Headlining the changes is a new 3.5-liter V6 built by Honda. It's very smooth, an enormous improvement over the rough-sounding V6 used in last year's model. Saturn claims this year's 250-horsepower V6 is the most powerful engine in the compact SUV segment. The V6 comes with a very smooth five-speed automatic that adds up to a responsive new drivetrain. Base models with the 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine are quite slow, however.
The Vue's electronic power steering has been re-calibrated for 2004 to improve on-center feel and responsiveness. Gone are the annoying torque steer, vague on-center feel, and darty handling that plagued the 2003 model.