Crisp, sporty and modern from every angle, the exterior design of the new 2008 Saturn Vue is dramatically different from the boxy old Vue, and that's because it is based on the European Opel Antara crossover and not the previous American-bred platform. In our opinion, the new Vue is the best-looking, most together vehicle Saturn has ever offered.

The Vue uses a whole new front end design with a distinctly Saturn grille, a much busier under-bumper and skid-plate area to add visual interest, multi-element headlamp units sweeping around the front corners, a forward-leaning rear door, big wheel arch accents, an arching roofline with very tasty roof bars, and a forward-leaning rear side window and D-pillar to give a much more sporty and modern impression.

Sizewise, the 2008 Vue is right in the heart of the segment with all of the other domestic and imported five-door, five-seat crossover SUVs, exactly 15 feet long overall on a 106-inch wheelbase. The Vue uses the same underpinnings as the European Opel Antara, tuned for America, which means simple, effective MacPherson strut front suspension with coil springs, and independent rear suspension with trailing arms, coil springs, and lateral locating links.