle, so I don't have an anti-GM agenda.
I'm not saying the Aura has no cheap parts, I am saying its not cheap compared to the majority of cars in this class. The Camry may be superior, but not the Fusion, Altima or Sonata. In fact, I would say I find the Aura interior to be better than that of the 300.
I am pretty sure that Karl has stated that he owns a 2004'ish Malibu, which makes this assertion kinda hard to take seriously.
I agree. I won't comment on the 300 since I've never sat in one. I have looked at a Fusion and Altima and I agree the the Aura's interior is a lot nicer.
As for evaluating steering feel that certainly is subjective to a point.
Like many things, ideal handling traits are not the same for everyone. I don't doubt some like the steering in the Aura, and I've read some positive reviews.
I do have to side with Carl, since like him I've disliked the steering characteristics of most of the GM vehicles I've owned and driven.
GM vehicles driven within last few yrs. GrandPrix GT & GTP (yuck), Cadillac SLS (much better to be a passenger in than the driver), Trans Am (no wonder GM stopped making them), Alero (not bad), Park Ave (see SLS) LeSabre (see SLS), and Malibu (horrible), Aura (good, just wasn't satisfied with steering feedback).
I've generally preferred the way a Ford drives over a comparable product from GM. My wife now has an '06 500 (company car) and I really don't like the steering in it either, but it does seem to be built on a stiff platform, much better than her previous Impala.
As for the Aura I really do like the car, I am just a little disapointed in a few areas. I could still see myself in one though.
It's hard for me to describe why I don't like the way most GM cars drive. GM cars always (to me anyway) feel heavier than they are and their suspensions feel slow to react (to me anyway). GM's brakes have been a sore spot with me as well, by having mushy pedals and poor feedback (I know these are areas where they are improving). My Suburban has by far the worst brakes of any SUV (or car) I've ever driven (Armada, Expedition, Explorer, Pathfinder) and is downright scary if I have to panic stop. The pedal is mushy and difficult to modulate. My wifes Impala was similar in regards to a mushy pedal even though my burb and the Impala had 4 wheel disks.
I doubt we'll see eye to eye on this subject. I have several friends that have GM vehicles and they like them. I'll get in it and go yuck. It's just preferances. My wife loves Dr. Pepper and I can't stand the stuff. Who's right? I guess we both are.
I haven't driven a Fusion, but I have driven a Mazda 6 which the Fusion uses an extended version of the Mazda 6 Platform. They also have similar powertrains.
IMO, the Mazda 6 handles better than the Aura, but the Aura is the nicer car. Even though I haven't driven a Fusion, I'd expect it to have excellent handling characteristics like the Mazda 6.
That said, the Aura has a much better powertrain than the Fusion. I don't like the Duratec 3.0. It lacks torque and worse yet, I find it to be a bit crude when revved.
The Aura XR 3.6 is much quicker than the Mazda 6 v6 and that will apply to the Fusion as well. I'd guess the Aura XE with the 3.5 and 4 speed auto would be about the same performance wise.
I have sat in a Fusion and looked over the interior and I don't really care for it. I like the styling of the Aura better inside and out, but that is subjective. In the end, the Fusion seems like a good deal for the money.
The Aura is a nicer car and in top trim is more expensive and much nicer. If your looking at the XE Aura, then it's a toss up IMO. They'll be similarly priced and have similar performance. You may be able to get more options on the Fusion compared to the Aura at the same price point.
That's pretty much what I expected.
Those two cars would be much cooler if they were RWD.
"With its traction control on or off, the Impala tracks arrow straight with no intrusive torque steer. This really impressed us. Despite the V8's ability to light up the front tires with ease, the profound torque steer in the mechanically similar Pontiac Grand Prix GTP simply isn't much of a problem in the Impala SS."
Car & Driver had the opposite finding, that the Grand Prix has little torque steer and the Impala SS had more.
I have driven the Impala SS and the Altima 3.5 SE and frankly the Impala is no worse. And as good as the VQ engine is the V8 in the Impala is wonderful. Endless torque and a willingness to rev too. Probably could get away with a 2-speed tranny.
Back to the topic at hand....the Aura XR is every way comparable to the Altima 3.5 in terms of acceleration.
Brand basher, I believe it was the Asian car makes that brought us FWD.
For the average Joe or Josephine, FWD is just fine, particularly in the snow belt. RWD is great for performance drivers. But then some love AWD.
and what's your point? We don't have to copy the Asians, but if it's less expensive for us... why not? And yes, for an Malibu, Aura, G6 and other GM, Ford, Daimler brands, a FWD is enough (and less expesive again).
Some people on this edmunds and other places jump from thread to thread with little nice to say.
GM has torque steer controlled better than anyone else on the market. Even the V8 FWD cars like the DTS and Lucerne dont have much torque steer. Even if the Impala has some torque steer lets not forget its a V8 with 323 lb-ft vs. 245 b-ft for the Altima V6. That is a significant difference and thus one car excuse the Impala for having a little torque steer.