I recently test-drove three trim level Saturn Auras before eventually getting the TCH. Saturn build quality seemed all over the map. The hybrid was most comfortable and had the best ride, but had headliner buzzes front and rear, and seemed underpowered. The XE was the tightest of the bunch with no rattles or buzzes, but the ride seemed very bobbly, and the 4-speed AT needs a fifth speed in the middle. The XR was a powerhouse but along with having a much too stiff suspension, had a strange front suspension noise coming from the left front, and seemed to be sucking fuel hard.

The full federal tax credit was enticing on the hybrid, but I couldn't get past what appeared to me to be questionable build quality, that and known Saturn RDS (rapid depreciation syndrome).

Each car seemed to have decent sound insulation for the price. But paying the dealer to pull apart the front fascia to change a headlight bulb left me with little upside to look at. (This might be an Aura-only phenom.)

All in all I passed.